10 Beach Activities to Do with Your Family

Summertime is in full swing. It’s almost half way over 😕! These 10 beach activities to do with your family are to get you in the summer mood and remind you of these sunny days. I have always gone to the beach, as a child I would go to Florida and North Carolina. I had so much fun! We would go to the beach and spend all day there. I have such cherished memories of the things we would do as a family. Now I am trying to make those same memories for my girls. Although, we usually go to beaches close to where we live to cut down on the expense.

1. Collecting Seashells

There are so many things you can do with seashells! You can glue them on a ball and make beautifulcenterpieces, or put them in a mason jar with sand and a message for you to remember your vacation for years to come. You can also make this a learning experience, telling your children to find a certain color, shape, or texture.

2. Playing in the Sand

This might seem a little obvious since most children’s toys are made for sand. I think adults forget that they can get in on the fun too. We always set up an umbrella so that the sun underneath is not hot and set up our buckets shovels etc. Then we have a separate bucket that is just for the ocean water. This helps with my oldest daughter who was terrified of the ocean to enjoy the water and gave her just a taste of being able to splash and play. Now that she has been identified as having issues with sensory processing, it makes sense why she hated being in the water so much.

3. Burying your Mom

We all have probably seen this in movies. Someone covered in sand up to their neck and then everyone leaves them there. In the version I do with my family I have my daughter bury my feet and legs (she sometimes covers herself up too). I am claustrophobic and wouldn’t do very well being completely covered up. She still enjoys the activity and is able to realize the medium of sand is much different than dirt or other things she has playedwithin nature.

4. Playing in the Water

Another one that seems very obvious. Again I am just encouraging parents to engage their children with the play that they are doing. So many parents are laying out getting a tan, on their phone, reading a book, or drinking a beer, and missing out on their children. We lose so much joy of the experience when we are buried in our phones.

5. Bubbles

I feel like if you have a baby or toddler you should really just have bubbles wherever you go. I have had them in the back of my van as an emergency toy and it always provides a lot of entertainment. Babies love to watch them and toddlers try to pop them. If you have a pre-schooler they can try to do it themselves. I would just make sure that it’s one of the kinds that is dump proof.

6. Flying a Kite

This is probably better for a pre-school to school age child as a toddler or baby will not find much entertainment in this. I loved doing this as a child, I loved the colors and enjoyed holding the spindle after my father had gotten the kite to take flight.

7. Playground

Some beaches have a playground on the beach. There was one not too far from the beach we went to in DE. It was super nice to be able to have Cadence get all her energy out on the swings and jungle gym.

8. Swimming in the Pool

When I was younger I saw beach houses with pools. I didn’t understand why anyone would want to swim in a pool when they had swam in the ocean all day. Then I realized that it really is a different experience, most hotels have pools and you don’t have to deal with all the sand, or trekking all your stuff across the sand. When we go to the beach we usually take one day to just stay around the hotel be lazy and swim at the pool.

9. Surfing or Boogeyboarding

I am not an adventurous soul, I jokingly use the excuse that I have an anxiety disorder so I don’t feel the need to get my adrenaline pumping in that way. I am able to do that all on my own. As a child I used to love boogey boarding in the little waves off the outer banks in NC until I was pushed under by a wave once. Then it was over. I was never inclined to try surfing although my brother has and has enjoyed it. I see classes for children when I go to the beach so if your little one is adventurous they might want to try this.

10. Don’t Forget the Cuddles

After a good swim, it’s always nice to give your little one some love and cuddles while they are drying off from thedays’ activities. I always loved this as a child, and my daughter loves the deep stimulation of a big hug. So grab those towels, wrap them around your little one, and cuddle away! Those are my 10 activities to do at the beach. Last year we went camping you can check that out here! What are some traditions that you have when you go to the beach? Or what things does your family enjoy doing when going to the beach? I would love to get some new ideas as well! Until next time!