7 Fun Beach Games to Play with Toddlers and Preschoolers

By Amanda Kingloff
Aimee Herring
Refreshing ways to enjoy the summer sun and shore without taking along the entire toy closet.
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Dunk 'n' Dip

Aimee Herring

Keep little ones moving and occupied with an easy beach relay. Have players fill cups with water, then run to empty them into a bucket. The first to fill the bucket wins.

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Drip Castle

Aimee Herring

Try this fun twist on a traditional sand castle. Fill a bucket with half sand and half water. Pour wet sand through a plastic funnel to build an abstract beach structure. Don't have a funnel? Cut the bottom off an empty two-liter bottle to make your own.

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Sand and Shell Art

Aimee Herring

Take your young beachcombers on a hunt for shells and driftwood. Arrange your finds to create fun pictures.

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Musical Towels

Aimee Herring

Here's a fun activity beachgoers of any age can take part in. Lay down beach towels in a circle and crank up summer tunes like Surfin' U.S.A., by the Beach Boys.

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Aim Game

Aimee Herring

Draw circles in the sand with a number in each one. Challenge kids to rack up points by tossing stones at the targets.

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Beach Bowling

Aimee Herring

Use a shovel to dig six holes in the sand in a pyramid configuration. Give the kids tennis balls to roll into the goals.

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Fish Tales

Aimee Herring

After spending time in the sun, take a break by hanging out with the kids on your beach blanket to read a good book.

 

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