Best Beach and Sand Toys for Kids This Summer

Your little fashionista will have a fab time designing her own bag and then showing it off at the beach.

7 years+

$20, alextoys.com

Get a game of Frisbee going with this vibrant, handmade cloth disc that can fold up into your bag for easy travel.

3 years+

$8 to $15, pocketdisc.com

Perfect for a beginner, this set comes complete with a dump truck, shovel, rake, water-squirting pump and boat.

18 months+

$20, amazon.com

Thanks to the Velcro, playing catch is so simple and addictive that you might want to grab one of the cutesy crab mitts and get in on the game yourself.

3 years+

$12, melissaanddoug.com

Lightweight and portable enough to cart to and from the shore, this toy makes a round of this classic summer game possible at the seashore.

3 to 6 years

$13, toysrus.com

This kite's kid-friendly design and whirling tail will keep your child's head in the clouds.

8 years+

$7, xkites.com

What's summer without ice cream? This set has everything your kid needs -- scoops, cones and a "sprinkles" shaker -- to make sandy treats.

3 years+

$15, melissaanddoug.com

Catch some waves with everyone's favorite Nickelodeon ocean-dweller.

5 years+

$5.50, bravosportscorp.com

The patented no-spill design is great for travel to the beach. Plus, up to three kids can blow bubbles -- without the mess!

3 years+

$14, littlekidtoys.com

Have a ball with one that's sturdy enough for active play, yet soft enough that a missed catch won't hurt.

4 years+

$12, gymnicballs.com

Your little one will be tunneling her way across the beach in no time with the help of this grab-and-go shark.

2 years+

$11; smallworldtoys.com

Enjoy the sand and the surf with this two-in-one set that contains a waterwheel, a bucket, a shovel, and sand molds.

18 months+

$24; theoriginaltoycompany.com

Beautiful beach balls? There is such a thing! We've found a great line with two different sizes.

3 years+

$12 to $19; pbkids.com

This affordable goggles-mask-snorkel combo just might be the steal of the summer.

4 to 8 years

$10; toysrus.com

Surf the waves in style with this colorful inner tube.

5 years+

$18; sassafrasstore.com

This classic-looking front- loader truck has a great beach bonus: It comes with a sand tool and an attachable mold your kid will dig.

3 years+

$10; funrise.com

These precious pails have extra features: Finney Fish comes with a removable spout for water play, and Flex Octopus (shown here) has a detachable sand sifter on the bottom.

3 years+

$13 each; melissaanddoug.com

Hook as many fish as you can with this game that builds hand-eye coordination and aim.

3 years+

$16; orientaltrading.com

The basket's handle is also a pump that can fill balloons with water to add another layer of play to the game.

8 years+

$20; intplay.com

Made from 100 percent recycled plastic milk containers, this boat has a wide scoop-and-pour spout that will amuse your baby on the shore or at water's edge.

6 months+

$13; greentoys.com

Kids can explore what's going on beneath the water's surface with this cool scope kit.

6 years+

$30; learningresources.com

Originally published in the June 2010 issue of Parents magazine.