This is a collaborative post
At the beach with little ones, it is easy to get frustrated and feel like you have to constantly watch them and entertain them and have no time to yourself. Here are some ideas to help you to enjoy the trip to the beach as much as your kids do!
Games to play in the sand with toddlers
If you have a younger child or baby to look after and your toddler wants to play then it can be key to find games in the sand to play to keep them busy whilst not far from your side.
If they enjoy drawing then drawing with their hands in the sand can be great fun, especially if on the damp sand.
Using a bucket and spade you can help them build a sandcastle, they can then collect shells or rocks to decorate it or use as imaginary people at the castle and make a whole story about the king and queen!
Eye spy is a great game for little ones, you don’t need to do the classic something beginning with a, either. Why not instead get them to spot things you can see, eg Can you spot a boat?
Scavenger hunts are great for little ones too, you can adjust easily to their age and ask them to find 3 matching shells for example.
Taking games with you to the beach can also make a big difference. Simple card games like matching pairs or snap are easy to pop into the bag and can turn into all sorts of fun games. These Matching pairs from Auraprint are great and so easy to wipe clean if they get ice cream on too!
Games to play in the water with toddlers
If a little one can not swim and wants to do more than just paddle and splash water then it can easily get hard work. You have to watch them every second but also find things for them to do. These ideas should help you.
Instead of spending lots of time on the shoreline why not take a small paddling pool with you and fill it up from the sea? For toddlers this can be perfect and a great way for them to sit and enjoy the water without leaving your side.
Chase waves and jump waves. this can be such fun and even the smallest of children can enjoy this. It is also a great way to encourage them to hold your hands because they want you to jump together!
Collect shells, pebbles, and watch for sea creatures. Looking down in the water, or even sitting at the edge of the water it is great to find different pebbles and shells which you can collect in a bucket to make something with on the sand. Great talking points are their shapes, could it look a bit like a fish, a dog or a snake?
Play being a mermaid, crab or fish. Sitting at the edge of the water and waiting for each wave to splash them whilst posing like a mermaid, crawling like a crab or kicking their legs like a fish.
Most seaside towns have shops with small nets and buckets, why not let them try to catch fish?
