Earlier this week, I shared with you one of my favorite beach activities for preschoolers—muffin tray games! Today, I thought I would share some more of our favorite beach activities and games for preschoolers. You can enjoy these beach activities without any prep and without having to lug a bunch of extra toys along with you to the beach!
FREE Summer Bucket List & Activity Bundle
Before we dive into the beach activities and games, did you get your preschool summer bucket list yet? The free printable bundle also includes lots of activity pages, perfect to bring along on your next cottage or camping adventure! Grab your copy right here:
15 Fun Beach Activities & Games for Preschoolers
There is so much fun, play, and learning that can take place at the beach! And the best part? You don’t need to haul along lots of toys to have an amazing time at the beach with your preschooler. Most of these beach activities and games require nothing more than what you’ll find at the beach—sand, sticks, stones, or shells.
Here are 15 fun beach activities and games for preschoolers to try:
1. Play a Game of Tic Tac Toe (with a Scavenger Hunt Twist!) by Kids Craft Room
Draw a large tic-tac-toe grid in the sand and use shells and stones as the Xs and Os (or simply draw your Xs and Os with a stick!). This classic game can be a fun way to introduce preschoolers to strategy and turn-taking, but for an extra twist on the game, you have to check out Kids Craft Room’s Tic Tac Toe with a Scavenger Hunt idea!
2. Play Beach Skeeball byLife with Leo
Find a relatively flat area of sand, then build up the end into a small mound and carve a hole into it. Take turns rolling a ball, trying to get it to roll up the incline and into the hole! This simple game can be loads of fun and helps preschoolers develop their hand-eye coordination.
3. Make Sand Angels
To make some sand angels, find a flat, smooth area in the sand free from rocks and sticks. Have your little one lay down on their back and move their arms up and down and legs from side to side. You might have to help your little one get up afterward so they don’t disturb their sand angel. Perhaps now you gather some shells, sticks, and stones to decorate your sand angel!
4. Make a Beach Bowling Game by The Nerds Wife
If skeeball is a bit too tricky for your little one, try some beach bowling! Draw big circles in the sand with numbers in them, then take turns rolling a ball, trying to get it to land inside one of the circles. You could also use this as an opportunity for some simple math practice!
5. Create a Fun Beach Obstacle Course
Create a fun obstacle course using natural elements found on the beach. Use sticks, rocks, seaweed, and sand to set up various stations. For example, you can create a path to follow, a small hill of sand to climb, or a line of rocks to balance on. Demonstrate how to complete each part of the course and then encourage your preschooler to try it!
6. Go on a Scavenger Hunt by@allthemumery
A beach scavenger hunt is an exciting way to explore and discover new things! Create a list of items for your preschooler to find, such as a smooth stone, a piece of seaweed, a white shell, or a feather. As they find each item, you can talk about its characteristics and where it might have come from. You could make up your scavenger hunt on the spot, or pre-make one like this adorable scavenger hunt by @allthemumery!
7. Play Follow the Leader
This is a great game for preschoolers! Walk along the beach and have your child follow your footsteps exactly. You can make it more interesting by adding actions such as jumping over small waves, spinning around, or stopping to pick up shells. Then switch roles and let your child be the leader.
8. Create a Beach Mandala by The Artful Parent
We love making mandalas from nature items! They are incredibly calming to make and offer lots of opportunities for learning through patterns, symmetry, fine motor skills, and language building.
9. Draw Pictures in the Sand
You can also simply use your fingers or a stick to create shapes, letters, or drawings in the sand. Try making it a collaborative activity by taking turns adding to each other’s drawings, or you could even turn it into a friendly game of Pictionary!
10. Make a STEM Challenge by Marthas Vinyard Tourist
The beach is a wonderful opportunity to present your little one with a STEM challenge! Could they build a tunnel in the sand without it collapsing?
11. Play a Game of I Spy
“I Spy” is a simple and engaging game that encourages observation and vocabulary development. While sitting or walking along the beach, take turns saying, “I spy with my little eye, something that is [color/shape/size].” Your preschooler will love looking around and guessing what you are describing. This game can be adapted to different themes, such as “I spy something that flies” (seagulls) or “I spy something that floats” (boats).
12. Play Hopscotch by Kuestenkidsunterwegs
Hopscotch is a timeless game that can be easily adapted for the beach. Use a stick or your finger to draw a hopscotch grid in the sand. Show your preschooler how to hop on one foot and then on two feet as they move through the grid. This game helps develop balance, coordination, and number recognition. To make it more challenging, you can add more squares or create different patterns.
13. Design a 2D Sandcastle by@jeanvanthul
I love this idea of creating a 2D sandcastle using rocks! Depending on what nature items are plentiful at your beach, you could use shells, sticks, or maybe even some seaweed to decorate your creations!
14. Have a Story Time Break
When everyone is ready for a bit of quiet, restful time, you can sit together and make up stories inspired by the beach. Use the surroundings as prompts–a shell can become a mermaid’s lost treasure, a piece of driftwood might be a pirate’s plank. A wonderful way to build vocabulary and use that imagination!
15. Take the Ultimate Beach Family Portrait by Family Days Tried and Tested
And before you pack things up for the day, create the most epic family beach day photo!
Whew, are you ready for the best day at the beach ever?!
And if you want to keep that nature play and learning going all year, you’ll want Nature School!
Nature School gives you simple ways to incorporate literacy, numeracy, fine motor development, sensory play, and crafting into your time outdoors.
Discover Nature School
Connect, Play, and Learn in Nature:
https://shop.howweelearn.com/pages/nature-school
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Thank you so much for reading, my friend!
xo
Sarah
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