By Juliet Myfanwy Johnson
Fun Stuff to Do at the Beach
The sun and surf call to us in the summer and many of us end up resting on the sandy shores of our local
beaches. There are a variety of fun things to do at the
beach, even if you aren't the strongest swimmer. For fun stuff to do with your kids at the beach, your best resource may end up being your child herself. Kids really know how to use their environment and channel the most fun out of any place they visit. After you've run out of fun beach activities, ask your child what she would like to do and you'll probably end up trying something new, or revisiting an old childhood game. A healthy mix of fun in the sand and fun in the water will give you a balanced feeling when you're trudging back to your car at the end of the day.
Sand
Start by digging a big hole. Pick a spot close to where the dry sand begins to meet the wet sand. Holes are fun for laying in, jumping over, and climbing in and out. Build sandcastles all around the perimeter of your hole by scooping wet sand into buckets and flipping the buckets upside down. Pull the buckets off and leave the bucket-shaped castle of sand behind. Bury yourself (or friend) in sand, leaving only the head exposed. Get buckets of water. Decorate your sandcastles with wet sand by dipping and handful of sand into a water bucket and dripping the wet sand on top of your castle.
Water
Jump over the waves as they come in. Kids love this activity and may do it all day. Go surfing, bodysurfing, skim boarding or boogie boarding. Go wading or swimming. Float. Stand in the water just at the water's edge and let your feet sink into the sand as the waves come and go. Run through the shallow water, splashing as much as you can. Dive under waves. Go jogging in the shallow water or along the water's edge. Sit at the water's edge and let the waves come and go over your legs.
Games and Activities
Walk along the beach and collect shells or rocks. Look for sand crabs by digging into the the wet sand at the water's edge. Bring baseball gloves and a baseball for some catch. Throw a frisbee together. Do handstands in the sand. Bring watercolors, paper and brushes to paint the scenery. Bring magazines and a book to read when you need a break. Look for dolphins or boats on the water. Chase seagulls. Wrestle or play tag. Write your name in the wet sand and watch the tide come in and erase it. Build a human pyramid: biggest people on the bottom, smallest people on the top.
About the Author:
Juliet Johnson is a produced playwright and the author of "Somebody's Always Hungry." She's been published in "The Imperfect Parent," three anthologies, and is a regular blogger for Hometips.com and Haydenburri Lane. She graduated from NYU, and studied at the University of London and at Padua Hills Playwriting Workshop.
Photo Credits:
sand castle image by Clarence Alford from
Fotolia.com
