Summer is finally here, and that means that a lot of us are heading towards the seaside. Going to the beach can be so much fun —soaking in the sunshine, working on your tan, and taking a few dips in the ocean. But let's be honest — it gets old quickly. Especially when you’re with your kids. To keep everyone entertained and in a good mood, you just have to come up with some fun family beach activities. However, with so many options available, it can get a bit overwhelming to plan out the perfect day. To help you out, we’ve made a list of various things to do at the beach with children. 

But instead of just listing all the different activities, we decided to do the planning for you. From the moment when you first arrive at the beach, to right before you have to head back home. With just a little bit of preparation, you can have a beach day that’s filled with fun, adventure, and laughter — while all of your family members are still safe and enjoying their vacation. Pack up your swimsuits, sunscreen, and snacks, and let’s get ready for a day filled with sand, sea, and sunshine. 

First things first: Set up your base

Before you can start doing any beach activities with your family, you have to set up a base first. But who says that this can’t be fun too? Make it into a game — who can find the best spot to set up your camp? The area should be close enough to the water but still get some shade. Now that you've decided on the spot, it’s time to set up the towels, chairs, umbrellas, and whatever else you’ve brought with you. To make it even more enjoyable for your kids, make sure they are involved in the process. Children are known for their creativity, so don’t underestimate the input that they can give you.

Easy mornings: Building sandcastles and playing games

After arriving at the beach and setting up your base, it’s time to spice things up a little. But because it’s still pretty early in the day, we’re not going in too hard. Keep things fun and lighthearted with activities such as building sandcastles and playing games. Even though building sandcastles sounds like such an old-fashioned thing, try it out. I guarantee that it’s one of the most enjoyable family beach activities that you can do. And not only for your children — adults can have a blast too! You can even turn it into a family competition to see which one of your family members will create the best and biggest castle.

But if that isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other games that you and your family can enjoy. If you want to get a bit more active, classic beach sports such as beach ball, catch, and frisbee are all great options. But you can also play some board games, like chess, connect 4, or Hive. If you want to keep the competitive vibes going, then you can opt for games such as tug-of-war, volleyball, or spike ball. The idea is to start your day off right and give your children some time to warm up before taking full advantage of being at the beach. 

It’s time to get active: Let’s get in the water

After all those exciting family beach activities, it’s time to cool off! And what better way to do that than by taking a dip in the ocean? However, this part can look a lot different depending on how old your children are and how well they can swim. But no matter what the circumstances may be, one thing is certain — you have to be careful! Stay aware of any potential hazards, and keep an eye out for them at any given moment. Even if your kids are great swimmers, remember that swimming in the pool and the ocean isn’t the same. So better be safe than sorry. If there are local swimming teachers around, you can even sign up your children for a quick lesson.

Fueling up: Snacks, laughs, and adventure 

By now, both you and your children are probably exhausted, hungry, and a bit moody. And what better way to combat that than by having a few snacks? If you want to make the experience a bit more memorable, why not plan a beachside picnic? You can fuel up for the rest of the day while enjoying the stunning scenery with your loved ones. Pack some sandwiches, refreshments, and things such as fruits and snacks to enjoy. If you forgot to do that, you’ll probably also have the option of buying some food at the beach. No matter what the case may be, anything will taste better when it’s eaten by the beach. 

Now that you’re all fueled up and rested, it’s time for some more fun family beach activities. You can take a break from the water and set up a scavenger hunt. It will keep your kids occupied, and it’s also a great way to teach them a bit more about nature. When it comes to creating a scavenger hunting list, you have two options — creating one yourself or finding a list online. Once the list is complete, let your loose to find all the items that are listed. You can even prepare a prize for anyone who finds the items first. While this is a wonderful opportunity for your kids to learn more about the marine ecosystem, remember that safety is your top priority. 

Happy ending: Cleaning up and enjoying the sunset

The day is finally coming to an end, which means that it’s time to wind down. And what better way to do that than with some leisurely activities? You can take a relaxing walk, and explore the nature around you. Collect seashells, look out for interesting creatures such as crabs, and take the chance to teach your children a bit more about marine life and the importance of taking care of our oceans. To keep the environmentally-friendly spirit going, you can also motivate your children to clean up any trash that’s left behind from your beach day and recycle it accordingly. 

Now that everything is cleaned up, there is just one thing left to do. And in my opinion, it’s one that you should not miss out on — watching the sunset. There’s nothing quite as magical as a beach sunset. Just find a cozy spot on the sand, and admire the sun dipping below the horizon. What better way to end this magical day? This is also the perfect opportunity to take some family pictures and create lovely memories that you’ll cherish forever. And that realization is even more beautiful than the sunset itself.