Tips for a Successful Beach Day
Whether a full beach vacation, or just a day, the opportunity for children to play with sand and water lead to hours of entertainment. The simplicity of heading to the beach is a good reminder for everyone to present in nature. Children will delight in the simplicity of sensory play in sand, using their full body to engage. With the right limits and good preparation in place, it can be a relaxing experience for caregivers too.
Prior to Leaving
Involve your child in preparation: Invite them to put on their own sunscreen, choose weather appropriate clothing, pack a bag with a towel and backup layers.
While at the Beach
Shell Search: Find shells with holes that can be used at home later to string onto necklaces and bracelets.
Treasure Hunt: Invite your child to fill a bucket with treasures they find. Set a limit around what can come home. “Let’s pick one treasure to take with us to remember our time at the beach.”
Get Sandy: Building in the sand with natural resources, like rocks, sticks and seaweed to construct fairy homes or be included in more elaborate sand castles.
Push Gross Motor Capabilities: Children need big, physical body movements to build strength and refine control - send your child to the water to fill up large buckets and practice carrying them carefully.
Snack Solutions: Being outside and immersed in this type of sensory play will make your child hungry. Come prepared with a wide assortment of snacks and remember to stay hydrated. Using toothpicks or long utensils to serve themselves may help avoid sand in their mouths, but you can also warn them that sand on food may happen and it’s ok to accept a little extra crunch!
Give your child a concrete and understandable warning when the day is coming to a close. And follow through; “We will be heading home after this last sand castle.”
