Children always want to be kept busy, even on vacation at the beach or during a day at the outdoor pool. We have bought sand toys or water toys more than once on vacation so that the children can build beautiful castles or fetch water with a bucket. Air mattresses are also something we have almost always had with us, which kept the children nicely occupied as well.
To ensure you are prepared if the children get bored on vacation despite having toys, I have put together some fun games for the little ones here. Take a look, there is sure to be something for everyone. By the way, my favorite is the penguin race, although the snail race is certainly also extremely funny to watch:
Game ideas for children on the sandy beach
If the day at the beach gets too long for the little ones, then it's time to try out some games. Here are some really fun ideas:
Build a marble run out of sand
Pile up a high mountain of sand and pat it down firmly. Then build a channel, either with serpentines or just straight down. Moisten everything well and pat it down. Form a small hollow at the lower end of the track so that the balls, marbles, or stones are caught. Yes, and then you can get started. Now the children can let stones, balls, etc. roll down.
Build a sandcastle
A classic at the beach. As a variation for older children, you can start a small competition: who builds the biggest castle? Who has the most towers? The winner gets a castle architecture prize!
Create sand pictures
You can create wonderful pictures in the sand. You can paint in the sand beautifully with sticks or just your fingers. The works of art can be decorated with beach finds like shells, grass, stones, etc. Extra tip: Take photos!
Build a sandman
The snowman has competition. Sandmen can be built out of nice, moist sand. To do this, form 3 balls and stack them on top of each other. Eyes, mouth, and nose can be conjured up from beach finds. Hair or a beard made of grass, seaweed, etc., are also funny. You can really let your creativity run wild here.
Make shell necklaces or shell mobiles
For this work of art, you first have to collect a lot of shells. Then use the awl of a pocket knife (or a drill in the evening) to make small holes in the shells and thread them onto a string. Tie a knot after each shell. You can also incorporate sticks for the mobile.
Bury yourself in the sand
Also a well-known classic. You need shovels for this. One player sits in the sand (mom with a book!) and her legs or even her whole body gets buried. Games can be played here: who can manage the most? Who is buried faster?
Darts with shells
For this, first collect a few shells or small stones. Then draw a target with 2 or 3 circles using a stick or your finger. Dig a hole in the middle, or place a cup inside (remove this after playing, of course!). Then, depending on age and size, stand around the circle and try to throw the shells or stones into the circle. The smaller the circle or cup, the higher the number of points. The winner is, of course, the one with the most points.
Fill a bucket with water
A bucket is placed on the beach, e.g., by your sun lounger or buried in the sand. The children have to fill this bucket with water. Shovels, hands, or cups can be used here. The winner is the one who fills the bucket first.
Chase the monkey with the coconut
If there are several children and they really need to let off steam, then play the hunt for the coconut. One monkey starts and gets an object (a ball, a small towel, etc.), the other monkeys have to take the coconut away from that person. The winner is the one who had the coconut the longest.
Extra tip: always time it and write it down.
Shovel competitions
Great for parents who want to read in peace. The children get a shovel and then off you go: in a set time, the children must either dig the deepest hole or pile up the highest mountain.
Limbo dancing
You can also dance limbo on the beach. Roll up a towel and hold it for the children at chest or hip height. The limbo dancer has to dance underneath it, belly first. Well, who can do it?
Snail race
2 teams are needed here again. Draw a start and finish line in the sand. The 2 snails must lie on their stomachs (nose exactly on the finish line), after the start signal they must crawl to the finish as fast as possible: and like snails, WITHOUT hands and feet. You will definitely be a hit on the beach with this!
Penguin race
It's great if several children participate here. You will need flippers, or large shoes (from dad!), a diving mask, a T-shirt or Bathrobe and a hat. A start and a finish line are marked. The children are divided and lined up at both lines. After the start signal, the 1st child must put on all the items as quickly as possible, 'run' to the other child at the finish line, take everything off there, and the 2nd child must put everything on and run back to the start. Who is the fastest?
Whose shell falls?
For this game, you need a sandcastle, at least 2 players, and a shell. The shell is placed on top of the castle. Now each player must take turns removing a handful of sand from the castle. The person who causes the shell to fall loses.
Games at the beach during the lunch break or in the shade
During the lunch break, when it is very hot, the children should stay in the shade under the umbrella for a while. To ensure that doesn't get too boring, here are a few ideas:
Recognize tracks
Mark an area in the sand, e.g., with a stick or your finger, and moisten the sand a little. The children have to close their eyes and impressions are made: e.g., of a shell, a sand mold, a key, a shoe, etc. Then the children can open their eyes and have to recognize the impressions. Who recognizes the most?
Memory at the beach
Lay out 10 different objects: e.g., sunscreen, drinking cup, a shell, sunglasses, ball, etc. The players can take a quick look, then a blanket or towel is placed over them, and one object is removed while covered. Then remove the blanket and guess: what was removed?
Sand pictures
The children draw a picture in the sand with their finger or a stick: a sun, a ship, a car. Who guesses the motif first?
Recognize cloud shapes
Everyone lies on their back and looks at the sky (preferably with sunglasses) at the clouds. What shapes do you recognize? Can you think of a story to go with them?
Games at the outdoor pool
Create nature pictures
If there are meadows and bushes at the outdoor pool, the children can collect natural materials: stones, flowers, grasses, etc., and use them to create pictures.
Penguin race
If there is some space away from the beach area, the children can organize a penguin race. For this, take diving fins, or dad's or mom's shoes, a T-shirt or Bathrobe, a diving mask and a hat. Define a finish and start line (with towels or stones, etc.). Then line up the players at both the finish and the start. After the start signal, the 1st player must put on all the items and waddle to the finish line. Take everything off there and the 2nd player must put everything on and 'run' back to the start. Who makes it the fastest?
Memory at the outdoor pool
Lay out 10 different objects: e.g., sunscreen, drinking cup, a stone, sunglasses, water wings, etc. The players can take a quick look, then a blanket or towel is placed over them, and one object is removed while covered. Then remove the blanket and guess: what was removed?
Limbo dancing
You can also dance limbo at the outdoor pool. Roll up a towel and hold it for the children at chest or hip height. The limbo dancer has to dance underneath it, belly first. Well, who can do it?
Recognize cloud shapes
Everyone lies on their back and looks at the sky (preferably with sunglasses) at the clouds. What shapes do you recognize? Can you think of a story to go with them?
Games in the water
Seahorse riders
Parents have to join in here. Everyone takes a child on their shoulders and competes against each other. The 'riders' try to push the other rider off the horse. Whoever can hold on until the end wins.
Extra tip: if the parents are already tired, the game can also be played wonderfully with an air mattress.
Ferry game
One player gets an object on their head: e.g., a frisbee disc and must keep it on their head for a certain distance.
Don't touch
In this game, a water ball must be brought from an imaginary start line to the finish – but WITHOUT touching it. You can splash water, blow, make waves, etc. here.
Variation: Play against each other, then the ball must be brought past the opponent to the finish, of course also without contact.
Diving for treasure
For this game, you need a diving mask and preferably heavy objects that you can lay out in the water: e.g., diving toys. The children have to collect as many things as possible underwater and surface.
Relay swimming
If many children are playing, you can have a swimming competition. Give the children a stick or an object in their hand. Determine a start and finish line and divide the children into 2 groups. After the start signal, the 1st child swims to the finish, gives the object to the next child, this child must swim back to the start, etc.
Air mattress rally
Great if the children are supposed to play with their younger siblings. The younger children sit on the air mattress and must be pushed from a start line to the finish without falling off. Can of course also be played against each other if there is enough space.
At the beach: Always push parallel to the beach!
Fisherman, fisherman, how deep is the water?
In this game, one player is the fisherman who has to catch the others. The fisherman stands opposite the children. The children ask: Fisherman, fisherman, how deep is the water? The fisherman answers, for example: 40 meters deep. Then the children ask: And how do we get across? Then the fisherman can think of a task for the children: dive, hop on one leg, swim without hands, etc. The player who was caught is the next fisherman.
Water ball rally
For this game, a water ball and many players are needed. If you play in the outdoor pool, you can transport the ball from one edge to the other; at the beach, parallel to the beach from an imaginary start and finish line. One child gets the ball and must transport it to the other end as quickly as possible. Well, who is the fastest?
Who is afraid of the fisherman?
This game is just like the game on land, only in the water. One child is the fisherman and stands in front, the other children at a distance from him. The children now have to reach the fisherman, but he watches very closely. Then he turns around and says: Who is afraid of the fisherman? And turns around again. During the time the fisherman is talking, the children must try to approach the fisherman. As soon as the fisherman turns around, everyone must stand still. Whoever moves is the next fisherman and everyone has to go back to the start.
Water Olympics
A child or the adult sets the discipline and the children have to perform it: dive, or candle into the water. Do a somersault in the water, do a handstand, swim without hands, etc.
Do you also have ideas for cool games? Then I look forward to a message!
Read also:Â Family vacation by car
Photos by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
