19 Fun Beach Activities for Kids & Families

Discover (and share!) easy ideas for things to do at the beach on this community-sourced list of the best beach games & activities for kids.

It doesn’t take much to enjoy a day at the beach, but an easy game or activity will give your family some additional ways to play beyond your typical splashing, swimming and sand castles.

Browse our list for some quick inspiration, and be sure to share your tips & ideas for fun family beach activities, too! (We’ve also got you covered for parents' favorite beach gear, as well as our top-rated sunscreens for slathering on wiggly kiddos.)

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    Activ Flyer

    Kelly R:  These flying rings are lightweight and comfortable to catch, and easier for kids to maneuver than a standard frisbee. They also float, making them a great choice for summertime water toys.

    OgoDisk

    This is a set of handheld trampoline-like disks that are used to catch, bounce and throw balls up to 150 feet. They're versatile outdoor toys for kids that inspire inventive, active play, and boost hand-eye coordination.

    GoSports Ladder Toss

    Erin P.:  This is a fun, easy to learn backyard game that is great for children to play one-on-one or in teams. It breaks down and stores easily so it would be a good option to pack for camping as a family or a day at the beach!

    Franklin Sports Bean Bag Toss

    Nancy L.:  Divide the family into teams and enjoy an afternoon of outdoor fun. This foldable, portable backyard game comes with two sets of three bean bags in different colors. Toss the bean bags into any one of the six holes and score as many points as you can.

    Spikeball

    Vanessa M.:  Have you seen teens and young adults playing Spikeball at the park lately? I have! It looks like a lot of fun! Spikeball is a 4 player game with rules similar to volleyball. Great for playing outside, inside, at the beach, wherever!

    Liberty Imports Badminton Set for Kids

    christadiserio:  For any kid who enjoys watching or playing tennis, they'll surely love badminton too. This is the perfect game for your child to play outdoors with you or a sibling. It's safe, will help develop hand-eye coordination, and will exhaust them all at the same time - phew! I grew up playing badminton with my dad and to this day, I still love it.

    Champion Sports Horseshoe Set

    Erin P.:  These horseshoes are made with rubber, so they are easy to throw and aim compared to traditional metal horseshoes. Their soft design also makes them safe to use for kids and adults.

    GoSports Portable Cornhole Game Set

    MG13:  One of the classic outdoor toys for kids that the whole family will love! This portable set has a PVC frame so it's light enough to take to the beach, park, or Grandma's house. Set up is fast and it can even be used indoors for a rainy day activity.

    Collect Seashells

    Alexandra F.:  Take a walk along the beach and look for the prettiest, most unique shells you can find.

    Dig With Truck Toys

    Alexandra F.:  The beach is the perfect place to dig, build, and knock down sand creations for kids who love to play with toy trucks!

    Beach Clean Up

    Alexandra F.:  My kids LOVE using grabbers, and picking up litter at the beach is really and truly one of their favorite beach activities - helping the environment is just a bonus. I've gotten grabbers on Amazon, at the dollar store, and at Costco, and they all seem to hold up about the same (which is not all that long with little one), so I suggest buying the cheapest you can find. The grabbers with a trigger rather than a squeeze handle seem easiest for little hands to use.

    Bury Someone in the Sand

    Alexandra F.:  For those who like to dig in the sand but not necessarily build anything with it, burying a friend or family member is a fun and easy beach activity for kids. You can even get creative with your project, turning them into a mermaid with a sandy fish tail, or anything else you can imagine.

    Race Waves

    Alexandra F.:  My little kids love to stand in the shallow part of the water as the waves roll in, then race to try and reach the shore before the wave does. I love how this simple beach activity keeps them so entertained!

    Make Sand Sculptures

    Alexandra F.:  Sand is such a great medium for your budding artists and engineers to use for creating new structures and sculptures. Beyond sand castles (though those are always fun!), they can stretch their imaginations using molds, dripping sand, or simply shaping the sand however they wish. We like making thrones to sit on, canals for the ocean water to rush through, and bridges to go over these.

    Volleyball

    Alexandra F.:  Whether you play a formal game with a net or just hit the ball around to each other, volleyball is a popular beach game for kids and adults alike.

Primary photo:   Kampus Production on Pexels

Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.