If your family is headed to the beach this summer, you can take a little bit of learning with you! Without much preparation, you can sneak in some educational aspects while still having a fun day on the beach. Of course, you don’t need to make your whole vacation a snoozefest- just pick a few fun activities below and your kids won’t even notice they’re learning! {Bonus: You may already be doing some of these activities and you may not even realize how enriching they are!}
Write in the sand: Work on handwriting and spelling while doing this classic beach activity. If your child is small you can start with drawing shapes in the sand, and if they know their letters you can let them practice by having them write each letter with a stick as you call them out. Have them write their name and take a picture of them with it- bonus points if you do this next year and compare their skill!
Beach Scavenger Hunt: Write down a list of common beach objects you might see like shells, seagulls, umbrellas, dolphins, crabs, etc. For a smaller child you could also print a sheet of pictures found on the internet and laminate it for your child to cross off.
Science Experiments: I discovered this awesome book that gives you experiments you can do in 10 minutes or less at the beach. This would be fun for the kids- and the grown-ups!
Explore Tidepools: Examine the tidepools that are left behind on the beach when the waves pull back. Shells and sea creatures often abound in these shallow depressions- try to identify as many things as you can!
Identify Shells: Grab a shell guide from one of the touristy shell shops and try to identify as many of the shells you find as you can. Bring the shells back to your room, wash them off, and search them out in the book. You may also want to pick up a shell bag for collecting them.
Read Books: Before, during, and after your trip read books about the beach. This will give your child a greater understanding about what they will see that belongs there as well as some fun and quality time with you. Some books can be educational and some just for pure entertainment- pack a few to take with you to the hotel for bedtime.
Some great beach-themed books: Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach, What Lives in a Shell?, In One Tidepool, Seashells, Crabs, and Sea Stars
Build a Sandcastle: Explore things like engineering, erosion, mass, volume, and more when you build sandcastles together.
Whether you hit the beach every weekend or only on vacation, you can enjoy making memories while teaching your kids through play!
What’s your favorite thing to do at the beach?
Rosie says
These are all such fun ways to promote learning! Summer need not be a loss for learning!