The beach isn’t only about swimming.
Sometimes the waves are too strong, sometimes the water is too cold — and kids still have energy they need to use somehow.
Here are a few simple beach games that work for us most of the time:
1️⃣ Sandcastles with a mission
Not “build a castle”, but something specific: a water-filled moat, a bridge, a tower for a crab, a tunnel that won’t collapse. Kids get much more involved when there’s a clear task instead of a vague idea.
2️⃣ Treasure hunters
Make a simple list: a shell, a round stone, something very small, something heart-shaped. You can count points or take photos of the “finds”. Simple, but it can keep them busy for a long while.
3️⃣ Frisbee / flying disc
A classic that always works. Target throws, catching without dropping, low throws vs high ones. Even with a bit of wind, it’s still great fun.
4️⃣ Movement games on dry sand
Tag, “one, two, three – Teide is watching”, standing long jumps. No preparation needed, and kids get tired faster than you’d expect.
5️⃣ Building challenge
Instead of free building: the tallest tower, a timed build, or building without using hands — only a bucket, a stick, or a shovel. Kids naturally raise the difficulty level themselves.
All these games have one thing in common: they don’t require preparation or special conditions. Just sand, some space, and accepting that not everything has to go “according to plan”.
Very often, when swimming is off the table and the plan falls apart, kids actually have the best time. Without rushing, without expectations, without the pressure that it has to be “perfect”.
It’s worth keeping these ideas in mind for your next beach day — not to control it, but to let it unfold a little differently. And very often, much better.
