If you're lucky enough to be heading to the coast this summer with little ones in tow, you'll probably already know that children and beaches are a wonderful combination!
When my own children were young, family holidays were 100% my favourite times of the year.
There was something magical about seeing my babies discover the seaside - paddling in the sea, collecting shells, building sandcastles and finding endless entertainment in the simplest of things.
Of course, there was one small challenge. Keeping them occupied!
Children have a remarkable ability to move from "This is the best day ever!" to "I'm bored!" in record time, so I always found it helpful to have a few ideas up my sleeve.
Here are some fun beach games and activities for toddlers and young children, along with a few tips for capturing those precious holiday memories on camera. To us adults, some of these ideas may seem a little basic, but children have a wonderful way of finding excitement in the simplest things. I was reminded of that recently when my granddaughter spent a good half an hour happily entertaining herself with nothing more than an elastic band! It just goes to show that when it comes to keeping little ones occupied, imagination often beats expensive toys every time.
1. Sandcastle Challenge
A bucket and spade can provide hours of entertainment.
Rather than simply building a sandcastle, turn it into a challenge:
Who can build the tallest tower? Can you make a moat around the castle? Can you decorate it with shells and pebbles?
Photography Tip: Photograph your child's face when they proudly stand next to their finished masterpiece. The castle may not survive the tide, but the photograph will.
2. Shell Treasure Hunt
Give each child a bucket and challenge them to find:
A white shell
A striped shell
The smallest shell
The biggest shell
A heart-shaped pebble
This simple game encourages children to slow down and explore.
PhotographyTip: Take close-up photos of tiny hands holding their favourite discoveries.
3. Draw Pictures in the Sand
All you need is a stick and a patch of wet sand.
Children can draw:
Smiley faces
Animals
Their names
Family portraits
This activity is surprisingly calming and often keeps children occupied for much longer than you'd expect.
Photography Tip: Stand above your child and photograph both them and their artwork together.
4. Buried Treasure
One person hides shells, stones or small toys in the sand while the children search for them. You can make it more exciting by creating a simple treasure map.
PhotographyTip: Capture the excitement on their faces when they discover hidden treasure.
5. Beach Obstacle Course
Create a simple course using:
Buckets
Driftwood
Stones
Sand mounds
Children can jump, balance, crawl and race their way around the course.
PhotographyTip: Use burst mode on your phone to capture action shots and genuine laughter.
6. Beach Bowling
Use empty plastic bottles and a soft ball.
Children love games that involve knocking things over, and this one works surprisingly well on sand.
7. Footprint Hunt
Take turns making different footprints in the sand and guessing who made them. Can they spot:
Mum's footprints?
Dad's footprints?
Their own?
You can even compare footprints side by side.
Photography Tip: Photograph tiny feet next to adult footprints. These images become more meaningful with every passing year.
8. Nature Collection Challenge
Ask children to find:
A feather
A smooth pebble
Seaweed
A shell
Something unusual
This encourages observation and curiosity.
9. Paddle Race
On calm days, children can race floating leaves, sticks or small boats in shallow water.
Simple activities are often the most memorable.
10. Build a Family Sand Sculpture
Instead of a castle, try creating:
A giant fish
A turtle
A mermaid
Your family dog
A favourite cartoon character
The sillier, the better!
Don't Forget to Take the Photos
As a photographer, I have to say this: don't spend the entire holiday looking through a camera lens.The most important thing is being present and enjoying the experience with your children. However, do try to capture some of the little moments.
The sandy feet.
The windswept hair.
The ice cream-covered smiles.
The proud grin beside a slightly wonky sandcastle.
The shell collection that seemed so important at the time.
Years from now, these photographs won't be judged on whether they were technically perfect. They'll be treasured because they remind you how it felt to be there.
And one final piece of advice - make sure you get in some of the photographs too.
Parents are often the family historians, constantly taking pictures of everyone else.
Your children will one day love seeing photographs that show you were there, building sandcastles, paddling in the sea and sharing those holiday adventures with them.
After all, the best family photographs aren't always the posed ones - sometimes they're simply the moments that tell the story of a wonderful day together.
Have a wonderful summer and enjoy making memories!
