The Ultimate Beach Party for Kids: 10 Activities & Crafts
The perfect summertime event OR to brighten up the winter months! Use these ideas inside or out for a beach-tastic good time at the library. A sample promotional description would be: “Join us for an indoor beach party! Enjoy tropical games, crafts, snacks, and more. For grades K through 6 and their families.”
Beach-Tastic Read Alouds
Read aloud from one of these great books and set up a display of beachy titles for patrons to check out.
Beach Party Activities
Beach Bucket Toss Game
Set out 3-4 sand pails and a few objects to toss into them, such as balls, bean bags, or cute sea creatures. Mark a line on the ground with tape (use painter’s tape on carpet or duct tape on cement if outdoors) for kids to stand behind. See who can get the most objects into the pails!
Catch and Do Beach Ball Game
Inflate a beach ball and use a Sharpie to write actions in each color panel, such as 5 Jumping Jacks, Touch Your Toes, Spin 3 Times, What’s Your Fave Book?, etc. Kids toss the beach ball in the air and must do whatever action lands up!
Hula Hoop Challenge
Set out a few hula hoops, that’s it! The kiddos will take it from there, but you’re welcome to challenge small groups to see who can hula hoop the longest. Be warned, the competitions may last longer than you think! See this video for trick ideas and additional challenges, such as walking two steps forward and walking in a circle. Check your local dollar store for great deals on hoops.
Hula Dancing to Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride
Halfway through the event, gather the kiddos and teach them some hula dancing moves. You can learn some fun basic moves from this Howcast video. Play “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” from Disney’s Lilo & Stitch Soundtrack, dance, and have fun! You could also challenge kids to strike their best surfer stances.
Beach Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are a librarian’s best friend because you can make one for EVERY theme imaginable. Print out beach-themed images, tape them in fun locations around the library, and provide each attendee with a sheet showing the pictures they must find.
Using free clipart sources, such as Freepik, is a great way to create your scavenger hunts. Just be sure to include an attribution somewhere on the sheet if the source requires it. For example, if using Freepik, you may need to include “Images designed by Freepik” somewhere on the printed product.
Beach Party Crafts
Hawaiian Paper Leis Craft
Precut pieces for this craft beforehand or let attendees do the work! You’ll need brightly colored construction paper, a flower template, scissors, a hole punch, straws, and yarn. These paper leis always turn out well and look so cute on attendees! See the blog Raising Veggie Lovers for more instructions and tips.
Pool Noodle Boats
Provide pool noodle boat-making supplies and challenge kiddos to create a boat that is wind-powered (by blowing the sail) and floats. Cut a pool noodle into 2-3-inch discs, stick a straw in the top, and add a paper sail (with holes punched in it) onto the straw. The blog Our Family of Seven offers additional tips and uses foam sheets for their sails, but cardstock or construction paper works just fine! If you have teen volunteers, round them up to precut the various boat pieces. Set out tubs of water (aluminum pie tins or foil pans work great) and set sail!
Tiki Masks Craft
Download the free mask templates from PrintableTreats.com and print them on cardstock. Provide markers, scissors, a hole punch, and yarn for attendees to decorate their masks, cut them out, punch a hole on each side, and string the yarn through the holes to fasten on their heads.
Painted Seashells
Supplies include seashells (purchased at Michaels), paint, paint brushes, tacky glue, and googly eyes. Paper plates were provided to set the shells on while decorating and drying.
Beach Party Snacks
Blue Ocean Jello Cups
Clear cups filled 3/4 with blue Jello. Kids can add graham cracker crumbs “sand” (crumb can usually be found near the pudding/pie filling area at the grocery store, or let kids smash up actual graham crackers), teddy bear swimmers, and tropical drink umbrellas.
Goldfish Crackers Individual Snack Packs
You can typically find bulk packs at Walmart, Target, or your local grocery store.
Beach Party Activity Card
For “move at your own pace” events, I love providing an activity sheet that lists all the fun stations attendees can enjoy. Print out sheets, or create 1/4 page cardstock cards that attendees can wear around their necks with a string. Punch holes in the top of the card and use string to fasten around their necks like a necklace. Once all activities and crafts are completed, offer them a prize, such as stickers or bookmarks. I once found a pack of shark teeth in my library’s supply closet and distributed the teeth as prizes. Best supply closest find ever!
Visit The Youth Desk’s Programs page for more event ideas and outlines.
