Best Beach Games for Kids and Family

There’s nothing more fun than a beach vacation (or a beach trip) with multiple Fun Beach Games planned for your little devils.

Kids love to dig, duck, throw balls, splash water, and squirm in the sand just for fun, so we have compiled a list of the Best Kids’ Beach Games that will make them giggle on and about the whole day!

And yes, don’t feel left out! You too can be a part of these beach-themed games because as we have purposefully included ‘Fun Family Beach Games‘ section so that everyone has fun.

After all, there is nothing more fun than playing together with kids. It does wonders to bonding and creates everlasting memories.

Let’s dive into these Best Beach Games For Kids without further ado! (Pun intended)

The Best Beach Game Ideas – How to Spend a Fun Day With Your Kids?

Kids love it when their parents play at the beach with them instead of simply sitting! So, your first mission as a parent is to be as involved and energetic as your kids. Their giggles increase 10 folds when you are playing with them!

Secondly, you don’t need expensive beach equipment to make your beach holiday fun; everything fun is already there— sand, water, and a breezy environment. Grab a few beach balls, baskets, and shovels, and you are good to go!

Fun Beach Games For Kids

Kids love going to the beach and what could be more fun than playing fun games on the sand? To have the best time playing beach games, we suggest you carry an assortment of balls of varying sizes and beach toys to the beach.

1. Beach Scavenger Hunt With Riddles

This is no regular beach game for kids and we bet your kids will love it! We came up with this version of beach scavenger hunt on our recent trip and it has been a family favourite beach game ever since!

Beach Scavenger Hunt

What you need to do is pair riddles with scavenger hunt instead of giving out pictures of items to search for. Don’t worry, we have done the work for you! All you need is to print our beach scavenger hunt Riddles printable and hide the items for your kids to first guess and then find!

Just the perfect beach game for kids to keep them entertained and give you time for sunbathing!

2. Sand Dart Game

It is one of the best beach games to play with kids. Simply use your finger to make a dart board on the sand and let your kids aim beach stones or pebbles to score points.

Simple and fun!

3. Beach Bowling

Beach bowling is definitely fun and far more challenging than the regular arcade bowling, thanks to the sandy surface.

What You Will Need?

Kids bowling pins – You can also use regular plastic bottles. Fill them with sand for extra fun!
Beach Balls

If you are playing as a mixed-aged group, allow younger children to line up nearer to balls for fair play!

4. Waddle Walk

Waddle walk is another fun ball race for your kids to play at the beach. It’s easy and doesn’t require much supplies other than beach balls. Plus, it’s a versatile game that can be played with small as well big groups.

For this classic game, your kids must hold the ball between their legs and make it to the finish line by jumping or waddling toward it!

Ensure you choose a ball that isn’t too big to hurt your child by overstretching their legs or is too small that it becomes difficult to hold it for a long time.

5. Squirt Gun Game/ Water Gun-Beach Ball Race

This is one of the most fun beach ball games to play with kids! We absolutely love this game. Nothing can make beaches as much fun as a water gun! Playing this game is best when you have a large group of minions on the beach.

What you need:

Two giant beach balls (at least 50 cm in diameter): a bigger ball will be easier to shoot with the water gun.
Squirt/Water guns: Whichever is readily available and affordable.

Divide into two groups and draw a finish line not far away! Each team will have a ball of their own. Both groups must shoot the ball with their water gun until the finish line. The team that finishes the fastest wins!

And don’t shy away from squirting water on your opponents, if the gun pressure is normal, for some silly wholesome family fun at the beach!

6. Water Relay Race

Water relay race is probably one of the most fun beach games to play individually as well as a team. The challenge is to fill the bucket of water (with the ocean right in front of you!)

To play, divide players into teams. Place the bucket near the sea but far enough to avoid waves. Players take their mugs and run to the ocean to get water for their bucket. Whosoever fills their buckets fastest, wins the race!

Quick Tip: You can make holes in the mugs to make fetching water a little more challenging!

Since this game requires running to water, it is better suitable for kids aged 7 or more.

7. Beach Treasure Hunt

Your kids will absolutely love this fun game! There’s a reason why everyone loves treasure hunting. It exercises your mind along with your body.

Plus, the riddles continue to fill you with dopamine.

Divide your family into two teams. There should be two separate sets of clues for both teams. Have at least 4-5 riddles and keep the riddles simple yet engaging.

Keep two trails for the clues opposite to each other, and the treasure should be at the centre of both these trails.

Use an actual chest and keys to safeguard the treasure to make things cooler. You can find multiple treasure hunt riddles online. Here’s a simple one we made for you:

Start by giving them a scroll with the following note:

“Under the vast blue sky, there’s a ribbon tied on a tree. You are looking for the color blue.”

Add a scroll with the ribbon.

“Behind the rocks and under the sand, there’s a shovel deep hidden. Find it for the next clue.”

With the shovel, use this note.

“The fun has only begun. Your next clue resides with the person who loves you the most. Remember, they will not give it to you easily. Do your best.” (Their loved ones are you and your partner.)

When they reach you, ask them to do something for you before handing them the keys. It can be anything— Dancing, singing, reciting poems or simply saying something sweet for you!

With the keys, hand them over the scroll, saying,

“Your destiny is at the X. You will find the ‘X’ near the biggest tree/rock near you. Don’t forget to dig deep; the shovel is your friend.”

Below the tree/rock, draw a large ‘X’ in the sand.

Whoever digs faster and finds the chest wins! Add the following note at the scroll.

“Open me only on a sand castle.”

Keep a cute gift inside the chest box – like a candy with a love note or a beach souvenir! Your kids deserve it!!

8. Beach Ball Action Games

Sit in a circle and get comfortable on the sand. Take a multi-color beach ball (big) and add activities on each colour patch using a marker. Play a song and stop randomly; the person who catches the ball at the end of the song shall perform the activities facing them.

These tasks can include various activities:

Recite alphabets
“Make us laugh”
Dance
Sing songs or poems with actions, etc.

9. Beach Ping Pong

Beach ping pong is easily one of the most exciting beach games to play! It uses every single yet enthralling element on the beach without requiring any additional items— Sand, water, ball (preferably small in size), and a shovel.

Each player/competitor has to dig a hole a big enough hole to drop their ping pong ball inside. The task is to bring the ball to the surface by pouring water into the hole. Sounds silly fun, right? We bet it is!

Whoever gets the balls on top first wins!

10. Beach Ball Relay Race

This beach ball game is best for big groups. If you are a small family, be ready to join the race! It can be a fun face-off between the mom-son and dad-daughter teams.

What you need: A medium-sized beach ball, knee pads, and cool prizes.

Divide your kids into pairs and hand them over a medium-sized beach ball. Draw a ‘winning line’ not far away. The partners must hold the ball between their backs and hips until they reach the finish line. Whoever finishes fastest wins!

Quick Tip: You might have to kneel to reach your kid’s height for this game!

In case you are a really big group, make two teams of equal players. Let the players pair up within their team and stand in a line all the way to the finish point. The challenge is to pass the beach ball between their knees without dropping. The first team to complete the task wins!

11. Mini Beach Volleyball

Beach volleyball is one of classic beach ball games that gets everyone moving and having fun!

It’s good if you already have a volleyball net at home, but you can still play mini-volleyball without one. Here’s a DIY beach volleyball court.

Hunt two big branches and cease them inside the sand at a nice distance. Bury them until they are at your kid’s height or slightly above.
Use a big scarf or a beach towel as a net between those two branches.
Draw the court boundaries using another branch; you are also good without them.
Split into equal teams and let the game begin.

12. Sand Mermaid

If you are looking for some relaxing time on the beach while keeping the kids happily busy, try sand mermaid. All you have to do is relax (we mean lay down) on the sand and cover your body up to your waist.

Once you are all relaxed and covered with sand, invite your kids to make mermaid’s tail around your covered legs using simple beach toys, seashells, beach rocks or whatever they fancy.

Such a clever way to enjoy with kids!

Family Beach Games

Get your whole family on board because the more, the merrier. Plus, kids absolutely love it when you take an equal interest in the games. It makes them feel special and valued besides making unforgettable childhood memories to look back to!

13. Beach Frisbee

Transform the classic game of frisbee into beach frisbee with a simple change of surroundings! Beach frisbee is an easy game to play at the beach with family that promises to woo everyone.

Divide players into teams to get this fun summer beach game rolling.

14. Beach Frisbee Golf

Once you are done with beach frisbee, try this beach and frisbee inspired golf – Beach Frisbee Golf! All you need to do to play this fun game is set targets on sand and hit them with a frisbee.

A must try family beach game, beach frisbee golf is super fun! We can’t possibly tell in words how fun this game is!

15. Beach Dodgeball

This is one of the most popular beach games for adults but can certainly be played with family. Simply choose a softer ball, like a sponge or lightweight ball, to play beach dodgeball with your kids; it makes the game safer yet fun.

‘Safe playing’ doesn’t mean you avoid targeting your kids; it will bore them out. So, keep them engaged and make them the target as much as possible.

However, if young kids are not involved, feel free to make your own rules for a fun beach game for adults. It is a great beach game for teenagers as well!

16. Tug of War

What could be better than playing Family Tug of War on a beach? Grab your ropes and get on the sandy war field. As you are playing with the kids, ensure the yarn has a softer surface. Instead of choosing jute, you can go for cotton or velvet ropes. Or simply twist a few beach towels lengthwise and tie them at the ends to make your DIY rope.

Split into two equal teams and ensure each team has one strong player!

17. Beach Soccer

One of the most adrenaline pumping summer beach games, Beach soccer is pure fun to play. With sand at your feet and a sand castle (or a sand bucket!) to smash for a goal, there cannot be a better game to play to burn that extra energy!

18. Musical Beach Towels

It is a perfect family fun beach game to play with a large group. Instead of chairs, you use beach towels to sit and play this beach themed game. As the name suggests, it’s an exact replica of the famous ‘musical chairs’ game and requires a music box.

Simple creativity and few changes in the rules can transform beach games for adults into beach games for families. So make sure to add more to this list.

Beach Activities For Kids

After these exhilarating fun games, it’s time to bury your legs deep in the sand and build tiers of mountains. Here are a few great sand activities you can enjoy with your kids while relaxing.

19. Beach sand art

Get creative with your kids and allow them to explore their capabilities at the beach. Let them express, “Art is a self-expression.”

Be at their assistance, but let them lead! Here are a few excellent sand art examples to experiment with your kids:

Wet sand castles: Grab a basket of sand and mix it with water. Let a layer of water sit on top. After creating a mountain base with sand, start depositing wet sand on the bottom with your hands. It will continue to pile up and make artistic pillars.
Making fish with pebbles and beach stones.
Coral reefs with shells and other sand ornaments; you can even color them up to excite things.
‘Castle making’ using baskets and other shape kits.
Making shapes in the sand: Such as octopuses, mermaids, dolls, etc.

20. Kite Flying

If you have never experienced flying a kite at the beach, you are missing out big time. With so much space at hand and open wind— your kite will disappear into the depths of the sky.

Take your kids & friends along with you and break war in the sky. Get your kids their own colourful kites to fly around.

21. Beach Sand Angels

Choose a place with a shed, get your sunglasses on, and relax your whole body on the sand with your kids. Spread your limbs and flap them in and out to make sand angels.

22. Blow Bubbles

Blowing bubbles is a calming activity like no other! After a tiresome session of game playing at the beach, let your kids relax on their beach towels and blow bubbles.

This will give them down time to replenish their energy without getting bored.

Related: Check out this Easy Homemade Bubble Solution Recipe to make bounciest bubbles.

23. Sand Hopscotch

Hopscotch is fun wherever you play, but playing it on the sand makes it extra fun. Line out a hopscotch map with a stick and fill the boundaries and its numbers with coloured water to maintain the map for longer. The boxes’ size should depend on your kid’s age.

24. Sand Snowman

Why not build a sand snowman together to keep kids creatively busy? With so much construction material available in plain sight, it would be a crime not to make one!