I tried this with my son on our vacation, and it was good for at least half an hour of fun on his own, while we splashed about in the water.

Take a few sheets of paper with outlined drawings on them - a fish, shell, starfish, anything at all.  It doesn’t even have to be beach related, although it helps.  Also, take a glue stick along.

At the beach, fill in the outline with glue,  and turn the paper drawing-side down on dry sand.  Press it gently for a few seconds, remove the paper and shake off excess sand from the sides.  You have  a nice beach artwork that’s also a great reminder of your time by the sea!

To make sure your paper doesn’t fall apart, paste it onto a piece of poster board before you head to the beach,  or use thick card stock paper.

Back home, turn a side table into a reminder of your beach trip with these framed beach art pieces, your family pictures at the beach, and shells collected from your trip.

Enjoy!

Photo Courtesy: Flickr - Rockonmu

More things to do outside if the water isn’t too warm. Set up a bowling alley with your preschooler.

If you don’t have a plastic pin set, use bottles instead.  Fill clear plastic screw top bottles half full with water, and add drops of food color to each.  Decorate.  Coat the bottle with one part glue mixed with four parts water, and let her draw or paint on the bottle with markers.  Don’t fill the bottles completely because then, they’ll be hard to knock over.

Draw a line, and arrange the bottles in a row. Don’t keep a long distance from your child to the pins.

Grab a ball, take aim, and have fun. Don’t forget to lose every now and again!

Have fun!

Photo Courtesy: Flickr - Andrichrose

So what if you’re stuck miles and miles from the nearest beach this summer? Create your own beach right in your backyard with your preschooler.

Fill up your wading pool (even a large tub will do). Fill with sea shells, plastic sea creatures, and fish. Put a few drops of non-toxic blue finger paint into the water to give it that sea blue tinge.

Outside the “sea,” lay out a few beach towels. Deck out your kids in beach wear, hats and sunglasses. Place a few deck chairs, and bring out the bottles of sun block lotion. Pack a picnic basket with sandwiches, and juice bottles, and make a seaside picnic of it.

It sends them a message about making the most of their situation, rather than whining about how different things could be.