Planning summer beach trips with your toddler? I’ve got the cutest roundup of beach crafts that are so easy and fun!
Whether you’re planning a trip or just want some cute beach themed crafts for summer, there are a lot of ideas of cute crafts to entertain your toddler.
This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission from your purchases at no extra cost to you.
#1 Sand Handprints
This one is super easy to do during a day on the beach with your toddler. The whole family can even get in on it!
You don’t need a ton of supplies. Just some sunscreen or glue and cardstock or a canvas!
Supplies List
- Glue or Sunscreen
- White Cardstock or Small Canvas
- Sand from the beach or you can buy your own sand to do it at home
Instructions
- Coat your toddler’s hand with sunscreen or elmer’s glue
- Press their handprint on paper
- Repeat for other family members if you want on the same paper
- Sprinkle with sand from the beach or sand you have at home. Just like sand art!
Related: Screen Free Toddler Activities for When Mom’s Busy!
#2 Sea Shell Painting
Collect sea shells from the beach, order them online, or visit a beachside shell shop for this cute and easy activity the whole family will enjoy.
Supplies List
- Seashells collected from the beach, purchased online (they are so affordable HERE), or visit a beach-side shell shop
- Paint Markers (Affordable Option) (High Quality Option)
Instructions
- Use your paint markers to draw colorful designs and art with your toddler!
#3 Seashell Keepsake Box
I love this keepsake box idea and think it could be fun for kids of all ages.
Toddlers would love this box though to put their rocks and shells they collect at the beach. Personally I had a girly girl toddler who could never have enough boxes like this for her jewelry!
Supplies List
- Small Keepsake Box
- Tacky Glue
- Shells collected at the beach, ordered online, or bought at a sea-side shell shop
Instructions
- Collect shells at the beach, order them online, or bought at a sea-side shell shop
- Glue the shells to a small wooden keepsake box
#4 Sea-Side Shell Art
If the beach you’re visiting has a rule against collecting shells this is a great craft for the whole family, toddlers included.
One downside is that you’ll have to freehand draw the thing you want to fill in.
The best part is no supplies needed!
Supplies List
- Shells collected on the beach
Instructions
- Draw the outline of an image in the sand and fill it in with shells to make a cute art piece you can take a picture of and don’t have to haul back to your hotel or home!
#5 Beach in a Jar
What a cute souvenir your toddler can help create and take home to remember your beach trip?
This craft is so easy and the most adorable momento for toddlers.
Supplies List
- Small Jar (you could use mason jars or an old jam jar)
- Beach Sand
- Rock or Shells collected from the beach or purchased
Instructions
- Put a handful of sand in the jar
- Fill halfway with ocean water
- Put a few ocean shells, rocks, or both in the jar
- Close the lid and take home for a keepsake (You can glue the lid on too)
#6 Watercolor Painting on the Beach
Keep it easy and do a family watercolor painting activity on the beach.
Lay out a blanket and paint the scenery with your kids!
Supply List
- Cardstock or Small Canvas
- Kids Watercolor Kit
- Use ocean water and pail to paint
Instructions
- Lay out a beach blanket or sit at a picnic table
- Use ocean water and a beach pail with a watercolor kit to paint on paper or canvas
- Paint ocean animals and scenery you see
#7 Rock Painting
Just like shell painting paint rocks at the beach.
Some beaches are covered in rocks and pebbles (like Moonstone Beach in California) and are perfect for this!
Supply List
- Rocks and stones collected at the beach
- Paint Markers (Affordable Option) (High Quality Option)
Instructions
- Use your paint markers to draw colorful designs and art on the rocks and stones with your toddler!
#8 Starfish Viewfinder
What a cute idea for little explorers!
Create a starfish or ocean creature cutout on cardboard for your littles to look through and explore.
Supply List
- Cardboard or Cardstock
- Starfish Stencil (or you can freehand draw)
- Marker
- Scissors
Instructions
- Trace a starfish on cardboard or cardstock or you can freehand draw
- Cut out with scissors
- Give to your littles to look through at the beach
#9 Seaweed Jellyfish
Cardboard jellyfish never looked so adorable!
Your toddler can explore and craft this right on the beach… and it doesn’t take a whole lot of supplies.
Supply List
- Cardboard or cardstock cut into top of jellyfish shape
- Giant googly eyes
- Seaweed found on the beach
- Elmer’s Glue or Tacky Glue might help the seaweed stick better
Instructions
- Cover your cardboard cutout in glue
- Place your googly eyeballs
- Cover the rest of the glue in sand
- Glue strips of seaweed to the back for the tentacles
#10 DIY Beach Sensory Bin
Okay this is not quite a craft, but I thought it was a worthy creative toddler activity for the beach.
The beach is literally a giant sensory bin. So why not go with that theme?
Supply List
- Small portable sensory table
- Sand, water, shells, and rocks provided by the beach
- A sand toy kit would be great for this too!
Instructions
- Set up your toddlers sensory table on the shore with a little sand, water, shells, rocks, and beach toys perfect for hours of sensory play!
Leave a Reply