Summer is here, and we all know what that means. It means it’s time to think about vacations at the beach. As your child enters their toddler years they are going to be seeking things to do with this huge area of sand. It’s up to you to show them. As a parent who probably looked forward to going on vacation yourself when you were a child (and many of us still do) this will allow you to share a place that is close to your heart with your toddler. As well all know though, toddlers get bored very easily. Their attention span is not all that long, and while at the beach there are many distractions. To help keep them in one place you will want to have activities for them to experience while at the beach.
Of course there is the ocean, and that’s great for about ten minutes or so. Eventually though your toddler will get bored with jumping over the little waves in the shallow area, or tire themselves out. When they leave the water to sit on the beach towel, it’s time to show them all the other activities the beach can offer to them even if they aren’t in the ocean itself. Of course the most basic activities is to dig in the sand. Give your toddler a shovel and watch them go, just make sure to stop them from throwing sand on the people that are around you. Remember, no matter how cute you think your child is, not everyone will agree. Another popular activity on the beach is flying a kite. While your toddler is too young to hold it, watching the kite, especially if you get a trick kite can be counted on to kill at least half an hour at the beach with your toddler.
While you are moving around, how about taking them walking along the water’s edge and look for shells, show them the different types of shells there are and carry one of their buckets with you. Let your toddler collect a whole bucket of shells and then later you can take them back home with you after vacation and show them how to paint their shells. If you are feeling creative and energetic, you could do some advanced digging for your toddler and dig a car into the sand for them to sit in. This will take some time. Of course if you want to dig a really deep hole you could allow your toddler to bury you in the sand until your head is just poking out of the sand. This is sure to make them laugh. Other activities that toddlers can enjoy when on the beach include playing with a beach ball, and making tracks and drawings in the sand with both their feet and hands, but be careful to avoid the hottest sand when doing this.
Toddlers are naturally inquisitive, and sand is something new for them to explore, keep in mind though while at the beach that toddlers in general have very fare skin. Make sure you apply sun protection liberally and replace it at regular intervals. As long as you do this to protect yourself and your toddler, the two of you will have a great day at the beach.
