“[Beach toys] give children the opportunity to be bored, which does not often happen with our current on-the-go lifestyles,” says board-certified pediatrician and neonatologist Jessica Madden, MD, Aeroflow Breastpumps medical director and an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). “Open-ended play encourages children to use their imaginations and reach out to other kids to play, even ones they do not know.” Dr. Madden says that the best beach toys are the ones that can be used safely and independently by your kids while also being easy to transport to and from the shore. While creating this list, we took her advice and kept an eye out for toys that will hold up to the rigors of beach play, which means avoiding toys with electronic components or anything with small parts that could easily get lost or left behind. We also looked at toys that will be loads of fun for a variety of age levels or for the whole family together. Here are the best beach toys for kids of all ages. Price at time of publication: $20 Price at time of publication: $28 Price at time of publication: $13 Price at time of publication: $18 To play, you simply bat the birdies back and forth, trying to keep them in the air for as long as possible. It sounds pretty simple, but you’ll be surprised at how challenging it can be. Price at time of publication: $17 Price at time of publication: $32 Price at time of publication: $32 The sturdy construction of these toys makes them ideal for playing at the beach and making sand castles. The set comes with three colorful 2-liter silicone buckets that fold down flat into 1-inch tall circles, plus they have durable plastic handles, making them easy to store and transport. And, the buckets are dishwasher safe. Price at time of publication: $20 Price at time of publication: $28 Price at time of publication: $23 Price at time of publication: $32 Price at time of publication: $18 Price at time of publication: $70 Price at time of publication: $30 Price at time of publication: $25 Price at time of publication: $19 Price at time of publication: $17 Price at time of publication: $25 To set up the game, simply dig a half-circle trench with a hole in the middle, then repeat this setup 30 paces away. Teams take turns tossing balls toward the opposite trench, trying to get them into one of the holes to score points. Don’t worry about the balls rolling into the ocean, either, because they’ll float so you can easily retrieve them. Price at time of publication: $30
What to Look for in Beach Toys
Age Level
When shopping for the best beach toys for your kids, you’ll want to keep in mind the age range that the toys are best for. You don’t want to get something too complex or with too many pieces for an infant or young toddler, but you also don’t want to offer a teen something that they will quickly lose interest in. “Brightly-colored and basic toys, like nesting cups, sand sifters, and squirters,” are great for infants, according to Dr. Madden. When it comes to toddlers, she suggests plastic shovels, buckets, and vehicles, like boats and dump trucks. She also recommends “other instruments that encourage imaginative play, such as cookie cutters, rolling pins, and funnels (which can often be found in your kitchen).” Older kids can also enjoy playing with plastic shovels and pails, building sand castles, or collecting rocks, seashells, sea glass, and more. “Kids 8 and up also usually enjoy playing sports and games on the beach, so I usually recommend bringing, at minimum, a beach ball and a frisbee.”
Safety
If you’re lucky, your beach trip will happen on a nice, sunny day. You’ll want to make sure whatever toys you’re bringing will stand up to the sun without getting brittle (which could cause breakage) or too hot (which could burn your child). Avoid toys made out of dark-colored metals or ultra-thin plastics.
Encouraging Independent Play
You’ll never be able to fully disengage from your child while they’re at the beach—it’s important to have an adult supervising children at all times when they’re around water—but some toys will allow you a bit more time to kick back and enjoy the view. When choosing beach toys for your family, make sure you’re picking ones that your child can play with independently, if only for a little while.
Portability
As you shop for beach toys, keep in mind how you’ll get them to and from the shoreline. Will they fit in your beach bag or wagon? Or will they require their own transportation? Are they light enough that your child can be in charge of them, or will an adult need to be the one moving them around? The best toys are the ones that are light and will easily fit into your existing beach gear.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Lauren Wellbank is a mother of three small children, so she knows beach trips can be complicated endeavors. She spends a lot of time carefully weighing the pros and cons of the toys she packs for a beach trip to make sure she’s not lugging anything around that will either go unused or that her kids will easily lose interest in.
