20 Fun Beach Day Family Activities for Preteens

You made it – it’s a beach day family moment. Towels down, sunscreen on… and your tween is already bored. ОК. Maybe not. Maybe you’re just that family who actually likes doing fun stuff together at the beach.

Either way, this age is perfect for beach adventures – if you’ve got the right mix of silliness, challenge, and just enough “cool.” Whether it’s a full-on vacation or a quick Saturday escape, these ideas are built to make your beach day family time feel easy, connected, and actually fun – for kids and parents (and maybe even grandparents too).

And the best part? Most of what’s in this guide doesn’t cost a thing. Mostly Just your people, the beach, and a willingness to get a little sandy and a lot silly.

Let’s dive in.

Beach Day Family Activity #1. Build a Giant Sandcastle (with a Moat and Bridge)

Go big or go home. Skip the usual bucket tower – use hands, shovels, even flip-flops to sculpt a whole sand kingdom. Let your tween plan the layout while you dig like your SPF (sun protection factor) depends on it. Add dramatic touches and fake drama: “We must finish before the tide invades!”

The perfect Beach Day Family project: creative, ridiculous, and genuinely collaborative.

Bonus twist:

• Add a moat and “flood” it with a bucket of seawater.
• Use sticks or seaweed as flags, gates, or guards.
• Set a challenge: whose bridge can hold a shell without collapsing?

What they love: Feeling like an architect in charge of their own empire.

What you love: Building something together without anyone complaining or quitting halfway.

Beach Day Family Activity #2. Ride a SUP Board or Inflatable Boat Together

If you’ve got a stand-up paddleboard or a little boat, this is your chance to do something fun together. Let your preteen steer. Fall in. Laugh hard. It feels adventurous, gives them control, and burns off all that mysterious tween energy.

Tip:

• If you’re renting, pick a board that fits both of you — stability > speed.
• Set a mini mission: “circle that buoy” or “spy on the seagulls.”
• Let them name your “ship” something ridiculous.

What they love: Feeling trusted and slightly reckless.

What you love: Being off your towel and out of “are you bored?” mode.

Beach Day Family Activity #3. Jump Through the Waves – Who Lasts the Longest?

Simple? Yes.

Boring? Not when it’s a challenge.

Set the rule: jump over every wave. No skipping. Last one standing wins… bragging rights, a cold drink, or first pick of the beach snacks.

Try variations:

• Jump on one leg
• Jump only on the 3rd wave
• Wear towels as capes for “superhero mode”

What they love: Low-stakes dares with maximum splash factor.

What you love: They’ll sleep well tonight.

Beach Day Family Activity #4. Collect Seashells by Color, Shape, or Size

Shell collecting doesn’t have to feel like kindergarten. Set a mission: five spirals, three white ones, one weird broken piece that still looks cool. Turn your towel into a “gallery” and have them curate the display. Bonus: they might start making their own categories (e.g., “crabby but cute”).

Bonus twist:

• Take photos of your collection like it’s beach art.
• Let them vote on “best in show” or name each one.
• Turn your favorites into a sea mosaic or “gift” later.

What they love: Making decisions and creating their own rules.

What you love: They’re focused and in full explorer mode.

Beach Day Family Activity #5. Do a “Beach Fashion Show” Using Sand, Seaweed, and Sticks

Turn your stretch of beach into a runway. The rules? No actual clothes — except swimsuits, trunks, and, obviously, sun hats. Let your tween go wild with seaweed scarves, shell earrings, and dramatic sand shoes. Narrate their walk like it’s Paris Fashion Week — but make it weird

Bonus twist:

• Create a category: “Swamp Royalty” or “Crab Gala.”
• Give each other designer names (e.g., House of Driftwood).
• Do slo-mo walks with music from your phone.

What they love: The chance to be silly and fabulous at the same time.

What you love: Seeing them unleash peak tween creativity – and laugh like crazy.

Beach Day Family Activity #6. Play Beach Bowling with Stones and Plastic Bottles

Recycling meets ridiculous fun. Line up six empty water bottles as pins and find the perfect stone for your “ball.” Each round, stand farther back or add wild obstacles like driftwood ramps.

Try variations:

• Bowl with your non-dominant hand.
• If you miss, do a crab walk.
• Create team names and keep score.

What they love: Competing and inventing goofy rules.

What you love: They’re running around and off their screens.

Beach Day Family Activity #7. Draw Something Huge in the Sand and Take a Photo from Above

Use sticks or your hands to draw names, cartoons, or comic strips in the sand. Then figure out how to get the shot from above. Bonus if you add props.

Bonus twist:

• Time each other running through a sand maze.
• Make “sand comics” with speech bubbles.
• Pose next to it for full effect.

What they love: Seeing their idea come to life on a massive scale.

What you love: One solid photo = 10 minutes of Instagram peace.

Beach Day Family Activity #8. Try Catching a Crab or Tiny Fish with a Net (and Let It Go After!)

Wade in with a net and see who finds something first. Handle gently, name it if you must, then let it go like pros.

Tip:

• Move slow.
• Flip rocks gently.
• Use a clear bucket for observation.

What they love: Feeling like a wildlife expert.

What you love: Quiet focus and zero complaints.

Beach Day Family Activity #9. Have a Beach Photo Session – Take Cool Pics of Each Other

Assign each other silly photo prompts: “jump midair,” “model pose with seaweed,” “action shot with splash.” It’s part bonding, part creative play.

Bonus twist:

• Pick themes (“shipwrecked,” “mystery mood”).
• Use timer mode to get in the shot too.
• Let them edit and “curate” the results.

What they love: Being in control of their look.

What you love: A phone activity that actually builds connection.

Beach Day Family Activity #10. Write a Secret Message on a Stone and Hide It in the Sand

Scratch or draw something on a flat rock. Bury it. Leave a clue. Swap. Search.

Bonus twist:

• Make it a dare.
• Use emojis or secret code.
• Take it home later.

What they love: The mix of stealth and mystery.

What you love: Ten quiet minutes.

Beach Day Family Activity #11. Play “Guess What It Is” with Seashells (Eyes Closed)

Grab mystery beach items and place them in each other’s hand — eyes closed. Three guesses. Chaos ensues.

Try variations:

• Add gross/fake objects.
• Fastest correct guess wins.
• Try it with your feet (if you dare).

What they love: Trickery and weird textures.

What you love: You don’t even have to stand up.

Beach Day Family Activity #12. Find the Roundest Stone or the Weirdest Shell

Send them on a 5-minute scavenger dash. Then present findings like it’s the Shell Awards.

Bonus twist:

• Assign backstories or names.
• Vote on categories.
• Take portraits before release.

What they love: Making decisions and judging.

What you love: It’s structured but zero effort for you

Beach Day Family Activity #13. Watch the Clouds and Give Names to the Shapes

Drop the agenda. Lie on your back, stare at the sky, and let the clouds do the work. This is a low-energy, high-connection activity that gives both of you space to relax and be weird.

Bonus twist:

• Narrate what the cloud is doing (“That dragon just ate a sandwich”).
• Turn it into a challenge: most ridiculous description wins.
• Use it to sneak into deeper talk — “What would that cloud say if it had a secret?”

What they love: No pressure. Just imagination.
What you love: Forced stillness (but the good kind).

Beach Day Family Activity #14. Wave Jumping Challenge – Follow a Color or a Count

This one takes the classic wave jump and gives it a twist. Make rules: only jump when a red umbrella flaps or every 5th wave. Suddenly, it’s a serious sport with strategy and suspense.

Try variations:

• Let them invent the pattern and you follow it.
• Add obstacles: do a spin before each jump.
• Bring in siblings or friends and form “teams.”

What they love: Being the one who sets the rules.
What you love: It’s silly cardio in disguise.

Beach Day Family Activity #15. Make Up a Short Story or Comic About a Shell – and Draw It in the Sand

Grab a random shell. Give it a name. A mission. A nemesis. Then sketch the whole drama in the sand like a comic strip. Add speech bubbles. Bonus points for dramatic death scenes.

Bonus twist:

• Pretend you’re pitching the story to Netflix.
• Turn it into a one-person beach play.
• Add sound effects (yes, loudly).

What they love: Full control over a story that’s theirs.
What you love: They’re focused, creative, and not begging for data.

Beach Day Family Activity #16. Have a Sunset Beach Picnic – Plan the Menu Together

Not just snacks. Make it an event. Let them choose the menu, pick the drinks, maybe even suggest a playlist. Spread out a towel or beach blanket and watch the sky put on its show.

Bonus twist:

• Pack something unexpected (like breakfast for dinner).
• Add fairy lights or tea candles if you’re staying past sunset.
• Do “silent sunset” for the first 5 minutes — no talking, just watching.

What they love: Feeling grown-up and in charge of the vibe.
What you love: Connection without distractions (and prettier than any restaurant).

Beach Day Family Activity #17. Do a Beach Scavenger Hunt – Find Everything on the List

Turn the whole beach into a mission. Make a list of things to find: a red shell, a spiral, seaweed shaped like a letter, driftwood, a footprint that’s not yours. First one to finish wins — or just bragging rights.

Bonus twist:

• Time it. Add penalties for wrong guesses.
• Assign each item a point value.
• Take pics of each find to prove it.

What they love: A goal with structure and a tiny bit of pressure.
What you love: It keeps them busy while you sneak a moment of peace.

Beach Day Family Activity #18. Learn How to Skip Stones Over the Water

Grab a flat stone. Show them the throw (sidearm, low angle, wrist flick). Then let them try 17 times before one glorious two-skip moment. It’s equal parts physics lesson and patience trainer.

Bonus twist:

• Compete: most skips, biggest splash, most dramatic fail.
• Create “stone personas” and give each a name.
• Do slow-mo commentary like it’s the Olympics.

What they love: Mastering something that feels grown-up.
What you love: The moment they get it — and their whole face lights up.

Beach Day Family Activity #19. Make a Sea Mosaic from Shells and Stones – and Gift It to Each Other

Find a clear patch of sand and make “gifts” out of shells, rocks, and seaweed. A heart. A flower. A turtle with stick legs. Present them to each other with fake dramatic speeches.

Bonus twist:

• Turn it into a beach “art show.”
• Add a story behind each piece.
• Leave them behind for other families to find.

What they love: Making something beautiful that doesn’t need to last.
What you love: Photos you’ll actually want to keep.

Beach Day Family Activity #20. Lie Down on the Sand, Look at the Sky, and Just Talk

No rules. No plan. Just lie side by side, stare up, and let the conversation happen. This is the moment where they might say something small but true — and you’ll remember it later.

Bonus twist:

• Ask: “If you could teleport anywhere right now, where would you go?”
• Or: “What’s one thing grown-ups never notice?”
• Or just be quiet together for a while.

What they love: A parent who actually listens.
What you love: Real connection, no forced activity required.

BONUS: 15 Tips for a Fun, Low-Stress Beach Day Family Experience with Preteens

Because “just go have fun!” isn’t a real plan — especially with preteens.

Here’s what actually works to make your beach day family time smoother, calmer, and more fun for everyone:

1. Bring open-ended gear: a net, a waterproof camera, chalk, mesh bags → Tools they can use any way they want = hours of self-directed fun (and fewer “what now?” questions).
2. Say yes more than no (within reason!) → Let them try weird stuff. It builds trust, and you might be surprised what they come up with.
3. Let them be in charge sometimes – especially with creative tasks → Give them ownership: name the activity, lead the rules, be the “director.” It works wonders on resistance.
4. Don’t overschedule – the goal is connection, not performance → You don’t need to “fill the day.” One great activity can carry the vibe longer than six mediocre ones.
5. Lean into the weird – your preteen will love you for it → Make up games. Talk to a crab. Pretend the sandcastle is a bank. Weird = memorable.
6. They do want to hang out with you — they’re just looking for a reason that doesn’t feel forced or babyish → The trick is offering something that feels just grown-up enough for them to say yes without cringing.
7. Pack snacks like it’s a survival mission – hungry tweens = beach gremlins → Protein, fruit, salty stuff, backup chocolate. No one regrets overpacking food.
8. Keep expectations low, patience high – the vibe > the plan → You might plan a bonding moment and get bickering instead. Stay flexible – good moments sneak up on you.
9. Always bring a bonus towel – the “why” will reveal itself → Wet hair? Sand explosion? Random shell collection? Trust me: the extra towel saves everything.
10. Let them teach you something – posing, shell art, skipping stones → Flip the dynamic. They’ll love being the expert for once, and you get to chill while they explain.
11. Make space for quiet moments – not everything needs to be a “thing” → Just lying side-by-side watching clouds? Total win.
12. Set a time limit for phones – and yes, that includes you → Frame it as a challenge: “Let’s do the next hour screen-free and see who cracks first.”
13. Rotate who picks the next activity – builds buy-in, kills whining → If they know their turn is coming, they’ll go along with yours (probably).
14. Have a weather-proof backup plan – moods (and skies) shift fast → Bring a card game, a story prompt, or a scavenger hunt printable. Doesn’t take space, saves the day.
15. Celebrate the small wins – no one cried, got sunburned, or rage-quit → That’s a successful beach day in tween-parent world. Gold stars all around.

Instead of Conclusion

If your beach day family adventure led to actual smiles, shared snacks, and zero meltdowns — you’re already winning. Seriously.

But don’t stop there.

There are so many easy ways to keep that “we actually like hanging out together” vibe going:

• 🎾 Try paddle tennis – quick to learn, fun even in flip-flops, and perfect for parks or driveways. In the post “Mom and Daughter Time: 8 Cool Ways to Bond via Padel” I shared our hacks that work great for any parent-kid duo. Don’t let the “daughter” in the title scare you – try it with your son too!
• 🕹️ Play a few rounds of Fortnite together – yes, seriously. You don’t have to be good, just willing to drop in and laugh at yourself. In the post “Mom and Daughter Bonding: 6 Fun Fortnite-Inspired Ideas” I share what worked for us – and I’m pretty sure it’ll land just as well with your son.
• 🎬 Host a home movie night – let your preteen pick the theme, the snacks, even the trailers. I’ve got a lot to share here (promise, post coming soon!). But for now – if you’re also a Julia Donaldson fan like us, check out “12 Magical Julia Donaldson Adaptations for Family Movie Time”.
• 🧩 Get creative indoors – from board games to mini family challenges, it all counts as quality time. Rainy day? Start with our cool facts quiz about cats and capybaras – works great for both sons and daughters. And if your daughter loves Disney princesses, she’ll have fun with our Disney Princess Quiz too.

✨ Parenting a preteen doesn’t have to mean constant eye-rolls and power struggles. Sometimes, it just takes a bucket, a bad dance move, or a 10-minute duo in the game they love – and your next beach day family moment is already loading.

📌 Want more real-life ideas like these – or other helpful stuff like smart parenting book recommendations?

Follow me on Pinterest – I’m always pinning creative ways to make parenting easier, funnier, and more connected (even when everyone’s tired and sandy).

See you there – sunscreen optional. 😎