Games
Family-friendly games for the car and home to reinforce beach safety messages.
1. Packing the suitcase scavenger hunt
This game teaches kids to identify essential safety gear versus fun items.
Materials needed
- A suitcase, backpack, or beach bag.
- Items scattered around the house: Water bottle, bodyboard (or a cushion to represent one), a special toy, towel, and a rashie.
- A safety checklist (hand-drawn or printed).
Instructions
- Give your child the safety checklist and explain that you are leaving soon! They need to find all the items from Annie's story.
- Set a timer for 3 minutes. Your child must find the items and bring them back to the bag.
- Once everything is found, ask: ‘When do we put on the sunscreen?’
- Remind them of the ‘before and during’ rule: Apply before arriving at the beach, and reapply every 3–4 hours (or after swimming).
2. Sand search
Engage in sensory play to find items you might see at the beach.
Materials needed
- A sandpit, tuff tray, box with kinetic sand or similar
- A collection of small beach toys of drawings of common items at the beach (cut out)
Instructions
- Place the beach gear at the finish line. The children start at the opposite end of the room.
- Using their hands, your child goes searching through the sand until they locate a toy of drawing, one at a time.
- Can your child name the item or drawing? Engage in a discussion about what each item looks like, sounds like, feels like.