🌊 On the Beach: A Sensory Adventure to Remember!
The beach has always been one of my favourite themes to teach — with sun, ice cream, and water play creating the perfect sensory-rich environment for little ones! Whether it’s a baby’s very first time at the beach or their tenth visit, each experience is magical and powerful in their developing world.
At the end of June, we visited a beautiful Dutch beach for the very first time. It was also our baby’s first time touching sand, hearing the seagulls, and exploring everything the shoreline had to offer 🐚🐦.
It was a special moment for us all — and our very first time cycling with our little one on the back of the bike! How Dutch of us 🚲💙 — it made my expat mama heart so happy.
In the lead-up to our beach day, I created almost weekly sensory trays inspired by the theme. These trays introduced new textures like whipped chickpea water, oobleck, and blended oats — all carefully made to be taste-safe since everything ends up in curious little mouths! The joys of having a 9-month-old explorer 😄👶.
Alongside tactile sensory play, our baby discovered exciting new tastes and smells — from juicy watermelon slices and baby-safe ice cream 🍉🍦 to the familiar scent of daily sunscreen ☀️.
🌟 Why Beach Sensory Play Is So Important for Your Baby
The beach is a natural sensory playground that offers so many rich experiences to support your baby’s development. Feeling the soft, gritty texture of sand helps build fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Hearing the sounds of seagulls, waves, and children playing stimulates auditory senses and language development. Even the salty ocean breeze adds a new dimension to your little one’s sense of smell.
Including new sights that not even i had seen like this boat right up close an personal!
Practical Tips for Taking Your Baby to the Beach
Heading to the beach with a little one can be fun and stress-free with these tips:
Dress your baby in a wide-brimmed hat and UV-protective clothing.
Apply baby-safe sunscreen generously and reapply every two hours.
Bring a shaded area like a pop-up tent or umbrella for breaks out of the sun.
Pack beach-friendly sensory toys such as plastic buckets, scoops, or textured balls.
Always supervise water play closely, and use shallow water for your baby’s first splash experience.
Keep a clean towel handy to wipe hands and faces after sensory play with sand and water.
What tips would you share for someones first time on the beach? Comment them below!
We love using different coloured water in our cornstarch sensory tubs!
👶 DIY Sensory Ideas Inspired by the Beach
If you can’t get to the beach just yet, try these easy at-home activities:
Cornstarch sensory bin: Fill a shallow tub with a little cornstarch and water and plastic sea animals or printed and laminated versions for your baby to play and explore.
Shell sorting: Collect clean shells and show your baby how to sort them by size or colour (great for older toddlers).
Sand art: Use coloured sand or DIY coloured sugar to create tactile art on a tray.
Ocean sounds playlist: Play gentle waves and seagull sounds during playtime to stimulate auditory senses.
💬 We’d Love to Hear From You!
Have you taken your little one to the beach recently? What were their favourite sensory experiences? Share your stories or photos in the comments below or tag us on Instagram @SummersSensoryCo — we love to see your little explorers in action!
🖇️ Grab Your Beach-Themed Printables
To make beach sensory play even easier, check out our brand-new resources — now available in English and Flemish/Dutch:
Weekly Printable Sensory Ideas
Movement Cards
Beach Affirmations
First Words Poster
👉 Download Your Beach Resources Here!
Thank you for being part of our sensory journey — here’s to many more joyful discoveries with your little ones!
Warmly,
Summers Sensory and Co
