recommendations for beach toys ....

[GoodWitch58]

I would add a kite; he may be a tad small/young to fly it, but he will love it when you do!

 

[Yarmap]

Don't drag anything to the beach. Just get close to the water and start to dig a hole. When the hole is about a foot deep the kid will take over and all you do is encourage them to dig and keep a good conversation going. Before long the kid is worn out, you get some Sun & there's nothing to drag back to the condo.
Have a nice cool glass of wine & relax.

 

[SHELLY]

Don't drag anything to the beach. Just get close to the water and start to dig a hole. When the hole is about a foot deep the kid will take over and all you do is encourage them to dig and keep a good conversation going. Before long the kid is worn out, you get some Sun & there's nothing to drag back to the condo. Have a nice cool glass of wine & relax.

....and fill in the hole.

.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Why do people feel the need for shovels at the beach? This really perplexes me. Last week, my six year old nephew was visiting and we went to the beach each day he was in town. We took absolutely nothing to the beach, not even a towel. We played in the water's edge (red flag day), dug enough sand with our hands to make many sandcastles, had a blast knocking down the sandcastles, filled in the holes by pushing the sand with our feet, walked down the beach, collected a handful of shells. The kid was in heaven, and so was I. Hands are great tools.

 

[jensieblue]

definitely

Yeah, dump trucks rock the boys. Please teach them the importance of leaving the dunes and beach vegetation alone ;-)

I will definitely instruct Peyton in the care of the beach and it's dunes. I will be there with my family the week of Thanksgiving. I am limited in my access to the beach. Not sure how much time I can actually hands on supervise. Peyton will be the cute, cute, cute wtow head blonde kid supervised by my daughter Meredith and her friend Alisha. If anyone sees any overly zealous beach behavior, please feel free to email me, I will have my computer there. or to gently istruct Peyton on the ethics of the beach environment....

 

[Mermaid]

Why do people feel the need for shovels at the beach? This really perplexes me. Last week, my six year old nephew was visiting and we went to the beach each day he was in town. We took absolutely nothing to the beach, not even a towel. We played in the water's edge (red flag day), dug enough sand with our hands to make many sandcastles, had a blast knocking down the sandcastles, filled in the holes by pushing the sand with our feet, walked down the beach, collected a handful of shells. The kid was in heaven, and so was I. Hands are great tools.

Don't mess with tradition! Pails and shovels are a classic time-honored combination. Monster megashovels excuded, of course. ;-)

Jensie, you and your family will have such a good time at the beach and make wonderful memories! I'll never forget the first time we took our kids to the beach in Seagrove with my parents and my grandmother, too. Four generations in SoWal at the same time.

 

[Smiling JOe]

hands were used on the beach, were used long before shovels, for making sandcastles and digging holes. Using hands is probably more "classic and time-honored," than using shovels. Seriously, my six year old nephew never even mentioned shovel, and we both dug with our hands. It was fun getting in touch with the earth, much like kneading dough compared with putting it all in an automated mixer.

 

[Mermaid]

hands were used on the beach, were used long before shovels, for making sandcastles and digging holes. Using hands is probably more "classic and time-honored," than using shovels. Seriously, my six year old nephew never even mentioned shovel, and we both dug with our hands. It was fun getting in touch with the earth, much like kneading dough compared with putting it all in an automated mixer.

SmilieJ I love you but you're a Luddite!!!

One good thing you taught all of us, though. Holes in the beach. I can never, ever walk past one without thinking of you and without immediately filling it in so no one will break their ankles. And I know you will be very pleased that I use my hands. ;-)

 

[scooterbug44]

I vote for a land toy - like a frisbee/ball and a water toy - boogie board or float or net or goggles etc.

Dump truck can be funn for little kids too!

I have been trying to remember what we played with at the beach and I don't remember any toys. The ball/frisbee was more for the dog. Like SJ said, we just found stuff to play with, made up our own games, wandered the shore looking for rocks (to skip and collect) and shells, got thrown over Papa Scooterbug's head into the water, bodysurfed, and made castles or ditches (with our hands).

 

[familyof3]

The only thing I would add goes along with the cup. Most of the sand pails/castle are too big for little ones to dump over. On occasion you will find a really small 1 or a solo cup works great.