4 Beach Activities to Do With Your Family

Summertime is here! And the best way to cool off from the hot weather is to spend some time at the beach. Beach time doesn't necessarily mean you lather on sunscreen and sleep in the sun as your kids run around. Use this time as family time-incorporate activities that both you and your kids will love. This is an opportunity for you to burn a few extra calories while your kids burn energy. Plus, running around in the sand is just plain old fun.

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Bucket Run

This game requires you to use your muscles and find your inner warrior. What you'll need are four buckets. Fill each bucket up with sand. Next, pick a spot that you'll run to-about 50 yards out. You can use your beach chairs or towels as a marker.

Basically you and one other person race each other to the markers and back while carrying a bucket in each hand. You'll work on your upper-body strength, lower-body muscles and endurance. To play this with younger kids, fill the buckets up halfway, or have them run without holding any buckets.

Obstacle Race

Obstacle courses are a blast to create on the beach. Your kids can help design, build, and designate areas for each challenge. Here's an example (in between each obstacle, run 20 to 50 feet):
  • Do jumping jacks.
  • Crawl in the sand.
  • Jump over towel-hurdles.
  • Climb over a family-made sand mountain.
  • Sprint in the water.
  • Do 20 walking lunges.
  • Sprint backwards to your next obstacle.
  • Do frog leaps and then sprint to the finish line.

See who can finish the fastest-let the winner choose the next beach activity.

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Beach Darts

Draw five rings in the sand (replicate a dartboard). Each ring is worth a certain amount of points. The center is worth five points, and each circle beyond the center is worth one less point. The largest ring is worth one point. Find pebbles on the beach to use as your darts. Stand several feet away from the dartboard and toss your pebbles; try to get as close as you can to the center. Wherever your dart lands is how many points you get. Play for five rounds; the person who gets the most points wins.

Cool Down Fun

After a long day at the beach, it's time to cool down. Go for a nice stroll along the water and search for eye-catching seashells. Maybe you and your kids can create a picture frame with the seashells you've collected, and then put a picture from the beach in the frame.

Don't forget to wear plenty of sunscreen and drink water to stay hydrated. Have fun and enjoy your beach time.

More: Heat Stroke Vs. Heat Exhaustion

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