This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Shopping through these links is one small way of supporting this blog, and for that - I thank you! For more information, see my disclosures here.

Looking for a simple way to add some fun and structure to your summer at home with little ones? Theme Week Summer was designed with preschool and early elementary-aged kids in mind, giving you a low-pressure rhythm for the season with flexible, intentional ideas. Each week centers around a new theme, and you can grab my free printables to create your own summer schedule and plan out books to read, activities to try, snacks to make, and more! 👉 Click here to visit the main blog post and get your free calendar and planning worksheet.

This week’s theme is Beach — and we’re diving into all things sand, shells, and sea! We’ll be at the beach for a family vacation, so this theme is the perfect fit. Whether you’re heading to the shore yourself or just bringing a little beach magic home, this week is all about simple summer fun inspired by the ocean. 🏖️

Theme Week Summer: Easy Ideas for an Intentional Summer at Home

*Theme Week Summer* is all about simple, intentional fun at home with your preschoolers and early elementary kids! Grab free printables to plan your own summer themes and follow along with weekly inspiration, activities, books, snacks, and more.

See the post

Beach 🏖️

I picked Beach as our theme this week because we already had plans for a beach trip! This week will be more relaxed, but I’m planning to pack a few new sand toys, prep some beachy crafts for rainy days or quiet evenings at the rental, and try a few fun ocean-themed snacks the kids will love. Whether you’re on vacation or creating your own beach week at home, I hope these ideas spark some seaside inspiration!

Activities to Do

Build sandcastles with new sand molds or DIY castle flags
Go on a seashell scavenger hunt
Make “ocean in a bottle” sensory bottles
Set up a beach ball toss game
Create beach-themed salt dough crafts (like starfish or shells)
Paint sea creatures on paper plates
Use kinetic sand indoors for a mini beach day
Play "beach bingo" with printable beach-themed cards

shop activities & crafts

see ideas on pinterest

Places to Visit

Your local beach or coastal town
A nearby lake or river with sandy spots to play
Playgrounds with sandboxes
Splash pads or public pools with beach-like areas
A pet store or aquarium to learn about ocean animals
Nature center programs with water/beach themes
Set up a backyard beach with a kiddie pool and sand toys

Snacks to Eat

Check out the carousel below for some of the cutest and easiest beach-themed snack ideas I found on Pinterest!
Some ideas include:

"Beach Day" snack cups with blue Jello and teddy grahams
Sea turtle rice krispie treats
Oyster pearl cookies (made with vanilla wafers and mini marshmallows)
Fishy trail mix with Goldfish, pretzels, and dried fruit
Watermelon cut into starfish and seashell shapes

see ideas on pinterest

shop snack supplies

Books to Read

See the carousel below for our favorite beach and ocean-themed picture books!
A few highlights:

Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach by James Dean
A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell! by Lucille Colandro
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck

Shows to Watch

Beach TV Shows for Preschoolers
- Octonauts (ocean rescue adventures!)
- Paw Patrol (look for the beach and sea patrol episodes)
- Bluey (beach episode is a favorite!)
- Dora the Explorer (several tropical and beach episodes)
- Bubble Guppies
- Peppa Pig (has multiple seaside episodes)
- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (look for the beach adventure episodes)
Beach Movies for Preschoolers
- Finding Nemo / Finding Dory
- Moana
- The Little Mermaid
- Luca
- Surf’s Up
- Shark Tale

Memory Verse

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

— Psalm 118:24

Here’s a recap of our Beach Week:

Here’s a peek at what we actually did during Beach Week! 🏖️

Stay tuned!

Whether you're spending your week oceanside or just bringing the beach home, there are so many fun ways to make this theme come to life with your kids! From sandy snacks to beach ball games and ocean-themed crafts, I hope this post gave you some fresh ideas to make the most of your Beach Week.