Create a Magical Beach Experience Indoors with Easy Sensory Play
Summer is heating up, so I'm sharing one of my favorite indoor sensory activities for when you need a break from the outdoors! Bring the beach and ocean inside with this combo sensory tray. Indoor sensory activities offer engaging, imaginative, and calming fun that keeps little ones entertained while staying cool inside!
Why Indoor Sensory Activities Are Perfect for Summer Heat Waves
Safety First During Summer High Temps
Pediatricians recommend keeping children indoors during peak hours (10am-3pm) when temperatures soar above 95°F. Summer-themed indoor sensory activities are a safe alternative that engage children's love of the beach and ocean!
Benefits of Sensory Play for Children
Sensory experiences are crucial for child development, especially for toddlers and preschoolers. Indoor sensory activities offer:
- Fine motor skill development through scooping, pouring, and manipulating materials
- Cognitive growth via imaginative play and problem-solving
- Emotional regulation through calming tactile experiences
- Language development as children describe textures, colors, and discoveries
What You'll Need
Water Play Station:
- Large plastic bowl or tub
- Blue food coloring
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Small sieves or colanders
- Small fishing net
- Waterproof tablecloth or towels
Sand Play Station:
- Kinetic sand (you can use other materials that are "beach" or "sand" color, like dried beans, corn meal, etc!)
- Shallow tray or baking sheet with sides
- Small buckets, shovels, bristled paint brushes
Ocean Treasures:
- Plastic sea creatures (fish, dolphins, seahorses, crabs)
- Treasure chests (small boxes work perfectly)
- Plastic gems or glass marbles
- Seashells (real or plastic)
- Small boats or floating toys
Step-by-Step Setup
Preparing Your Space
- Choose your location – dining room, living room, or even bathroom work perfectly
- Protect your surface – use waterproof tablecloths or old towels
- Set up stations – create separate areas for water and sand play
- Organize materials – place treasures within easy reach but not mixed in initially
Creating the Ocean Water Station
- Fill the large clear container with warm water
- Add 3-4 drops of blue food coloring and mix gently
- Place measuring tools and floating toys nearby
- Position on protected surface to catch any splashes
The blue water creates an instant ocean atmosphere that encourages children's imagination while providing endless opportunities for pouring, measuring, and water play.
Setting Up the Kinetic Sand Beach
Kinetic sand offers the perfect beach texture without the mess of regular sand:
- Pour kinetic sand into a large, shallow tray
- Smooth the surface to create your "beach"
- Hide treasure chests and gems throughout the sand
- Place digging tools around the perimeter
Clean-up and Storage Tips
Proper storage ensures your indoor sensory activities materials stay fresh and ready!
Kinetic Sand Storage:
- Store in airtight containers to maintain texture and prevent drying
- Keep separate from other materials
Water Play Equipment:
- Rinse bowl, tools, and materials
- Let dry completely before storing
Extension Ideas and Ways to Play
Treasure Hunt Adventures
Transform your indoor beach sensory activities into exciting treasure hunts that your children will love!
- Hide plastic gems throughout the kinetic sand
- Provide small buckets for treasure collection
- Create "pirate maps" with X marking treasure spots
- Include counting challenges (find 5 blue gems, 3 gold coins)
Ocean Animal Rescue
This imaginative play scenario combines learning with sensory exploration:
- "Strand" sea creatures throughout both water and sand stations
- Children become marine biologists rescuing ocean animals
- Use measuring tools as "rescue equipment"
- Create habitats in different containers for rescued creatures
Beach Construction Projects
Building activities enhance fine motor skills while encouraging creativity:
- Sand castle construction using cookie cutters and molds
- Bridge building between water and sand stations
- Creating moats and waterways connecting the stations
Water Science:
- Explore how various treasures float vs. sink
- Investigate water displacement using different sized containers
- Measure and compare volumes using various tools
Sand Physics:
- Discuss texture differences between kinetic sand and water
- Explore weight and density concepts
- Demonstrate cause and effect through building and demolishing
Language Development Activities
Build vocabulary naturally during sensory play:
- Describe textures using descriptive words (smooth, rough, gritty, slippery)
- Tell stories about underwater adventures and treasure discoveries
- Practice positional words (under, over, beside, through)
- Develop sequence storytelling about beach day or ocean adventures
Beach and Ocean Sensory Bin Year-Round!
Indoor sensory activities aren't limited to summer heat waves, especially a sensory tray as fun as this one! With a few changes, you can have a beach and ocean sensory tray throughout the year:
Winter Arctic Adventure:
- Use white kinetic sand for "snow" (could also use white rice!)
- Add polar bear figurines and penguins
- Create ice cubes with frozen treasures inside and place them in the water bowl
Spring Ocean Exploration:
- Include baby sea creatures
- Add pastel-colored gems and treasures
- Incorporate flower petals in water for spring beauty
Your Turn to Play!
Now it's time to create your own indoor sensory activities magic! This unique combination of water and sand play offers the perfect dual sensory experience that keeps children engaged longer than single-material activities. The contrast between the flowing water and moldable sand provides rich tactile stimulation that supports sensory processing development while encouraging cross-lateral brain development through bilateral coordination.
The beauty of indoor sensory activities lies in their incredible versatility. This indoor setup provides consistent, safe exploration opportunities, regardless of how hot it might get outside!
This combination sensory play specifically targets multiple developmental areas simultaneously. Together, the ocean and beach sensory trays create comprehensive sensory input that helps children regulate emotions and improve focus for hours after play ends.
Start small, embrace the controlled mess, and watch your children's creativity flourish through these simple indoor sensory activities . Remember, you're not just filling time – you're building neural pathways and creating joyful learning experiences that will benefit your child's development all summer long!
If your child loved Beach & Ocean Sensory Play, check out my Play at Home Preschool Ocean Units for more fun!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. All recommendations are based on items I personally use and love with my own children.
Written by Brittany, Stay at Home Activity Mom
Brittany is a former elementary school teacher turned stay-at-home mom of three. Passionate about children learning through play, she began sharing her simple, hands-on, and education activities on her Instagram @stayathomeactivitymom so that other parents could see how fun this type of at-home learning can be.
