While adults might relish a day of leisure at the beach, kids often prefer a few distractions—namely toys and games. The best beach toys allow kids to explore the sand and surf in new ways, keeping them happy while you enjoy time together as a family. We think that the Melissa & Doug Seaside Sidekicks Sand-and-Water Sifting Funnel is one of the best beach toys because kids can play with it in both sand and water and it has engaging moving parts.
The best beach toys provide fun and distraction for kids during a long day on the sand.
Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailers
Beach toys also get kids active and moving, points out Lori Smyth, co-owner of Delaware beach-based toy stores Kids Ketch and Tide Pool Toys & Games. “The beach is the perfect place to enjoy the sand, water and sunshine,” she says. “Adding toys for open-ended play brings even more happiness to their beach experience.” Some toys can be junky, lasting for only a beach day or two before breaking. We’ve collected the best beach toys on the market to ensure you and your little one have fun in the sand and surf, now and in the future.
Best Beach Toys For Building: Spielstabil Small Sand Scoop, Matty’s Toy Stop Heavy Duty Wooden Kids Sand Shovels, Create A Castle Sandcastle Kit, Spielstabil Large Sand Pail, Big Little Universe Silicone Beach Bucket Set
Best Beach Toys For Imaginary Play: B. Toys By Battat Mini Toy Cars, Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Seaside Baking Play Set, B. Toys Wavy Wagon, CAT Construction Fleet Sand Set, Fisher-Price Little People Farm Animal Friends
Best Beach Toys For Water: Surfer Dudes, Green Toys Tug Boat, Melissa & Doug Seaside Sidekicks Sand-And-Water Sifting Funnel, Bo-Toys Body Board, Max4Out Floating Mat
Best Beach Toys For Games: Bulzibucket, Franklin Sports Nerf Paddleball Set, Spikeball, Wave Runner Grip It Football, GoSports Portable Cornhole Set
Amazon
Spielstabil Small Sand Scoop
The Spielstabil sand scoop has unique features that help it stand apart from your average kids’ shovel. It boasts a thick, sturdy neck, so you don’t have to worry about the head snapping during vigorous shoveling. A wide scooper allows your little one to carry plenty of sand, while the large handle is easy to grip. It also has smooth edges that come in handy for castle-making and other sand designs. This beach toy has an impressive ten-year warranty, which is especially handy if you have a vigorous shoveler.
Amazon
Matty’s Toy Stop Heavy Duty Wooden Kids Sand Shovels (2-Pack)
I bought this shovel two-pack for my kids three years ago, and each shovel has stood up to regular use at the beach and home with no issue. My kids (and their friends) love these shovels and often leave them outside for days at a time—they haven’t cracked, splintered or changed their look at all. The shovels have a heavy duty plastic spade and handle for easy gripping, and each is a different color to allow everyone to have “their” shovel. At 31 inches high, these shovels are big enough to make the task of digging large holes a breeze. Keep in mind that they sell out often, so snap them up while you can.
Amazon
Create A Castle Sandcastle Kit
Making castles can be tricky, especially for younger kids. The sand conditions have to be just right, and things may not always come together the way they imagined. This mold set has different casts with easy-open hinges to make it simple to create a design that stays put (meaning, no plopping buckets over and praying they don’t collapse). The kit includes a 10-inch tower, 6-inch tower and window cutter, multi-use tool and brick maker. The set is rated for ages six and up, making it a good fit for older castle-makers.
Amazon
Spielstabil Large Sand Pail
Spielstabil sand pails are just built different—the brand is known for creating sturdy buckets that don’t crack or break easily. This sand pail is a roomy 2.5 liters, giving your child plenty of space to foster sand crabs, transport water or dig up sand. Made of strong ABS plastic, it can carry plenty of weight, and the handle itself has slightly rounded edges, so it doesn’t dig into your hand. It’s free of BPA, PVC and phthlates. Worth noting: My kids have eight different bucket to choose from in my garage, and this is the one they consistently fight over.
Maisonette
Big Little Universe Silicone Beach Bucket Set
Plenty of toys can be taken to the beach, but they can get gunked up by the salt water and sand. This mini toy car set is designed to withstand the tough conditions of the shoreline, rolling through dry and wet sand with no issues. The set features two beach trucks and a boat for a variety of play. There’s even an excavator and dump truck that can be used to haul sand around. Want to get a little more life out of your toys? They make excellent bath toys, too.
Amazon
Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Seaside Baking Play Set
This adorable set is so popular in my area, you have to write your name on it to make sure your version doesn’t accidentally wind up in a friend’s beach bag. The Melissa & Doug kit has measuring cups, a whisk and scoop, all with a sweet ocean theme, to help little kids “bake” using sand. The mixing bowl works great for making sand castles (or seaside concoctions), while the turtle lid doubles as a sifter.
Little kids like variety to keep them entertained—and this set has plenty of it. It features a beach cart with 11 toys that can be used for a range of play. There’s a bucket, sifter lid, nesting cups, shark lid, fish sand mold, boat, rake and shovel, all with cool patterns to create shapes in the sand. The wagon has wide wheels that leave a cute pattern in the sand. All of the items neatly pack away into the wagon for simple storage. The company says it’s BPA- and phthalate-free.
Amazon
CAT Construction Fleet Sand Set
Construction site fans get a serious kick out of the CAT Construction Fleet Sand Set. This set features a shovel and rake combination that can be used together or separately, an excavator and a hard hat that also conveniently helps protect your child from harsh UV rays. The truck has real working parts, so your child can wheel it over the dunes and spend time digging in the sand while you kick back.
Amazon
Fisher-Price Little People Farm Animal Friends
Technically, Little People figurines aren’t beach toys, but they hold up amazingly well in the sand. My younger kids love to use these to play in sand castles and buckets of water, or even to do hide-and-seek games in the sand. Because they’re made of thick plastic, they hold up well at the beach and can be easily hosed off. I always pack a set on beach vacations, given their versatility at the shore and beyond.
Amazon
Surfer Dudes Classics
Surfer Dudes is a unique toy—kids toss it into the water and it “surfs” back to shore like a water boomerang. There are no batteries or cords; it just finds its way back on the waves. “Surfer Dudes are one of our hottest items in the summer,” Smyth says. “Parents like them, too, because they provide hours of active entertainment.” Choose from a range of colors and styles.
The Green Toys tug boat is impressively durable, with a thick plastic construction that can power through the water and even sand. The boat has a neat hidden feature—it stores water underneath and doubles as a watering can of sorts. It features a large handle that’s easy for little hands to grip and pour. Bonus: It’s made in the USA from recycled milk containers.
Amazon
Melissa & Doug Seaside Sidekicks Sand-And-Water Sifting Funnel
This sifting funnel is busy enough to keep your children engaged, while its large size and impressive features may draw in older siblings. The beach-themed set is designed for play in water or the sand and offers different layers that funnel, move, spin around and sift pretty much whatever is put inside. The bright colors make it hard to lose in the sand, while a large handle allows for easy carrying.
This lightweight 33-inch boogie board is just right for kids under ten who are just learning to catch their first waves. It includes a wrist leash to keep it from floating away and a sturdy but thin build, making it easier for younger kids to carry and maneuver. It’s also available in a 41-inch size for a taller tween or teenager.
A floating mat is a genius toy to have at the beach, given that it doesn’t require inflation, can’t pop and keeps children entertained for hours. My kids love using the mat as a trampoline, diving board, slide and more. Children can even use it to pull each other around like an oversize raft. The mat rolls up small when it’s not in use. Just consider investing in an anchor, too, to keep it in place once you toss it into the water.
Bulzibucket is a skeeball-like game, with stackable buckets that translate to different points. Players take turns tossing balls into the buckets to try to get the highest score. The game can occupy kids for long periods of time. My 15-year-old nephew and three-year-old daughter once spent two hours facing off against each other, with various family members jumping in. Once the fun is over, the lightweight buckets nestle inside themselves and are stashed in a carrying case.
Amazon
Franklin Sports Nerf Paddle Ball Set
Paddle ball is a beach classic, and this Nerf set from Franklin Sports is very affordable. Comfortable foam grips allow you to play for long periods of time without tired hands. “Traditional beach games like paddle ball and bean bag toss are not only fun for all ages to play, but they can help develop hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills at the same time,” Smyth says. Since the ball is Nerf, this set can also come home with you for indoor play.
Amazon
Spikeball 3-Ball Kit
This wildly popular beach game can be played by kids of all ages. It features a bouncy net in the center where kids try to “spike” the ball away from each other. “Spikeball is another bestseller,” Smyth says, noting that it’s great “for anyone who likes a little competition.” The kit sets up and tears down easily, with the parts stored in a carrying bag that’s simple to tote over the dunes.
Amazon
Wave Runner Grip It Football
It doesn’t get more classic than football on the beach—and this lightweight and waterproof Wave Runner is ideal for a game of catch near the water. It’s the right size for kids and features a unique grippy texture, making it ideal for tossing with wet hands at the beach or the community pool.
Amazon
GoSports Portable Cornhole Set
Cornhole is a good time no matter where you are, but standard sets can be heavy to carry over the dunes. This option from GoSports has a lightweight PVC frame with nylon fabric stretched over top. The whole thing weighs under 5 pounds and can get wet—a definite perk on beach days. There’s even a carrying case for fast and easy transporting.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted parenting team spends hours testing, researching and reviewing products for babies and kids. We’ve published many expert-backed articles on the best beach towels, baby beach tents and more.
Author Korin Miller is a regular Forbes Vetted contributor and mom of four who lives at the beach. She has extensive experience with researching and testing beach toys.
The Forbes Vetted parenting team is led by deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala and commerce editor Margaret Badore, both of whom are also parents.
We consulted with Lori Smyth, co-owner of Delaware beach-based toy stores Kids Ketch and Tide Pool Toys & Games for her feedback on the most popular toys.
We also interviewed Dr. Daniel Ganjian, pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, for his input on elements that contribute to good sensory play.
To ensure we have the best and most up-to-date picks, we regularly review this article for accuracy and remove discontinued products. It was most recently updated in June 2024.
How We Chose The Best Beach Toys
Low-quality beach toys can break easily, raising the risk of tears—and nobody wants that. We focused on popular toys from trusted brands, relying on our own expertise to narrow down the options. We also consulted experts and consumer reviews.
We consulted with two experts, Smyth and Ganjian, to determine elements to look for in beach toys for kids.
We focused on popular toys from trusted brands and retailers known for quality products.
We picked each toy by considering such attributes as durability, design, versatility and the fun factor.
We have firsthand experience with many of these toys, and included only products that received high marks from our kid testers.
We pored over customer reviews, making sure to only include toys with an average of at least 4 stars.
What Toys Are Good For The Beach?
Beach toys offer sensory play—and that’s crucial for kids, says Dr. Daniel Ganjian, pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. “Kids are still developing in all regards,” he says. “Sensory play allows them to feel the world in a different way, developing and fine-tuning their perceptions and senses in the process.” There’s a wide range of beach toys to consider, and a lot of your choice depends on the age of your child. Most kids love basic sand toys. “What beach day would be complete without some shovels, castle molds, toy boats and construction vehicles?” Smyth says. “These staples for beach play come in a variety of price points and designs and are always a great way for kids to create, pretend and explore at the beach.” Older kids—and even their younger counterparts—often enjoy games like Bulzibucket and Spikeball, which require basic hand-eye coordination or even just the ability to toss a ball.
Are Silicone Beach Toys Good?
Silicone beach toys are becoming increasingly popular and with good reason. “Most silicone beach toys are nontoxic and very durable,” Smyth says. They’re also more flexible than standard plastic toys, which makes them easier to pack, she points out. For example, some silicone buckets fold into themselves to create a small square that can be tossed in a beach bag. But silicone beach toys aren’t perfect. “The downside is silicone beach toys usually cost a little more than plastic beach toys,” Smyth says.
What Is The Best Sand Spade?
Sand spades are small handheld shovels that can help with more precise tasks, like digging tunnels, filling buckets and crafting small holes. Ultimately, though, “spades are made for digging,” Smyth points out. “When people are looking for a sand spade, it needs to be sturdy and durable to hold the weight of the sand, especially if they are digging in the wet sand,” she says. The Spielstabil Small Sand Scoop is a great choice—it’s small enough for little hands to grip, but has smooth edges for sand designs. It’s also backed by a ten-year guarantee.
How Do You Organize Beach Toys?
The best organization method is ultimately the system that works for you. However, many parents have success with stashing their stuff in mesh bags. These “allow the sand to fall out, but the toys stay in,” Smyth points out. You can even hose off a mesh bag of sand toys when you get home without having to clean each item individually. Just let it dry off in the sun afterward before storing it away for next time.
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