If you’ll be spending any time at a cottage this summer—maybe you’re renting one for a week, visiting a family member’s cottage, or are a cottage owner yourself—then you will be looking for ideas to keep your kids entertained.
Whether you are searching for outdoor beach activities for kids or fun rainy day activities for those afternoons when you’re stuck indoors – Here are 10 ideas for fun things to do with your kids at the cottage.
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10 Fun Cottage And Beach Activities For Kids
1. Go on a Scavenger Hunt
If you are cottaging in an area far from home, going on a scavenger hunt is a fun, and educational, way for kids to explore their new surroundings. Case in point, my family is currently vacationing at a cottage in Northern Ontario and my kids are fascinated with the new landscape and vegetation found on the Canadian Shield.
Have your kids hunt for items specific to the beach, like shells, Lilly pads, and minnows. Throw in some fun challenges, like “a rock that sparkles in the sun” or “a leaf the size of your hand.”
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2. Take a Hike (Literally)
Have older kids research the area and find a provincial park or local trail where everyone can go hiking. Younger kids can get in on the planning too by deciding what snacks and drinks to take and packing them for the family.
No trails nearby – no problem. The kids can make their own trail guide by drawing a map of the area around you and plotting your course. Encourage them to add details to their map that everyone can look for along the hike – for example, the lighthouse at the pier, or the giant tree with the twisted trunk.
Tip – this is also a cool activity to do for a canoe ride.
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3. Go For Noodle Rides
Regardless of how well your children can swim in a pool, swimming in a lake can be intimidating for younger kids. My 7-year-old is fearless in the pool but wants to be close to mom and dad in a large body of water.
This is okay close to the beach, but once you’re in water above your head you need a way to stay afloat with little arms around your neck!
This super noodle will hold me and two of my daughters above the water at once. They can latch onto my shoulder while we swim or ride the noodle like a horse.
They also like to use the noodle as a target to hit when jumping off the dock…over and over and over again. Hours of fun!
4. Play in the Sand
Playing in the sand is a beach activity perfect for kids of all ages – from baby to teen.
While my one-year-old is busy filling up buckets with sand my older girls will spend hours building a multi-pillared sandcastle with surrounding water features. Good fun for all.
Bring along shovels and buckets of various sizes for building sandcastles and digging out moats. You can even just use plastic cups and spoons from the cottage’s kitchen.
Beach sand is great tool for other free kids games too – such as kicking around a beach ball, playing hopscotch or tic-tac-toe in the sand, and burying objects and having a treasure hunt.
Tip: Use the sand to make art. My 9-year-old daughter really likes pouring water over the sand and watching the various patterns that appear. The different colour patterns she creates are really quite pretty.
5) Get Arts & Crafty
Arts and crafts are a must at the cottage on rainy days. Use the outdoors as inspiration and create one-of-a-kind art projects with the kids.
Some classic examples include:
- Painting rocks and sticks.
- Paintings and sketches of animals, plants, and the natural landscape.
- Making stick people out of sticks, leaves, shells, etc.
Modelling clay village – the best thing I bought for our current cottage holiday is an extra large pack of multi-coloured modelling clay. We had 2 very rainy days and my girls spent most of them making a clay village filled with animals, people, and robots (?!) – and playing with it.
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6) Lego, Puzzles & Books
Indoor cottage projects are perfect for kids who want to stay inside while others are in the lake, and they are great past-time that doesn’t involve screens.
For the younger ones, a Lego set that can travel easily will keep them occupied and using their imaginations.
For the older kids, try bringing along a 500-1000 piece puzzle that you can all work away at in the evenings, or your kids can assemble when they want a quiet activity away from the group.
Adults and kids alike can enjoy reading books to the cottage. Bring graphic novels, chapter books and activity books based upon the ages of your kids. Make reading a go-to activity for kids when they want some rest – either reading in a hammock or sitting down by the lake.
7. Baby Fun
If you have baby or toddler in the family, you’ll want some safe and easy baby-friendly activities for your little one to enjoy.
Have the older kids blow, catch and pop bubbles to your baby’s delight.
This is a fun water accessory that will keep your baby happily entertained in the water and sheltered from the sun’s rays.
Sunshade tents protect your baby from UV rays. They can be zipped up to keep bugs out and keep your baby safely contained. This tent provides a great protected play area, and can double as a napping station.
As all parents know, babies learn through repetition. Give your toddler a shovel and pail, and watch her scoop-up and dump out sand for hours. Wet sand, dry sand, white sand, sticky sand…there is just so much to discover! If you don’t want the extra purchase, plastic cups and spoons from the kitchen will do the trick.
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8. Check Out the Local Country Store
There’s usually at least one country store in the nearby town. Take a tour through and check out the collection of knick-knacks and trinkets aimed to entice the tourists.
9. Watch Movies
Some cottages don’t have internet access but many have a TV and a DVD player. You’ll probably also find a collection of classic movies from your childhood you can share with your kids! After a day spent out in the sun, consider allowing a movie for the family to enjoy together.
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10. Become A Survivalist
If you live in a big city, your kids might not have the opportunity to spend much time in the woods. Help turn them into mini-survivalists by teaching them the basics during your cottage vacation.
If age appropriate – show them how to build a campfire, catch a fish, spot poison ivy, treat a wound, identify animal tracks, and any other wilderness tips they can take pride in learning.
Cottage Activities For Kids Conclusion
No matter what time of year you visit, there are plenty of fun and creative cottage activities for kids to enjoy. If you found 10 Fantastic Cottage Activities For Kids helpful, please share.
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