A Beach in Your Backyard
Summer may almost be over, but that doesn't mean we are not going to try and squeeze every last bit of this beautiful weather out of it!
Whether you've had your vacation plans canceled or you want one last shot at the beach before the weather cools down - we've got you covered. In this edition of The Weekly Bubble, we're going to show you how you can enjoy a beach day from the comfort of your backyard.
You and your little ones will go crazy over this simple, cost-efficient Do It Yourself beach. We're confident that you will enjoy assembling your "beachfront property," and that the results will keep you both entertained for hours.
You are Going to Need Some Sand
Sticking your toes in the sand is one of the most satisfying feelings on the planet. The softness, the slight exfoliation, the heat that the tiny particles have absorbed from the sun - it's heaven!
But, is there a way to get that same feeling right at home? YES!
For this activity, you're going to need some moon sand. If you don't already have any in your house, you can typically find a container of it for around $20 (depending on how much you will need).
Or, if you're feeling crafty, you can make your own! Below you'll find two very simple, fun recipes for DIY moon sand. The best part is, you can accomplish this task using minimal ingredients, all for under $10!
- Shoutout to Imagination Tree Blog for posting this recipe! Here is what you need:
- 4 cups of play sand
- 2 cups of cornstarch
- 1 cup of water
- 1 kiddie pool or large plastic tub
- Optional: 2 tablespoons of colored powdered paint if you want different colored sand
First, mix the sand and cornstarch in your kiddie pool or plastic tub. Once combined, add water to your concoction. If you're adding color, now is the time to mix in your colored powder paint.
That's it; you're done! Your moon sand has been created and you are ready to enjoy your beach day!
We love this recipe, as opposed to just putting sand in a box, as this sand is extremely moldable. Your kids will be able to play in the sand for hours and build all sorts of sandcastles (or whatever their imaginations desire)! The sand may feel soft between your fingers, but it will stay sturdy once your kids (or you) begin building with it. You will be erecting castles built for a king or queen in no time!
- Our next DIY sand recipe is perfect for those with younger children. Additionally, if you don't have sand readily available, this is an excellent option for those looking to have a beach day in a pinch. You may already have these two ingredients in your pantry; but if not, it shouldn't run you more than a few dollars!
We have to credit this recipe over to Rachelle over on Tinkerlab. Here is what you need:
- 8 cups of flour
- 1 cup of vegetable oil
- 1 kiddie pool or large plastic tub
To combine, start by putting the flour in your kiddie pool or plastic tub. Dig a hole in the middle of the flour, pour the oil into the hole, and slowly start mixing the oil and the flour with your hands. Once the concoction starts to feel like sand, you’ll know you're done!
The best part, it's safe if your little ones accidentally put some sand in their mouths. This sand is non-toxic and kid-friendly.
This sand molds into sandcastles with beach buckets and plastic molds, which is awesome for your kids to keep busy. This activity is also great for fine-tuning motor skills due to all of the molding and manipulating. Best of all, it will have your kids feeling like they're really at the beach! There's nothing like a beach day.
If your kids decide to take this to a socially distanced playdate, we suggest putting some of the sand in a food container or bucket and sticking one of our dishwasher safe name labels on it. That way, none of the DIY magic gets mixed up, and your kiddo gets to take theirs home at the end of the day!
If DIY sand isn’t exactly up your alley, there are plenty of other beach activities that you can do from your own backyard. Options include, but are not limited to, volleyball, paddleball, frisbee golf, treasure/scavenger hunts, and more!
If your family has traditions that you normally do on a beach vacation, like dressing up in all white, or going out to a nice dinner - then do that! It's important to keep traditions alive. You will thank yourself later.
Well, that's all we have for this week's edition of The Weekly Bubble. Thanks for joining us, and we would love to see all of your DIYs! Feel free to share your at-home beach activities with us on Facebook and Instagram - they will definitely make us smile! See you next time!
