Best Kids Beach Toys For Summer 2024
With toys for the little kids (and big kids too!), the whole family will be entertained on your next day out by the sea.
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Swimming in the sea, eating fish and chips and enjoying the sunshine.
A family beach day is the perfect hot summer day out, and it can be made even better with a few toys for the kids.
If you don’t want their favourites to get all sandy or washed away in the ocean, you might need to invest in some new kids beach toys.
Some of our favourites on offer include a glitter filled beach ball that will shimmer and sparkle in the sun and a BPA-free food grade silicone sandcastle set for the little ones to play with safely.
Here are all the best beach toys for everyone in the family including young kids and older kids.
OUR TOP PICKS
Best beach balls
Sunnylife Inflatable Confetti Beach Ball, $12.99 on Sunnylife
Why we love it: Its sparkly confetti will draw the eye and shimmer in the summer sunlight.
What to consider: You can see the safety instructions printed on the clear plastic.
Age: Preschoolers | Inflated dimensions: 31cm x 31cm x 31cm
What You Need To Know
Filled with paper confetti, this transparent beach ball will add an extra shine and sparkle to the kids’ summer holiday.
It uses a built-in valve to prevent the confetti escaping during inflation and like the Sunnylife Princess Swan ball, it also comes with a repair kit.
One buyer tested it in their backyard and “had heaps of comments about our stunning sparky pool balls”, adding that it’s “so relaxing looking at them float around”.
LazyDayz Inflatable Jumbo Beach Ball, $29.95 at Myer
Why we love it: This ball is double the size of other beach balls on the market.
What to consider: It will take a little while to inflate.
Age: 6 Years + | Inflated dimensions: 90cm x 90cm x 90cm
What You Need To Know
This large beach ball inflates up to 90cm in diameter, making it ultra fun for your little ones (and for big kids too).
It’s available in bright teal and pink and offers a six-month warranty, guaranteeing you get through the summer without a hitch.
Rating it 5-stars, one buyer said: “Our boys love this extra large inflatable ball … it’s extra strong and will last”.
Sunnylife 3D Inflatable Princess Swan Beach Ball, $14.99 at Myer
Why we love it: The swan inside will float gracefully over the waves.
What to consider: Kids can’t play with the swan inside, as it can’t be removed.
Age: Preschoolers | Inflated dimensions: 35cm x 35cm x 35cm
What You Need To Know
Perfect for an imaginative child, inside this Sunnylife beach ball is a 3D swan with a crown that will glide across the sea like the royalty they are.
Adding to the whimsy is the glitter floating around inside the ball that your kids can see through its transparent plastic.
It also comes with a repair kit for any accidental punctures.
Best sandcastle sets
Playground by Living Textiles Silicone Bucket and Spade Set, $49.99 on THE ICONIC
Why we love it: It’s available in three colours to suit your child’s personality.
What to consider: The bucket is smaller compared to other options available.
Age: 3 Years + | Dimensions: Bucket: 17.5cm x 13cm x 12.5cm. Spade: 21.5cm x 6.5cm x 4cm. Moulds: 9cm x 9cm x 2.5cm.
What You Need To Know
Ticking all the boxes for building a sandcastle while giving parents some peace of mind, this set is completely BPA-free and made with food-grade silicone.
Included are six sand moulds, a bucket and a spade. You’ll also get the choice of three colours: blue, pink and sage.
B. Toys Sands Ahoy Set, $29.99 on THE ICONIC
What we love it: It comes with all the sandcastle tools and toys to keep them entertained all day.
What to consider: There are nine pieces in the set, which could get lost at the end of the day.
Age: 18 Months + | Dimensions: 25.4cm x 22.2cm x 20.8cm
What You Need To Know
This B. Toys Sands Ahoy Set is designed for children 18 months and older to help them develop their fine motor skills. It’s also great for bigger kids to show off their amazing building skills. Inside the nine-piece set is a basic shovel, rake and sifter, sand moulds and a mini dump truck and a bucket to build their castle base.
Cherub Baby Silicone Beach Toy Bundle, $79.99 on Cherub Baby
Why we love it: They are designed to “promote hand eye co-ordination and strengthen fine motor skills”.
What to consider: The entire set is smaller than others on the market, so it’s only suitable for young infants and toddlers.
Age: Newborn + | Dimensions: Bucket: 14cm x 14cm. Shovel: 22cm x 6.5cm. Watering can: 14cm x 12cm x 10cm, 300mL capacity. Moulds: 8cm.
What You Need To Know
This Cherub Baby Silicone Beach Toy Bundle comes with several flexible pieces, preventing wear and tear to last for future trips and summer holidays.
The set comes with a bucket, shovel, watering can and four moulds along with a mesh tote bag to carry it all in.
And to keep them bringing sand into the house at the end of the day, you can simply put all the sandy pieces into the dishwasher for cleaning. Even better – they are also stain and mould resistant.
Hape 5-in-1 Beach Set, $20.99 on Amazon
Why we love it: They can make a range of different sized castles,
What to consider: There are no additional toys other than buckets and shovels.
Age: 18 Months + | Dimensions: 25cm x 19cm x 20.5cm
Sometimes it’s the simple things that the kids love most. This Hape set covers all the basics when it comes to building sandcastles with two shovels and three different shaped buckets.
The parents love this set too, with its 4.8-star rating on Amazon. One shopper said: “My 18 month old loves his set. They are great quality, nice bright colours and I like that it comes with two shovels so they can play with another person. He smacks the shovels into things like our brick house, and there’s no sign of wear and tear. Very impressed!”
Koala Dream 7-Piece Beach Play Set, $34.99 on Temple & Webster
Why we love it: It has a two-year warranty so you know you’re getting a quality toy for your children.
What to consider: It’s targeted at babies and toddlers, not for older children.
Age: 9 – 18 Months. | Dimensions: 16cm x 14cm x 14cm
What You Need To Know
This Koala Dream sandcastle silicone set simply screams ‘day at the beach’.
Included are a shovel and bucket, a mesh bag and four beach-themed sand moulds in the shape of a sun, a footprint, a palm tree and a sailboat.
Best beach truck and wagon toys
John Deere Big Scoop Dump Truck with Sand Tools, $29.95 on Amazon
Why we love it: Its large build can move lots of sand along the beach.
What to consider: You have to use one of the sand tools to make tire tracks in the sand.
Age: 3 – 6 Years. Dimensions: 38cm x 21cm x 23.5cm
What You Need To Know
John Deere is known for their high quality trucks – in real life and in toy form. Now they are doing their construction on the beach, pouring and dumping sand with their Big Scoop Dump Truck.
This 15-inch tilting truck comes with three tools to help the kids move sand across the beach – a hand tiller, a scoop with a sifter and a tracker wheel pattern roller.
Coming highly recommended, one parent said: “I purchased two [sic] of these for my twin boys at six [sic] months old. They have been using them in all different ways since day one [sic].”
They added: “The trucks are still going and taking a hammering everyday”.
Hape Monster Digger Beach Sand Toy, $14 on Amazon
Why we love it: It’s a lot cheaper than other alternative truck toys available.
What to consider: It doesn’t come with any additional sand toys.
Age: 18 Months + | Dimensions: 13cm x 13.5cm x 23cm
What You Need To Know
Made for children 18-months-old and above, this classic digger toy rolls across the sand and takes big scoops with it – what more can you ask for from a digger?!
It boasts a 4.8-star Amazon rating with one parent saying it was a “big hit” with their children. Meanwhile, another added: “It’s very well made and worth the money … Great for toddlers that love anything with wheels and play rough”.
Fountain Beach Wagon Set, $20 at Big W
Why we love it: They can keep all of their favourite beach toys in one place.
What to consider: They can’t play with this wagon like other truck toys – it’s mainly for transport.
Age: 18 Months + | Dimensions: 30cm x 20cm x 15cm
What You Need To Know
The 37cm long Fountain Beach Wagon Set is like a kid version of the classic beach trolley adults use. But instead of packing the day’s essentials, they can fill it with all of their favourite beach toys.
Included with the wagon are seven toys and sand moulds to keep them busy and having fun throughout the day. If that isn’t enough, it also has a five-star rating online.
Best beach games
Wahu Bluey Pool Grip Ball, $15 at Big W
Why we love it: It’s themed with the kids’ favourite TV characters Bluey and Bingo.
What to consider: It only comes with one ball.
Age: 6 Years + | Dimensions: 34.5cm x 22cm x 7.5cm
What You Need To Know
No kid (or big kid for that matter) can go past Bluey. Combine that with one of Australia’s favourite pool and beach brand, and you’ve got a winner.
This Wahu grip ball set is a classic beach game to play, coming with two mitts to catch the ball and rip off to throw back.
Wahu Beach Soccer Ball, $25 at Big W
Why we love it: It’s made by classic beach and water game company Wahu.
What to consider: It requires inflation prior to playing, and you can’t choose the colour when buying.
Age: 6 Years + | Dimensions: 10cm x 10cm x 10cm
What You Need To Know
Another great toy from Wahu, this beach soccer ball will let your kids show their skills off the field and help them get on their way to becoming a Matilda or Socceroo player.
Completely waterproof, it’s available in four bright and bold colours and boasts a five-star rating online.
Sunnylife Beach Bats, $23.99 at Myer
Why we love it: It comes in several summery colours.
What to consider: It can be a bit tricky for kids to get the hang of.
Age: 5 Years + | Dimenions: 20cm x 1.5cm x 39cm
What You Need To Know
Coming with two bats and balls, the Sunnylife Beach Bats is designed for children five years and older to get their game on like the tennis champs this summer.
This toy is available in a wide variety of colours and designs, including coastal stripes, pastel stripes and dip dye. It also comes with a plastic-zip bag for easy carrying to the beach and simple storage at home.
Wham-O Frisbee Hydro Skipper, $10 on Amazon
Why we love it: It’s slightly different to a regular frisbee, and it skips along the water.
What to consider: It only comes with one ball per purchase.
Age: 5 Years + | Dimensions: 10.8cm x 2.6cm x 16.5cm
What You Need To Know
Every man and his dog enjoy throwing a frisbee at the beach. Adding to the fun, these Wham-O flying discs are a little bit different, with the ability to skip over the water.
NerfSuper Soaker Rainstorm Water Blaster, $15 on Amazon
Why we love it: It’s a classic summer toy to keep the kids cool and have fun.
What to consider: They’ll need to run to and from the water to constantly refill.
Age: 6 Years + | Dimenions: 55.9cm x 4.5cm x 21cm | Capacity: 650mL
What You Need To Know
Water guns are a classic toy and are a great option to take to the beach. This Nerf Super Soaker will get the kiddos soaking wet before they step foot in the waves.
Sunnylife Kids Snorkel Set, $69.99 on Sunnylife
Why we love it: They can make it their own, with stickers included.
What to consider: It’s only useful when swimming near fish and coral – usually on holiday in the tropics rather than a standard beach trip.
Size: Kids 8 – 10 | Dimensions: 19cm x 14cm x 38cm
What You Need To Know
Make your next beach trip an adventure your kids will remember, by letting them see the ocean floor and the critters swimming around while wearing this Sunnylife Kids Snorkel.
Both the mask and pair of flippers have adjustable straps so nothing slips off and children can clearly see the sea below them. The gear also comes with stickers to add some personal touches and a mesh carry bag so they won’t leave anything behind.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING BEACH TOYS
When buying your kids some new beach toys, you need to consider a few things:
Age: Toys vary depending on age, and it’s the same for beach toys. See if the beach toys you buy will be suitable for you children’s age bracket. For younger children, check if there are any small pieces that they could get their hands on.
Size: Look into how big the toys are and if they will fit into your car or beach bags. Also see if they can easily pack away and deflate and if they can be stored away in the cooler months.
Versatility: Consider whether the kids can play with these toys away from the beach or if they are only designed for water or summer months.
HOW WE CHOOSE OUR PRODUCTS
We scour through thousands of reviews to find the best beach toys and find ways you can score the best deal. When looking for fun beach toys, we focused on durability, what would suit a range of families and children of all ages, and what is easy to bring to the beach. We then looked at what the best rated and reviewed options and brought them together in this curated list.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What should you take to the beach?
You’ll likely be swimming on your beach trip, so you need to pack a beach towel and a change of clothes for the whole family.
Also, it’s likely you’ll be spending a few hours in the sun. Don’t forget the sunscreen and apply at least 30 minutes beforehand. It’s also a good idea to bring a beach tent or umbrella in case there isn’t any shade.
When bringing beach toys, investing in a beach trolley or large beach bag is a great option, saving you from making multiple trips to the car.
If you’re spending the whole day at the beach, make sure you pack some snacks, drinks and lunch to keep you going. It might be a good idea to bring your Esky to keep them cool in the Aussie summer.
Finally, everyone needs a good pair of swimmers. For added sun safety, you can also bring a pair of board shorts and a rash shirt.
What else can you do at the beach?
More Coverage
There’s plenty to do at the beach instead of swimming in the water and playing on the sand.
- Look for unique and beautiful shells on the shoreline
- Pack a picnic for lunch
- Go for a walk nearby to enjoy the sea breeze
- Bring a portable speaker and listen to your favourite tunes
- Find some ‘treasure’ with a metal detector
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