The fine beach sand between your toes, sun kissing your shoulders, sound of waves crashing to the shore, and dipping in crystal clear waters – is easily one of the most relaxing, exciting, and fun-filled places on earth. Does anyone really need to be convinced to take a trip to the beach? Going to the beach with your friends, as a couple, or solo is different from going to the beach as a family with all the kids in tow. The logistics are simply not the same. While most parents want to build sandcastles and create memories with their kids during summer vacation, the reality is that it takes more work and planning to take your family on a beach vacation. But the benefits far outweigh the hassle!
There are many other reasons why families need to go to the beach—from building fond memories to the many health benefits that you probably aren’t aware of. The beach and kids are a great combination, so on your next summer trip make it a point to discover why! Let this serve as an introductory guide to that goal.
1) THE BEACH IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH
The beach isn’t just fun under the sun. The health benefits of going to the beach are also worth all the planning, packing, and probably the long drive. As you may already know, natural environments such as the beach have restorative benefits that improve a person’s general health and well-being.
If your toddler has sores or cuts, salt water can help heal them, while its minerals will help fight infection. A stuffy nose, one of the most common irritants for kids, can be relieved by swimming, which removes extra mucus in the nose and clears nasal passageways. And of course, there’s vitamin D or the sunshine vitamin that helps strengthen bones and improve cardiovascular health. The beach offers the best vitamins and health supplements you can ever have for you and your family.
2) THE BEACH FORCED YOU TO TAKE A BREAK FROM TECHNOLOGY AND START MOVING
If your kids are in front of the screen every day, the more reason there is to go to the beach as a family. Do not let technology take away the precious hours you should be spending with your kids.
Cellphones, laptops, and all sorts of electronic devices have a natural aversion to the beach. Sand gets in there, for example, and direct exposure to the sun is not a good thing too. Well then, leave them in the hotel room and start moving. Swim, walk, run, and play on the sand with your family. There are also various activities at the beach that you can enjoy such as kayaking, island hopping, boat ride, beach volleyball and surfing! You’re getting fit and healthy without even knowing it, and as for the kids, it’s pure fun.
3) GOING TO THE BEACH FORCES YOU TO BREAK YOUR ROUTINE
Travel with family is about investing in healthy relationships. An article on the Telegraph cited several studies showing how travel strengthens the bond between parent and child. It revealed that two-thirds of conversations that parents are having with their children are about routines—school, homework, tidying the room, and other rudimentary tasks. Sadly, only 25% of children say they talk to their parents more than once a week about something important to them. Here’s more: 65% of parents admit they only play occasionally with their children while one in six fathers say they don’t know how to play with their kids.
These very troubling findings can be addressed by going to the beach and taking regular vacations. Building sandcastles, running barefoot on the sand, filling a bucket with water, and all sorts of activities can be considered “attachment play.” This sends the message that kids have their parents’ full attention and that they are indeed the center of their universe. Playing with your kids and spending uninterrupted time with them is a vital part of bonding which boosts a child’s self-confidence and self-worth.
4) THE BEACH TICKLES THE BRAIN AND IMAGINATION
Beach holidays can help advance brain development. How? The brain’s limbic area, which consists of the play and seeking systems, are not utilized at home. But when outdoors, just burying your child’s feet on the the sand activates the play system. And when a child is exposed to a different scenery, the brain goes seeking and exploring mode. These things improve the cognitive, motor, and social skills of a child. They enhance creativity and feed the imagination.
5) THE BEACH IS A HAPPY PLACE
Life is always better at the beach, right? It rejuvenates you and clears out mental clutter. The simplicity and rawness of it all are refreshing.
Science has an explanation for why going to the beach makes people happier. The sound of waves alters wave patterns in your brain, making you feel more relaxed and calm and therefore happy. Magnesium in the water also helps calm the nerves and lifts your mood. Living near the beach has a natural way of improving overall well-being that a study recommended exploring the ocean as a form of therapy.
So if you want your kids to be less grumpy and cranky, take them to the beach. Getting away from work and from all the stress can help parents concentrate on ensuring their kids have the best time too. The beach is nature’s own playground where kids can run, swim, meet other children, and have fun. It is a place where kids can be kids.
6) GOING TO THE BEACH GETS YOU OUTDOORS
Kids are very sheltered these days. They can spend the whole days locked in their rooms playing video games or watching YouTube. This is why regular travel with family is important. Kids need to see the beauty outside the screens and beyond the walls. Going to the beach will teach kids to love the outdoors and be closer to nature. Let them smell the fresh air, roll in the sand, play in the water, and pick up rocks and twigs. As parents, now is your chance to teach them how to appreciate nature and take care of it.
Are you planning a beach vacation now? You should definitely go to the beach with your family, reap all these benefits, and collect happy and fond memories together.
Have you been on a great family beach vacation? Please share in the comments below! Read Next > Jervis Bay’s Best Beaches
By We Are Travel Girls Contributor Patricia Evans of ArticleTuts.com
Connect with Patricia Twitter
Jane Ambrose says
My husband and I are thinking about taking our kids to a place with a beach this summer, but we want to be sure that it’s something that would be worth our time and resources. It is so true that going to the beach with family is a great opportunity to strengthen bonds between us. It seems like playing with your kids is a great way to show them that they’re important to you. I’ll be sure to remember these things while planning our trip!
We Are Travel Girls says
Thanks for reading and commenting Jane. Glad you enjoyed reading this post. Thanks, Becky x
Tom Philips says
Wonderful post! Really, Beach Holidays are best if you want to give yourself and your loved ones a treat of relaxation and peace of mind from the daily working routine. According to me, everyone should go to the beach holidays at least once a year to experience nature’s beauty and internal calm.
Kit Hannigan says
I like what you said about how going to the beach will help you and your family break away from your routine exposure to laptops and smartphones and start having fun swimming and walking. My sons really love their console games, and I think they need a break from that. It certainly looks like we should plan on going on more vacations.
Mckenzie Poter says
I like how in this article it states that you need to go to the beach and it’s even beneficial for your health. I can definitely see how calming the beach is for me. planning my next vacation I will have to set aside some beach time or find a chic location close to the beach.
Bree Ward says
I agree that taking a beach vacation with family is both memorable and healthy especially for the kids who are in need of physical activities. My husband is planning to take a beach vacation with the whole family next month. We are now looking for vacation rental condos or homes that we can rent during the vacation duration.
Oscar Morrison says
I like how you described that visiting the beach excites your imagination from being outside in a new environment. My wife and I have been caught in our routine for a long time, so I wanted to surprise her with something to break our pattern. Going to the beach sounds like a great way for us to disconnect from our lives for a while.
Luke Smith says
I like that you mentioned how the health benefits of going to the beach are also worth all the planning, packing, and probably the long drive. The stressful holiday season just passed, so we are thinking of going on a vacation in order to unwind and recover. I don’t want to stay in a hotel this time, so I am planning on looking for vacation condo rentals.
kandui resort mentawai says
The Mentawai Islands benefit from a unique geography that generates consistent and powerful waves.
https://www.kanduivillas.com/tsunami-preparedness-tsunamiwarning
Smita Sharma says
Fantastic article…Thanks for sharing such an amazing content with us.Good job.Keep it up.