Beach bingo

Beach bingo tips

• Slip each card into a clear sheet protector and pack a dry-erase marker. Wet fingers and sand ruin plain paper fast, and a wiped card is ready for a second round after lunch.
• Draw the boundaries first. Say whether squares count only from your towel and the water's edge, or also on the pier, the boardwalk and the parking lot. Without a rule, the child who wanders farthest wins, which isn't the point at a busy beach where kids need to stay in sight.
• Crabs, starfish and sand dollars usually turn up near the waterline or in tide pools, so walk the wet sand at low tide. Treat the sea turtle as a long shot: sightings are rare, and if one does appear, give it plenty of space.
• Pair little kids with a spotter. A parent or teen can point toward the sailboat or the kite and let the younger child make the find, which keeps a four-year-old in the game without anyone doing it for them.
• Plan rounds around the heat. Run a round in the morning while energy is high, take a break in the shade at midday, and use the sunscreen square as a reminder: whoever marks it reapplies.

Best for

Ages

Ages 4 to 12; younger children play with an adult helper

Group size

2 to 8 players, from one family to a few beach-blanket neighbors

Duration

10 to 30 minutes per round, with several rounds possible in one beach visit