Kids are almost guaranteed to have a great time at the beach, but that doesn't mean you don't have to keep them busy and out of trouble, especially if you want to relax yourself. These crafty projects will spark their curiosity, encouraging them to take a closer look at life by the ocean or the lake. Maybe most importantly, the activities will keep them entertained outdoors, letting you keep the mess away from your house while you spend more time under the sun.

These activities are great for a range of ages from toddlers to tweens. Just watch the young ones around small objects like rocks and seashells - they may be seen as tempting snacks!

And just a few etiquette reminders: if you're working with colour or glue, lay down a plastic tablecloth to keep the beach clean. Clean up your space when you're finished, and only use non-toxic materials to keep the sea creatures safe. Lastly, use discarded shells and materials - nothing alive.

With the rules out of the way, it's time to let loose. Pick an activity from the list below, round up the materials, and head to the beach. We want to see you in action, be sure to post a picture on social media and tag us @CBC_Life. Happy beachcombing!

Layered Sand Art

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Little hands will love mixing colour into the sand and watching it transform into vibrant colours. Make sure to pack lots of food colouring because the bottles are small, or source powdered tempera paint, which is non-toxic and will colour more sand.

Here's what you need:

Yogurt containers or plastic bags
Food colouring
Clear plastic containers for displaying the layers
Sand

Mix the sand and food colouring together, using a separate bag for each colour. Layer each colour into the clear containers, gently tapping the sand down rather than shaking it so the layers stay separate. Admire your containers of sandy rainbow colours!

Sand Slime

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We posted a recipe for homemade slime before, and it's still our favourite method because it's made without laundry starch - an ingredient that's sometimes hard to find. By mixing sand into the slime you'll increase the "yuck" factor and discover why this is a crowd favourite.

Here's what you need:

100 mL white or clear school glue
¾ cup of shaving cream, or three two-second pumps of it
1 tbsp laundry detergent
1 tsp hand or body lotion
Sand
Ocean water

Mix the glue, shaving cream, laundry detergent and lotion together before you leave the house. Transport it to the beach in a resealable bag or air-tight container. Add a handful of sand into the slime and knead well. Keep adding sand until you're happy with the texture. Add water as necessary to make it stretchier.

Feather Painting

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Feather painting is a two-step activity that's perfect for the outdoors. First, kids search for the feathers on the beach. Then they use them as brushes to paint gorgeous ocean-inspired pictures.

Here's what you need:

Non-toxic poster paint
Paper, rocks or driftwood
Feathers
Plastic tablecloth or drop cloth
Disposable plate to use as a paint palette

Send the kids off to hunt for feathers. Lay down the tablecloth to contain the mess. Dispense paint onto the disposable plate and show the kids how to run the feathers through the paint and decorate paper, rocks or driftwood.

Beach Volcanoes

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This activity couldn't be simpler, and it's one you can decide to do at the last minute -- as long as you've packed a pail. Kids always love pouring water down a bit heap of sand and watching it run off in all directions.

Here's what you need:

A bucket
Sand
Water

Make a tall mound of sand in the shape of a mountain. Pour water on the top and watch it cascade down the sides of the mountain like lava. Add a lesson on volcanoes for extra bonus marks.

Seashell necklaces

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Many shells already have a hole to loop a string through. While tapping the tip of a screw lightly with a hammer will make a hole, there's something magical about finding shells already necklace-ready.

Here's what you need:

Yarn or twine
Shells

Send the kids off to hunt for shells with holes in them. Thread the shell onto the yarn or twine like a pendant. If you're looking for something to do while the kids hunt for shells, master this slip-knot and take your beach jewellry to the next level.

Treasure Bottles

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It's a treasure hunt just to find all the items to put in the bottle! If you don't have a funnel to get the sand into the bottle, roll up paper into a cone. And use this project to teach kids about the different objects they find. We won't tell if you have to refer to Google to explain.

Here's what you need:

Plastic water bottles or jars with caps, empty (the wider the mouth, the better to fit things in them)
Funnel (or paper)
Sand
Shells, beach glass, dried kelp, and any other cool beach objects to put inside

Send the kids off to look for treasures small enough to fit down the neck of the bottle. The amount of treasures is up to you, but it's easier to see each treasure when it's not so crowded. Fill the bottles up one-third with sand, using the funnel or paper cone to guide the sand in. Add a few treasures, and then more sand. Repeat until you're left with three inches of space at the top. Gently shake the bottle so the treasures and the sand mix completely.

Nature Collage

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Tiny hands will love digging around to find the perfect decorations for their collage. You don't have to get too ambitious with the shape that you cut out of the paper. The sticky tape will be what excites them most. It may seem a chore to pack tape to the beach, but it's worth it! If you cut the shape out of the paper before you leave home, you won't have to bring the scissors.

Construction or cardstock paper
Scissors
Pencil
Clear packing tape
Shells, small rocks, and other beach objects

Draw or trace a shape onto the paper and use the scissors to cut it out. Fill it back in again with a layer of tape, sticky side up. Send the kids to collect objects to decorate the sticky shape with. Fill it up until it's bursting with interesting things.

Now that you've got some fun new ways to fill up your summer days, here are the most beautiful beaches in the country where you can try these crafty activities out.