You and your family can make each visit to the beach a wildly fun and unique experience by adding a few twists to the common uses of ordinary beach toys. Spontaneity and creativity are paramount when making your sun and surf experiences memorable. By getting the entire family involved in creating brand new games, you will be enhancing their ability to think creatively and to work as a team. Further, you will be enhancing the overall enjoyment of a fairly inexpensive outing.
One example of a homemade family game is a game called Sand-Castle Dodge Ball. It is a simple but effective game idea that you and your family can enjoy and perhaps improve:
Sand-castle Dodge Ball
Game accessories:
You will need one beach volleyball for each team and sand castle making equipment such as shovels and pales.
Objective:
The objective of this game is to be the team whose sand castle is still standing at the end of the game. Before beginning this game, draw two parallel lines approximately twenty feet apart. Behind each of these lines, each team will make their sandcastles as big and as strong as possible. When the sandcastles are complete, the team members stand guard at the bridge of their castles, armed with beach volleyballs. When the game starts, each team will throw their beach volleyballs toward the opposing team’s sand castle in an effort to destroy it. After each side throws their ball, the other team has to quickly recover it in an effort to retaliate.
Rules:
1. Each team must stand behind the lines at all times. If someone steps in front of one of the lines, the opposing team gets a chance to throw their ball without the offending team throwing their ball (called a penalty shot). The offending team will still be able to block.
2. If team 1’s ball doesn’t make it past the second line (called a short ball), team 2 can legally cross their line in order to retrieve the ball. Note that if team 2 still had a ball in their possession while team 1 made the short ball, team 2 will now have a chance to make two shots at their opposing team’s castle.
3. One team cannot hold a ball while waiting for the other team to make its shot in an effort to gain the advantage of having two balls at one time. There will be times when one team has two balls at the same time, such as when one team makes a short ball, or when one team is getting ready to shoot just after the other team shoots. There is a ten second limit for holding the ball. Otherwise, the offending team must surrender the ball to the opposing team so that they can take a penalty shot.
4. The game ends when one team’s castle is completely demolished or the time limit has expired. Games usually last for 15 minutes, but a parent or guardian can set any desired time limit. If neither castle is completely demolished at the end of the set time limit, the team whose castle is least affected is the winning team.
Side note: This game can be played with just two people.
Since the idea is to create a family game that is unique to your own family, experiment with the rules of any game, such as Sand-Castle Dodge Ball. You can try substituting water balloons for beach volleyballs; perhaps try adding more sandcastles. The possibilities are endless.
Here are some tips for creating your very own game.
1. Get your family together and brainstorm ways that you can combine one or more games.
2. Think of some of your children’s favorite activities at home and see if there are ways to substitute beach accessories or substitute the natural resources of the beach for these activities. For example, if your children enjoy doing artwork at home, you can play picture-drawing games in the sand. Have one family member draw the picture while the other family members try to figure out what it is.
3. Don’t count out the silly factor of your young children. Think of a common beach activity such as throwing a Frisbee and ask your children to make the rules. They might think of some really fun rules such as, “If you miss the Frisbee, you have to dance like a chicken!”
Keep in mind that the idea is to cultivate an enjoyable family activity. If you don’t remember all the rules, or if you encounter unexpected limitations, improvise, laugh and simply enjoy making it up as you go.
