--- title: 5 Beach Crafts for Preschoolers (Easy Ideas) description: 5 beach crafts for preschoolers, each with a picture and simple steps. Easy ideas for ages 3 to 5 using paper, paint, and glue. image: https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/crafts/beach-crafts-for-preschoolers-featured.png --- [![Kindergarten Prep](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/delivery%202.png)](https://kindergarten-prep.com) - TOOLS - [Kindy](https://kindy.kindergarten-prep.com/) - [Kg-readiness quiz](https://kindergarten-prep.com/kindergarten-readiness-assessment) - [Name tracer](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/name-tracing-worksheets) - CURRICULUM - [Preschool & Pre-K Curriculum](https://kindergarten-prep.com/preschool-homeschool-curriculum) - [For 3-Year-Olds](https://kindergarten-prep.com/preschool-curriculum-for-3-year-olds) - [For 4-Year-Olds (Pre-K)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/preschool-curriculum-for-4-year-olds) - [Play-Based & Hands-On](https://kindergarten-prep.com/play-based-preschool-homeschool-curriculum) - [Secular](https://kindergarten-prep.com/secular-preschool-homeschool-curriculum) - [Autism, ADHD & Speech Delay](https://kindergarten-prep.com/homeschool-curriculum-for-autism) - FREE WORKSHEETS - [All worksheets by theme](https://kindergarten-prep.com/preschool-printable-activities) - [Name tracing worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/name-tracing-worksheets) - [Dot marker worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/dot-marker-printables) - [Tracing worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/tracing-worksheets) - [Math worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/preschool-math-worksheets) - [Fine motor worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/fine-motor-activities) - [Cutting worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/cutting-practice-worksheets) - RESOURCES - [Crafts for preschoolers](https://kindergarten-prep.com/crafts-for-preschoolers) - [Show and tell: A to Z](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/show-and-tell-ideas) - [Letter activities: A to Z](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/letter-activities-for-preschoolers) - [About us](https://kindergarten-prep.com/about-us) [Log in](https://app.kindergarten-prep.com/) Preschool Crafts # 5 Beach Crafts for Preschoolers (Easy Ideas) 5 beach crafts for preschoolers, each with a picture and simple steps. Easy ideas for ages 3 to 5 using paper, paint, and glue. [Kindergarten Prep Team](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/author/kindergarten-prep-team) Oct 14, 2026 --- The shells on the windowsill after a beach trip are the start. Here are five beach crafts for preschoolers, each with a picture, supplies, and steps, from painted seashells to a paper plate crab and a shark ocean collage built from torn tissue and the smallest shells. A three-year-old paints the shells and the red plate. A five-year-old cuts the claws and the flippers for the sea turtle and builds the water around the shark. These happen the week after the trip, with sand still in the bag. ## Start here: three beach crafts that always work [![Painted seashells, an easy beach craft for preschoolers ages 3 to 5](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crafts/C226-2.webp?width=900&height=675&name=C226-2.webp)**Painted seashells***Real shells, paint, a three can do it*](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/beach-crafts-for-preschoolers#c226)[![Paper plate crab, an easy beach craft for preschoolers ages 3 to 5](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crafts/C059-3.webp?width=900&height=675&name=C059-3.webp)**Paper plate crab***Red plate, paper claws, googly eyes*](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/beach-crafts-for-preschoolers#c059)[![Hand and footprint lobster, an easy beach craft for preschoolers ages 3 to 5](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crafts/C153-4.webp?width=900&height=675&name=C153-4.webp)**Hand and footprint lobster***A foot and two hands, one sitting*](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/beach-crafts-for-preschoolers#c153) All 5 Easy for 3 year olds No paint ## 5 beach crafts for preschoolers, with pictures [![Paper plate sea turtle, an easy beach craft for preschoolers ages 3 to 5](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crafts/C279-1.webp?width=900&height=675&name=C279-1.webp)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/crafts/C279-1.webp) ### 1. Paper plate sea turtle The child paints or tissue-covers a paper plate shell and glues on a paper head, flippers and tail. **You need:** 1 small paper plate, green paint, light green and yellow tissue paper, green construction paper, 2 googly eyes, glue How to make it 1. Your child paints the plate green. Let it dry. 2. Tear small tissue squares and glue them over the middle as the shell pattern. 3. Cut from green paper 1 head, 2 long flippers, 2 short flippers and 1 pointed tail. 4. Turn the plate over. Glue the head under the top rim, the long flippers under the upper sides, the short flippers lower down and the tail under the bottom rim. 5. Glue 2 googly eyes on the head. [![Hand and footprint lobster, an easy beach craft for preschoolers ages 3 to 5](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crafts/C153-4.webp?width=900&height=675&name=C153-4.webp)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/crafts/C153-4.webp) ### 2. Hand and footprint lobster The child makes a red footprint for the body and two red handprints for the claws, then adds eyes. **You need:** red poster paint, white paper, 2 small googly eyes, paintbrush How to make it 1. Brush red paint on the bottom of your child's foot. Press it in the middle of the paper with the toes at the top. Let it dry. 2. Paint your child's hand and press it as a claw at the lower left, with the palm touching the footprint heel and the fingers pointing out. 3. Print the other hand as the claw on the lower right. 4. Let it dry, then stick the 2 googly eyes on the heel, between the claws. [![Paper plate crab, an easy beach craft for preschoolers ages 3 to 5](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crafts/C059-3.webp?width=900&height=675&name=C059-3.webp)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/crafts/C059-3.webp) ### 3. Paper plate crab The child paints a paper plate red and glues on paper claws, legs and googly eyes; handprints can be the claws. **You need:** 1 small paper plate, red paint, red construction paper, 2 large googly eyes, glue How to make it 1. You cut the plate in half. 2. Your child paints the plate red. Let it dry. 3. You cut 2 claws with a V notch in the end, and 6 thin leg strips, all from red paper. 4. Glue a claw under the rim at each top corner. Glue 3 legs under each side. 5. Stick the 2 big eyes on the back. [![Painted seashells, an easy beach craft for preschoolers ages 3 to 5](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crafts/C226-2.webp?width=900&height=675&name=C226-2.webp)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/crafts/C226-2.webp) ### 4. Painted seashells The child paints real shells with bright colours and patterns. **You need:** scallop seashells, poster paint, 1 paintbrush, newspaper to work on How to make it 1. Cover the table with newspaper. 2. Your child paints the ridged outside of each shell a different colour. 3. Paint one shell with stripes. 4. When a shell is dry to the touch, dab dots on it in another colour. 5. Lay the shells out to dry. [![Shark ocean collage, an easy beach craft for preschoolers ages 3 to 5](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crafts/C169-2.webp?width=900&height=675&name=C169-2.webp)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/crafts/C169-2.webp) ### 5. Shark ocean collage The child glues a paper shark onto blue card and builds the sea around it with torn tissue paper and small shells. **You need:** blue cardstock, grey paper, 1 googly eye, light blue and green tissue paper, small seashells, white glue How to make it 1. You cut a shark with a fin and tail from grey paper. Your child glues it in the middle of the blue sheet and sticks on the eye. 2. Tear the tissue into pieces of different sizes. 3. Brush on glue and press the pieces on, some scrunched, some flat, some overlapping. 4. Glue the shells along the bottom edge. [Free · 30 questions · about 4 minutes **Is your child on track for kindergarten?** Answer 30 questions about what your child does today, and you get a report like this one: Every area at a glance: strong, on track, or worth a little time The one or two areas to focus on first Simple things to do at home for each area How many months you have until kindergarten starts Get my child's free report → ![Example kindergarten readiness report with a bar for each area: language, social-emotional, math, thinking, fine motor and literacy](https://kindy.kindergarten-prep.com/report-preview.png)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/kindergarten-readiness-assessment?utm_source=kp-blog&utm_medium=card&utm_campaign=crafts-beach-crafts-for-preschoolers&utm_content=mid) Nothing matches that filter. Clear it and try again. ## Beach crafts for 3 year olds One of these a young three can do almost alone: [Painted seashells](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/beach-crafts-for-preschoolers#c226). No exact cutting, no small pieces, and the glue stick does the rest. ## Beach crafts: shells, red paint and a 3 year old Rinse the shells and let them dry before painting. A cotton swab is easier than a brush for a three year old on a small shell. The hand and footprint lobster is one red paint session: foot first, then both hands, wipe between. Do it on the deck or over a towel. Handprints can be the claws on the crab too, so make the crab and the lobster in the same sitting while the red is out. Painted shells go in a jar on the shelf. The shark collage and the sea turtle are wall pieces, and the crab can go to school in a summer week. [Free · 30 questions · about 4 minutes **Before you go: see where your child is for kindergarten** A report with every area at a glance, what to focus on first, and things to do at home. Get my child's free report →](https://kindergarten-prep.com/kindergarten-readiness-assessment?utm_source=kp-blog&utm_medium=card&utm_campaign=crafts-beach-crafts-for-preschoolers&utm_content=bottom) ## More crafts for preschoolers - [Summer crafts for preschoolers](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/summer-crafts-for-preschoolers) - [Paper plate crafts for preschoolers](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/paper-plate-crafts-for-preschoolers) - [Ocean crafts for preschoolers](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/ocean-crafts-for-preschoolers) - [Turtle crafts for preschoolers](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/turtle-crafts-for-preschoolers) - [Letter T crafts for preschoolers](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/letter-t-crafts-for-preschoolers) - [July crafts for preschoolers](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/july-crafts-for-preschoolers) - [Handprint crafts for preschoolers](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/handprint-crafts-for-preschoolers) - [Footprint crafts](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/footprint-crafts) - [All crafts for preschoolers, by theme, holiday and letter](https://kindergarten-prep.com/crafts-for-preschoolers) × [**Free:** is your child on track for kindergarten? Get the report](https://kindergarten-prep.com/kindergarten-readiness-assessment?utm_source=kp-blog&utm_medium=card&utm_campaign=crafts-beach-crafts-for-preschoolers&utm_content=bar) × [Preschool Crafts](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/tag/preschool-crafts) ## Similar posts Preschool Crafts ### [5 Bunny Crafts for Preschoolers (Easy, Low Prep)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/bunny-crafts-for-preschoolers) 5 bunny craft ideas for preschoolers, with a picture of each. Easy paper plate, handprint, and Easter bunny crafts for ages 3 to 5. Kindergarten Prep Team Oct 11, 2026 Preschool Crafts ### [5 Dr. Seuss Crafts for Preschoolers (Easy Ideas)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/dr-seuss-crafts-for-preschoolers) 5 Dr. Seuss crafts for preschoolers, each with a picture and simple steps. Easy ideas for ages 3 to 5 using paper, paint, and glue. Kindergarten Prep Team Oct 11, 2026 Preschool Crafts ### [4 Pet Crafts for Preschoolers (Easy Ideas)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/pet-crafts-for-preschoolers) 4 Pet crafts for preschoolers, each with a picture and simple steps. Easy ideas for ages 3 to 5 using paper, paint, and glue. Kindergarten Prep Team Oct 14, 2026 ![Untitled design (66)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(66).png) Kindergarten Prep helps parents give their three to five year olds a strong start at home: through play, conversation and hands-on moments, guided with intention. ### Menu - [Kindy](https://kindy.kindergarten-prep.com/) - [Log in](https://app.kindergarten-prep.com) - [KG-readiness quiz](https://kindergarten-prep.com/kindergarten-readiness-assessment) - [About us](https://kindergarten-prep.com/about-us) ### Compare - [Kindy vs ABCmouse](https://kindergarten-prep.com/compare/kindy-vs-abcmouse) - [Kindy vs Khan Academy Kids](https://kindergarten-prep.com/compare/kindy-vs-khan-academy-kids) - [Kindy vs Time4Learning](https://kindergarten-prep.com/compare/kindy-vs-time4learning) - [Kindy vs The Good and the Beautiful](https://kindergarten-prep.com/compare/kindy-vs-the-good-and-the-beautiful) - [Kindy vs The Peaceful Preschool](https://kindergarten-prep.com/compare/kindy-vs-the-peaceful-preschool) - [Kindy vs Blossom and Root](https://kindergarten-prep.com/compare/kindy-vs-blossom-and-root) - [See all comparisons](https://kindergarten-prep.com/compare) ### Free worksheets - [Name tracing worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/name-tracing-worksheets) - [Dot marker worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/dot-marker-printables) - [Tracing worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/tracing-worksheets) - [Math worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/preschool-math-worksheets) - [Fine motor worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/fine-motor-activities) - [Cutting worksheets](https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/cutting-practice-worksheets) ### Curriculum - [Preschool & Pre-K Curriculum](https://kindergarten-prep.com/preschool-homeschool-curriculum) - [For 3-Year-Olds](https://kindergarten-prep.com/preschool-curriculum-for-3-year-olds) - [For 4-Year-Olds (Pre-K)](https://kindergarten-prep.com/preschool-curriculum-for-4-year-olds) - [Play-Based & Hands-On](https://kindergarten-prep.com/play-based-preschool-homeschool-curriculum) - [Secular](https://kindergarten-prep.com/secular-preschool-homeschool-curriculum) - [Autism, ADHD & Speech Delay](https://kindergarten-prep.com/homeschool-curriculum-for-autism) © 2023+ Kindergarten Prep All rights reserved      [Privacy Policy](https://kindergarten-prep.com/privacy-policy) | [Refund Policy](https://kindergarten-prep.com/refund-policy) | [Terms and Conditions](https://kindergarten-prep.com/terms-of-service) [Powered by Atlas - a B2B SaaS HubSpot theme](https://www.kalungi.com/atlas-hubspot-theme-for-b2b-saas-software) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Kindergarten Prep Team", "url" : "https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/author/kindergarten-prep-team" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-14T18:14:52.816Z", "datePublished" : "2026-10-14T18:14:43.000Z", "headline" : "5 Beach Crafts for Preschoolers (Easy Ideas)", "image" : [ "https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/crafts/beach-crafts-for-preschoolers-featured.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/beach-crafts-for-preschoolers", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://kindergarten-prep.com/hubfs/delivery%202-2.png" }, "name" : "Kindergarten Prep" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "ItemList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "name" : "Paper plate sea turtle", "position" : 1, "url" : "https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/beach-crafts-for-preschoolers#c279" }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "name" : "Hand and footprint lobster", "position" : 2, "url" : "https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/beach-crafts-for-preschoolers#c153" }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "name" : "Paper plate crab", "position" : 3, "url" : "https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/beach-crafts-for-preschoolers#c059" }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "name" : "Painted seashells", "position" : 4, "url" : "https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/beach-crafts-for-preschoolers#c226" }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "name" : "Shark ocean collage", "position" : 5, "url" : "https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/beach-crafts-for-preschoolers#c169" } ], "name" : "5 Easy Beach Crafts for Preschoolers", "numberOfItems" : 5 } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://kindergarten-prep.com/", "name" : "Home", "position" : 1 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://kindergarten-prep.com/crafts-for-preschoolers", "name" : "Crafts for preschoolers", "position" : 2 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://kindergarten-prep.com/blog/beach-crafts-for-preschoolers", "name" : "5 Easy Beach Crafts for Preschoolers", "position" : 3 } ] } ```