'Sandcastles can be as big or as small as you like, and as simple or as complicated as you can make them. Pick a good spot, and dig, pile, build, mould and sculpt.'

Suzanne Elvidge has taken a rest from trawling the 'net to discover holiday games that can be played offline on the beach

Picking up on a tradition we started two years ago, this month’s column includes ten games to play outside on the beach. Because of this, our usual disclaimer has been edited a bit!

Small but important print: All games are free downloads or free to view online, and need the minimum of equipment. Some games require your browser to have a 'plug in' for Shockwave, Flash or Java. To play a game, simply click on its name. If you are a parent, we advise you to try the game and the site it's on first before letting your kids play them, to make sure you're happy. (And, don't forget, you can also find great games for kids in our own Global Gang area). When downloading games from the Internet, don't forget to keep your anti-virus and anti-spyware software up to date.

It’s summer, and that’s the time to go to the beach. So, slap on your sunscreen and get out there and play these ten beach games. If you are doing anything on a beach be aware of tide times.

Building sand castles and sand sculptures
You need: buckets and spades
Sandcastles can be as big or as small as you like, and as simple or as complicated as you can make them. Pick a good spot, and dig, pile, build, mould and sculpt. But watch out for the oncoming waves, and check out the Blankenberge sand sculpture festival for inspiration.

Rockpooling
You need: buckets, nets and a book on seashore creatures
Rockpooling is a great way to learn about the animals and plants on the seashore. Carefully and quietly lift stones, seaweed and shells to see what you can find underneath them, but replace them afterwards. Be very gentle with anything you find in a rockpool, keep it in seawater while you look at it, and make sure that you put it back afterwards where you found it. There are great beaches around the UK for rockpooling.

Burying people
You need: A spade and a willing volunteer
Bury your volunteer (carefully) in the sand (don’t cover his or her face), then build a sculpture over them – you could make your victim (sorry, volunteer) into a giant, a merman or mermaid, a cat, a horse – whatever you like!

Beach skittles
You need: A ball
Make ten sandcastle skittles using your hands, or a cup or mug, and then see who can knock down the most with a tennis ball.

Drawing pictures in the sand
You need: A stick or your hand
Use a stick or your fingers to draw pictures in the sand, using shells, sticks, stones and seaweed to add details. Get some ideas from Andres Amador.

Noughts and crosses
You need: A stick or your hand
Play noughts and crosses, using a stick and the sand instead of a pen and paper. This works for hangman too.

Clap and catch
You need: A ball
Pick someone to be the thrower and form a circle. The thrower throws the ball to each person in turn. On the first miss, the catcher gets down on one knee; on the second miss on both knees; on the third the catcher puts one hand behind his or her back; and on the fourth miss, the catcher is out.

Scavenger hunt
You need: A list of items
Find a list of things on the beach, for example a feather, a stone or a shell. Make sure that all the natural things are returned afterwards.

Flying a kite
You need: A kite
Kites can range from the tiny to the enormous (or you can make your own from paper or a bin bag). Launch the kite into the wind (it can help to have someone holding the kit for you) and learn about wind flow and lift!

Just in case you can’t bear the thought of sand between your toes, here are a few beach games to play online:

• Kick Ups from England Beach Soccer
• Beach Risk Game
• Rule the Beach Volleyball

Suzanne Elvidge is a freelance writer and Surefish Ethical Living Editor

Links

• Other games

• surefish.co.uk culture section index

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