Kid Playing in the Water by blmurch
Living, as I do, slap dab in the middle of the USA it’s hard for me to feel the sea.
It’s hard to imagine being any further from the sea (or ocean, as folks here tend to call it). You know, people tell me here that their kids have never seen the ocean, or that their only experience is a resort beach vacation. This is a total contrast to my life growing up in Scotland, where the seashore was never more than 1 hour away and easily reachable by train or car for a day out. Almost all of my kid-year vacations were spent dabbling and paddling at the edge of the sea. Those were my very first lessons in marine biology and the sea is in my blood, or maybe I should say it’s in my senses.
So, how can someone living away from the ocean and shore really get to feel the sea, learn about it, and care about preserving it? How can we give kids an experience of the sea; what are suitable first lessons in marine biology? The sea and shore are very much experiences for all 5 of the main senses. Let’s take a look at how to engage those senses, wherever you live, to learn about the shore. In this first part we’ll talk about the sense of touch.
When we think of shore, we think of sand. In actual fact shores are very varied. Here are some touch ideas that cover many types and aspects of the seashore:
Sand
Pick up a bag at your local hardware store. If you don’t have the space, or it’s too cold for outdoor sandbox play, kids can have fun playing with sand inside. Just accept that there will be cleanup involved and set up your sand in an area where you can sweep up easily. If you put sand anywhere close to water you will triple the mess and some of the sand is bound to end up down the drain. If this is a problem for you, there is always the option to purchase only sandpaper until the weather is warmer. Things you can do with sand include sandpaper letters (free templates for sandpaper letters), zen sand gardens, and sand filled bottles. Personally I like the natural colors of sand – you could make a bottle that alternates layers of sand with rocks of different natural colors and sizes. For me, sand is just great to touch and run through your fingers or dabble your toes in. It is also great for hiding small objects in to do a treasure hunt. In fact that is part of the mystery and joy in visiting the beach. You never know what you treasure awaits you in the sand.
Rocks
Craft stores and garden centers carry rocks, stones and pebbles of a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Many seashores have pebble beaches. The pebbles are rounded and similar to river rocks from volcanic areas of our country. Water action does the same job in both places. Just be aware that rocks form good missiles – if you have a kid who likes to throw stuff take this into account! You’ll want a few small rocks for your zen garden. Small boys who love trains and trucks enjoy loading up with pebbles and moving them around. You can talk about the different sizes. Painting on rocks is a great craft for older kids and adults. See some fantastic rock art to inspire you and read a detailed plan on painting river rocks. It’s just fun to feel the different textures and weights of rocks and think about what kind of animals could live on a rock. Measuring and weighing are great activities with rocks. How about comparing the weight of small rocks that fit in a beach bucket compared to sand and large rocks. What happens if we combine all three, can we fit more weight in? Mixing the sand and rocks is bound to happen so be sure to have a suitable sieve ready if you want to separate them again later!
Shells
The variety of shapes and styles of shells has always amazed me. If, like me, you have no shore to visit, you can pick up shells at places like Michaels and Carolina Biological Supply. Or ask a friend or relative to collect some shells and mail them to you. Before collecting please ensure that you are doing so legally. For this reason I would be careful where you purchase shells if you are doing so online. Shells are not only the discarded homes of animals, but they are part of the ecosystem and necessary for the seashore ecology. I clearly remember one poor hermit crab on a Scottish beach who had been unable to find a suitable larger shell to live in. He/she was hiding out inside an enormous shell because the beach was clear of everything except small shells. I felt so sad for that little crab who so badly needed a new home.
Even in the middle of Kansas there are shells to be had if you think outside the box. Nowadays Kansas is a long way from the ocean, but the spot where I live was once part of a vast inland sea. When I dig in the yard and find rocks they invariably contain the remains of shelled sea creatures, preserved as fossils for me to enjoy. A visit to the local river bank can also turn up the empty shells of river molluscs, like the ones photographed here. In my garden I sometimes find snail shells. While I can’t find sea creatures, I can find their relatives, which prompt some conversations about animal adaptation, the evolution of molluscs, and explorations in marine biology.
More Ideas for Things to Touch
Thinking outside the box here:
- Check your local oriental supermarket or health food store for edible seaweed. Larger pieces of seaweed feel just like the stuff you’d find on the shore once they are rehydrated in water.
- Pet stores often carry shells for hermit crabs. Kids who are gentle with them may be able to explore and handle the shells for free.
- Check your local museums and ask if they have marine items, or fossils of them, for your children to touch.
- Ask friends or relatives to send you a piece or two of grass from a sand-dune. Don’t expect them to collect illegally though! Also, some states have restrictions on the import of plant materials – it’s something to check for. Usually the grass is rough and sharp and it can cause cuts – just be aware of that before you hand it to your kids.
- Wave pools and indoor places like Great Wolf Lodge are wonderful for learning about the power of waves and water. Still, if you can’t make it to one of those, ask someone to throw a a bucket load of water, preferably warm, at you for a little sensory experience that relates to the power of the sea!
Though the shore is now half a continent away from me it is never far from my heart. My love of the marine environment has not faded and I care just as much as ever about the health of the ocean and her creatures.
Related post: Taste of the Sea
Find ocean items at Amazon.com. On the Seashore is an Usborne picture story book.
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