We know you can’t get to the beach right now. Trust us, we’re dreaming about it too. The beach will have what you need when this thing is finally over. The beach has undeniable therapeutic and developmental benefits, and is beneficial for everyone in the family, young and old.
Honestly? The beach is one of the best places for sensory play. It gives the kiddos the best and safe environment to explore and learn more about the environment! Between the water and the sand, there are an abundance of sensory activities to choose from. (Oh, and if the kiddos and/or you are afraid of sharks, you know we’ve got a solution for you!)
If you’re not super familiar with sensory play, sensory play is any activity that stimulates a young child’s senses: touch, smell, taste, sight and hearing. Stimulating these senses encourages development across the board. This includes motor skills, speech and communication development, and problem solving/scientific skills, among a plethora of other benefits.
Let’s not forget, the beach is truly therapeutic. From the sand between your toes, the warm sun on your back, and the sound of the waves, the beach can be a therapeutic and spiritual experience for the whole family. It’s actually scientifically proven!
Richard Shuster, PsyD, clinical psychologist, says “staring at the ocean actually changes our brain waves’ frequency and puts us into a mild meditative state.” The ebbing and flowing sound of the waves also de-stimulates our brains. Crazy, right? Oh, and those negative ions you breathe in at the beach sure help too. Just negative ions alone have plenty of health benefits, including regulating sleep patterns... we sure could use that. Last, but certainly not least, we can’t forget about the benefits of all of the Vitamin D you can soak up at the beach. Did you know that Vitamin D actually helps to release dopamine and serotonin?!
Here at Shark OFF, you know the beach is our favorite place. We love to just zone out and listen to the crashing waves, breathe in the beach air, and let my palms sink into the warm sand. We are undoubtedly in our most relaxed state at the beach. Let’s be real here; it’s been a crazy year so far and we all could use some recharging.
So while you’re weighing the options of different vacation destinations for this summer (cruise, mountains, beach, theme parks), remember that the beach is a great place for kiddos to learn and parents to recharge! We could all use some of that “Vitamin Sea” (oh, and Vitamin D too!).
Oh, and if you’re looking for something to do while the family is cooped up, check out last week’s blog post, “Beach Themed Sensory Play” and bring the beach to your home.