Summer and beach coloring pages for toddlers and preschoolers

A day at the beach, on paper

Sand, buckets, crabs and balls: a day at the beach is full of simple, bright things young children remember. A beach page lets them color that day again, at home or on a rainy afternoon during the vacation.

The sandcastle has three bucket-shaped towers, a big door and a starfish beside it. The crab waves one soft, round claw and holds a bucket in the other, with a spade and a shell in the sand. The beach ball is caught mid-bounce. There is no sand texture, no busy sea and no small pattern, just thick outlines and big areas.

The happy sandcastle and the bouncing beach ball are marked Very simple, for children of 2 and 3. The crab with a bucket is marked Simple, with legs, a bucket and a spade to color, for children of 4 and 5.

Ideas while you color

• A rainbow beach ball

  The beach ball has three big panels and a round cap. Coloring each one differently makes a bright ball and is an easy way to practice color names.

• Pack a few for the trip

  Print a few pages and put them in the bag with a small box of crayons. They help pass the time in the car, on the train or at a café.

• Count the crab's legs

  The crab has six little legs and two claws. Count them together before you start, then count them again when they're colored.

• Send a summer postcard

  Color a page and send it to someone you miss, like a grandparent or a friend from preschool.