Underwater-themed adventures for young children
Exploring the Ocean Depths with Early Years Activities
Dive into a world of marine discovery with a range of engaging activities suitable for early years and kindergarten children. These activities, inspired by various online resources, offer a unique blend of sensory, motor, art, science, and cognitive development, all wrapped up in an underwater theme.
Begin your oceanic journey with a visit to Rainy Day Mum, where a small world ocean theme awaits. Create a shoe box ocean scene to discuss what you'd expect to see in the ocean, or delve into a mini oil spill clean-up activity to educate about the impact of human activities on marine life.
As you venture further, Red Ted Art offers a treasure trove of ocean-themed crafts. From super cute octopus crafts made from tights to beautiful turtle crafts, there's no shortage of creativity. You might even find yourself cracking a code in the shells to uncover a hidden message, a great first coding activity for young children.
The Imagination Tree provides an Under the Sea playdough activity, perfect for little hands to mould and shape their ocean creations. For a more interactive experience, try the "Move Like a Sea Creature" game, where children mimic swimming, crab walking, or jellyfish waving to music or ocean sounds.
Sensory exploration is also a key part of these activities. An Under the Sea themed sensory jar can be created, using either a large jar or small water bottles. This jar can be used to simulate waves, count shells, find floating objects, discuss density, or even hide plastic letters.
For those who prefer a more hands-on approach, a sensory table exploration offers tactile discovery with sand, shells, and ocean textures. Simple experiments like demonstrating ocean currents with water and food coloring, or learning about ocean layers using a density jar, are also available.
Literature plays a significant role in these activities, with books like "What a Shell Can Tell", "Tiddler", "Rainbow Fish", and "Coelacanth" providing fascinating insights into the ocean world.
If you're fortunate enough to live near an aquarium, a visit is highly recommended. However, for those unable to do so, painting an Under the Sea themed picture on ice offers a unique twist, suitable for both summer and winter.
These activities aim to spark curiosity and provide a comprehensive understanding of the ocean, from its beauty to the challenges it faces. So, grab your snorkels, and let's dive into the world of marine exploration!
Lastly, a word of acknowledgement: This article was last updated on May 21, 2025, by Emma Vanstone.
[1] Red Ted Art (2021). Under the Sea Activities for Kids. Retrieved from https://www.redtedart.com/under-the-sea-activities-for-kids/
[2] The Imagination Tree (2020). Under the Sea Sensory Play Ideas for Kids. Retrieved from https://www.theimaginationtree.com/2020/07/under-the-sea-sensory-play-ideas-for-kids.html
[3] Teach Preschool (2021). Under the Sea Themed Activities for Preschoolers. Retrieved from https://www.teachpreschool.org/under-the-sea-themed-activities-for-preschoolers/
[4] Kids Activities Blog (2021). Glow-in-the-Dark Jellyfish Craft for Kids. Retrieved from https://kidsactivities.au/glow-in-the-dark-jellyfish-craft-for-kids/
- The underwater theme continues with an ocean-themed craft from Red Ted Art, which includes making octopus and turtle artworks, and a treasure hunt using coded shells.
- At The Imagination Tree, there's an Under the Sea playdough activity that allows kids to create ocean creatures, and a "Move Like a Sea Creature" game for interactive entertainment.
- Sensory exploration is encouraged with an Under the Sea-themed sensory jar or a sensory table filled with sand, shells, and ocean textures, providing tactile discovery.
- Engaging ocean-themed books like "What a Shell Can Tell", "Tiddler", "Rainbow Fish", and "Coelacanth" offer insights into the ocean world for children to learn and wonder.
- Aquarium visits are recommended, but for those unable to go, painting an Under the Sea themed picture on ice can offer a unique and fun learning experience, alternatively suitable for both summer and winter.
