If you’re looking for some fun and easy under the sea activities for kids then you’re in the right place! We’ve got loads of under the sea crafts for toddlers and preschoolers as well as school age kids with ideas ocean sensory play, sea animal paper plate crafts and process art activities for kids aged two and older.
Whether you live near the ocean or you’re planning for a beach theme or preschool ocean unit, under the sea and ocean crafts are a great way to encourage children to think about the world around them in a creative way and have fun at the same time.
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What You'll Find on This Page
Under The Sea Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
This post has got lots of ideas for under the sea activities for 1 year olds and two year olds to make as well as preschoolers who are generally considered to be three and four year olds and a large part of these are also those that I’ve made with my own kids when they were toddlers or preschoolers so they’re very much tried and tested!
These under the sea activities for toddlers, preschoolers and kids include ocean crafts, sensory bins, fish crafts, shark activities and printable ocean themed art projects.
Because I know that many of you are making crafts with kids of different age groups, particularly for homeschooling or siblings crafting together, I’ve also included a few ideas for children older than this who are a little more proficient at using scissors.
As usual, you will still need to supervise younger kids through these activities, especially when scissors or small parts are being used.
Printable Templates for Ocean Crafts
We share loads of free templates for kids crafts because they’re a great way to help your child do more creative activities without spending a fortune.
For lots of our printables there are more than one design available and you can print as many copies as you like so as well as them being good for at home they’re also great for use in preschools and classrooms.
These templates are the ones which I think would be the best for an ocean unit study but we’re always adding more so do take a look around!
With each template you’ll find ideas for how you can use them or for a super quick activity you can always grab some markers or crayons and use them as coloring sheets.
Under the Sea Crafts for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Shell Suncatcher Craft
I made a lot of suncatcher crafts with my kids when they were toddlers and preschoolers and they’re a nice one to display afterwards too.
This shell suncatcher craft is made using our printable template and would need an adult to cut it out but sticking on the pieces to make it is definitely suitable for younger kids.
Salt Dough Seashell Decorations
If you’ve ever come back from the beach with a pocket full of seashells then this is a great craft for you! My kids made these shell decorations to put up in the house and they looked great on our mantelpiece.
Under The Sea Paper Plate Craft
My daughter made this under the sea themed craft after spending the morning in preschool so I know from experience that it’s a good activity for toddlers and preschoolers
We used craft supplies that we already owned to make this (as well as some Cheerios) but if you don’t want to cut the fish shapes out in advance then using ocean themed stickers would also be a good option and would be great for supporting fine motor skills too.
Paper Plate Crab
This paper plate crab craft rocks and tearing the colored paper to make it is a great way for toddlers to practice their fine motor skills, plus most importantly my kids loved making them.
You could swap the googly eyes out for ones drawn on with a marker if you prefer.
Resist Art Fish
Process art is ideal for younger kids to make and if you haven’t tried out resist art before then I think this is one that you’ll love.
You can make this simple fish craft together using our free fish template.
Coral Reef Craft
Toddlers and preschoolers can color and stick the parts for this quick-prep coral reef craft while older kids will be able to cut the parts out themselves.
Seashell Wall Hanging
My son and I made this seashell wall hanging together when he was a toddler with him in charge of the painting and me in charge of tying the string to make the hanging part.
Ocean Animal Crafts for Kids
Paper Plate Orca
Paper plate crafts are ideal for younger kids as they’re pretty durable and paper plates are also something that you can easily buy.
This paper plate orca craft is one that my son made when he was a toddler.
Ocean Dot Marker Printables
Our ocean animal dot marker printables are a great way to create some themed art with your kids with crab, octopus, turtle and fish designs that are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.
Paper Plate Turtle
Toddlers can paint this simple sea turtle craft using cotton balls or pom poms. It creates a really fun effect, is a good way to support fine motor skills and is a great alternative to using paint brushes.
Cut and Paste Ocean Craft
You’ll need to do the cutting for this cut out craft but toddlers and preschoolers can definitely join in with the coloring and can glue the different sea creatures down to make this cute ocean scene.
Thumbprint Ocean Animals
Messy Little Monster has a great post on making ocean themed thumbprint animals and there’s a free printable to go with it too.
Fish Crafts and Shark Crafts for Kids
Tissue Paper Fish Craft
This fish craft is one that I made with my daughter when she was a toddler.
Using tissue paper and water is a great way to color your fish in and this activity would go perfectly with The Rainbow Fish book or you could change the colours up to your child’s favourites.
Handprint Fish
Follow the instructions on I Heart Crafty Things to make some sweet handprint fish and jellyfish.
Paper Plate Tropical Fish
The painting on this tropical fish craft from Crafts by Amanda is a bit too neat for toddlers to achieve but follow the instructions to make the paper plate fish themselves and they’ll be perfect for kids to paint on their own designs.
Shark Craft
Use our free shark template to create this craft using q-tips or cotton buds.
Paper Tube Fish Craft
I love how the homemade stamp for this fish craft from Teaching Two and Three Year Olds looks like fish scales!
Rainbow Fish Ornament
That Kids Craft Site have a cute tutorial for making a rainbow fish ornament using colored pom poms.
Build A Shark Craft
Cut, color and paste to make this paper shark using this free printable PDF.
Toddler Fish Art
Teaching Two and Three Year olds shares a paint stamping activity that’s perfect for toddlers to make.
Ocean Animal Suncatchers
Younger toddlers will need help to cut the shapes out for these ocean animal suncatchers from A Little Pinch of Perfect but toddlers of all ages will enjoy painting them and I think the sharks and whales look fantastic.
Octopus, Jellyfish and Seahorse Crafts
Tissue Paper Seahorse Craft
Seahorses are one of our favorite ocean animals so seahorse crafts are always popular here. This easy seahorse craft was really popular with my daughter and uses a fun, sensory material to craft with.
In addition to this tearing and scrunching the tissue paper itself is a great way to support your child’s fine motor skills with scrunching the paper also helping to exercise the muscles in your child’s fingers and hands.
Paper Plate Jellyfish and Narwhal
These paper plate crafts are so easy to make and matched perfectly with one of our favourite books for kids. The basic cutting used to create the jellyfish’s tentacles also mean that it can be used as a way to help kids practice their scissor skills.
O Is For Octopus Craft
Kids Activities Blog has an octopus craft for teaching the letter O to your children or as a preschool or kindergarten activity.
Paper Cup Octopus
These paper cup octopuses from Artsy Craftsy Mom are super cute and a great way for younger kids to practice scissor skills too.
Bleeding Tissue Seahorse Craft
This cute process art activity is great for younger kids as you use a water spray and tissue paper to color in your seahorse.
Fine Motor Octopus Craft
Buddy and Buggy’s paper plate octopus craft is perfect for helping with fine motor skills as you use threading to make the tentacles.
You could change what you want to thread depending on the age and ability of your child.
Paper Bag Jellyfish Craft
This paper bag jellyfish craft would be fun to make to play with as a puppet and we love the feel of the shredded paper used to make the jellyfish’s tentacles.
Cupcake Liner Octopus
Make an octopus using a cupcake liner following this easy tutorial from 123 Homeschool 4 Me.
Ocean Sensory Activities
Ocean Sensory Bin
This ocean sensory bin is one that was really popular with my daughter and we were able to use it a few times with some careful storage.
Ocean Themed Foam Sensory Bin
Make some foam for sensory bins or water tables to create an easy ocean themed sensory activity We found this was perfect for pretend play with our sea animal toys.
Ocean Slime
This ocean slime from Little Bins for Little Hands looks absolutely gorgeous with it’s bright blue color and I bet the texture is fantastic too.
Shaving Cream Sea Sensory Bin
Happy Toddler Playtime shares how to make blue shaving cream that will work brilliantly as ocean waves in your sensory bin.
Mermaid Sensory Bin
Crystal from Surviving a Teachers Salary shares how she made a mermaid sensory bin for her three year old.
I love this as not only is it really pretty and looks great fun to play with but it’s one that you can prepare when you have a bit of time available and then your child can play with it later.
Sea Shells In Blue Water
Oh Hey Let’s Play has a really nice idea for using shells in blue water for sensory play and this open-ended activity looks ideal for toddlers and preschoolers, I love the tongs and scoops that she’s included too.
In this post you’ll also find lots of fun activities including a really great idea for teaching shape recognition with goldfish crackers which would be perfect for an ocean theme too.
Under The Sea Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- In My Ocean by Sara Gillingham – a cute board book that’s perfect for younger kids
- The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister – a classic story with beautiful illustrations
- The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson – a family favourite in our house!