We all know how much of a bummer it is to not be able to go the beach, especially when you really, really want to. It doesn’t matter how old you are – most of the time, when things get in the way of enjoying a well-deserved vacation of fun in the sun at the beach, it can really be a pain in the butt – even more so when you’ve been locked up at home all day for months on end, trying to wait out the duration of the worldwide pandemic. But the good news is that we don’t have to let COVID 19 stop children from enjoying the ocean, or even the good old outdoors in general.

When the inevitable feelings of claustrophobia and cabin-fever begin to creep up on us, it’s important to remember that there’s a whole lot of ways that we children can appreciate the beauty and majesty of the ocean from the safety of their very own humble abodes. Here’s a few ways to satisfy your kids’ maritime cravings without them having to actually go the beach in real life:

Introduce your kids to the amazing storytelling of Penny Higgins

Penny Higgins is a critically-acclaimed children’s author whose work is undoubtedly appropriate for your average beach-excited kid who’d love a good under-the-sea themed read. In particular, Penny Higgins’ book titled “Oscar, the Mighty Crab” is an underwater tale that is sure to captivate young readers. This is the story of Oscar the Crab and his escapades as he leaves the comfort of his beloved home and family to explore the big upper world, where his amazing story unfolds. Don’t miss out on this short but sweet piece of aquatic fun for kids of all ages.

Bring the ocean to your kitchen by experimenting with new seafood dishes

Lots of kids might not like fish – but then again, there’s no denying that the Oceana’s website is extensively detailed with sustainably delicious seafood recipes that anyone could try to recreate from their own kitchen. Seafood classics such as fish tacos, sautéed crab meat, and Japanese sushi and sashimi are all available on this website. Seafood can be a healthy source of omega-3 fatty acids, so make sure your kids get enough of that to stay healthy throughout the pandemic as well.

Teach kids about conservation through books, arts, and crafts.

A whole lot of children are out of school and stuck at home throughout the pandemic, and with no school, many parents have been adopting the responsibility of not only entertaining their children, but doing their part to educate them as well. With the Kids Environmental Lesson Plan (or KELP), parents can download a wide array of immersive kids’ activities free of charge directly from the website called “Sailors for the Sea”, which is powered by the Oceana website. These educational guides include anything from facts about whale blubber to the physical attributes of plant and sea life such as anemone, kelp, and jellyfish. It even explains why the sea tastes salty – and it’s not because of fish pee.

Do some online (or offline) research with your child

Research might sound boring and uninteresting, but it all depends on the mood and the context of how it is conducted or relayed. There’s plenty of ways to make research a fun and fulfilling experience for kids. For one, you could start by asking your child what his favorite thing about the ocean is, whether it be an animal, plant, or even just a fact that fascinates him or her. From there, dive into Wikipedia and other online sources as you and your child read along together about something that he or she is already interested in or curious about – this way, the child doesn’t see the research as a chore, but as a fun way to figure out more about what already interests them.