If you’ve got kids, you’ve probably heard the siren song of the mermaid trend. It’s everywhere. And honestly? I’m not mad about it. There’s something inherently magical about the idea of underwater adventures, shimmering tails, and talking to sea creatures.
But here’s the thing: keeping the “under the sea” hype alive without just plopping them in front of The Little Mermaid for the millionth time can be tricky. You need activities. Real, hands-on, “stop-asking-me-for-my-phone” kind of stuff.
I’ve been there. My living room has looked like a craft store exploded after a tidal wave more times than I can count. So, I’ve curated a list of 12 of our absolute favorite mermaid activities. These are tested, approved by my own little “mermaids,” and guaranteed to bring some ocean magic to your home.
Get Your Craft On: DIY Mermaid Projects
First up, we have the crafts. These are perfect for a rainy afternoon or when you just need a low-key day. The mess is manageable, I promise. Mostly.
1. Sparkly Egg Carton Mermaid Tails
Ever wondered what to do with all those empty egg cartons besides feeling guilty about recycling them? This is the answer. They make the perfect scaly texture!
We cut the individual cups out, then let the kids go to town painting them in bright blues, greens, and purples. The key here is glitter. I’m not talking a subtle sprinkle; I mean really go for it. Glue and glitter everywhere. FYI, you’ll be finding glitter in places you never imagined for weeks, but the shimmery results are so worth it. Once dry, we glued them onto a piece of cardboard cut into a tail shape. It’s a great texture project, and it looks surprisingly cool hanging on the fridge.
2. Paper Plate Mermaid Aquariums
This one is a classic for a reason. You just need a paper plate, some cellophane or clear plastic, and construction paper.
Cut out the center of the plate, leaving the rim as a frame. Then, have the kids decorate the back of the rim with drawings of seaweed, rocks, and maybe a crab or two. Next, tape a piece of blue cellophane or a clear plastic report cover to the back. Then, the fun part: cut out mermaid and fish shapes from construction paper and tape them to the inside of the cellophane. Seal the whole thing with another paper plate rim (or just tape another layer of cellophane on the back). Hold it up to the light, and it looks like a real aquarium! It’s like magic, but with more glue.
3. Seashell Mermaid Fossils
We love combining a beach trip with a craft, but you can totally buy a bag of mixed shells from a craft store for this. Grab some air-dry clay (the white stuff works best) and some shells.
Give each kid a ball of clay and have them flatten it into a disc or a fun shape. Then, it’s time to make fossils! They can press the shells firmly into the clay to leave an imprint, or even press them in so they stay, creating a mosaic. You can also use beads or sequins for extra “treasure.” Let them dry overnight, and you’ve got a permanent piece of under-the-sea art. My daughter made one that says “Mermaid” with shell imprints, and I’m actually pretty proud of it. She did it, not me. Mostly.
Let’s Get Active: Mermaid Playtime Ideas
Crafts are great, but sometimes kids just need to move. Here’s how to turn your backyard or living room into an aquatic playground.
4. Under the Sea Sensory Bin
Sensory bins are a lifesaver when you need 20 minutes of quiet. For this one, the base is key. I like to use cooked and cooled spaghetti dyed with blue and green food coloring. It feels weirdly like seaweed and the kids love squishing it.
Hide plastic sea creatures, glass gems (their “mermaid treasures”), and maybe a tiny doll to act as the mermaid. Give them scoops, spoons, and little cups. They will dig, they will pour, and they will inevitably drop some on the floor. But the look of concentration on their faces as they hunt for buried treasure? Priceless. Just be prepared for the “ew, it’s cold” comments when they first stick their hands in.
5. Mermaid Tail Bean Bag Toss
This is a super easy DIY game. Grab a large piece of cardboard or an old sheet. Draw or paint a simple outline of a large mermaid tail. Then, cut out a few big holes in the tail fin.
Give the kids some bean bags (or rolled-up socks if you’re in a pinch) and have them try to toss them through the holes. You can assign points to different holes for an extra challenge. It’s great for coordination, and it’s a fun way to burn off some of that seemingly endless kid-energy. The best part is you can lean it against the couch and be the official scorekeeper.
6. Pool Noodle Mermaid Kingdom
Summer is prime mermaid time. If you have a kiddie pool or are heading to the big one, pool noodles are your best friend. They’re cheap, colorful, and float.
We like to cut them into smaller chunks and string them onto rope to create “seaweed barriers” or “coral reef” floating borders. You can also tape a few together to create a floating throne for the mermaid queen. It’s a silly, active way to encourage imaginative play in the water. They’ll be too busy pretending to be mermaids protecting their noodle reef to even think about splashing you. Probably.
Foodie Fun: Under the Sea Snacks
Let’s be honest, half the battle of parenting is getting them to eat. Themed snacks are the ultimate secret weapon.
7. “Mermaid Water” Blue Raspberry Drinks
This is the easiest win on the list. The secret? Blue raspberry drink mix or a splash of blue sports drink in a clear cup or water bottle.
Add a few gummy fish swimming at the bottom, and maybe a swizzle stick with a starfruit or pineapple chunk on top to look like treasure. Suddenly, plain old water becomes a magical elixir. I’ve even used a little bit of coconut milk to make it look “ocean foggy.” It’s just sugar and food coloring, I know, but for a special occasion, it’s a total crowd-pleaser.
8. Mermaid Fruit Salad
You have to balance out the sugar somehow, right? This one makes fruit exciting. You’ll need a star-shaped cookie cutter (the most important tool).
Cut starfruit into actual stars (cheating, I know, but they are already stars!), use the cutter on watermelon and cantaloupe, and include lots of blueberries and green grapes. Toss it all in a big bowl. Tell the kids it’s treasure from a sunken pirate ship, or the gems from the mermaid’s garden. They’ll be fighting over cantaloupe stars. It’s incredible what a little shape can do.
9. Quick & Easy Mermaid Toast
This has become our go-to for a fun, semi-healthy breakfast or snack. Start with a piece of toasted bread and a generous slather of cream cheese or Greek yogurt.
Now for the art. Give the kids little bowls of “seaweed” (finely chopped pistachios or green sprinkles), “sand” (crushed graham crackers or brown sugar), and “treasure” (sliced bananas, berries, or goldfish crackers). They can create their own mermaid scene right on their toast. A blueberry for a fish eye, a raspberry for a shell. It’s interactive, they eat it, and you look like a creative genius.
Let’s Pretend: Imaginative Mermaid Play
This is the heart of it. Giving them the tools to let their imaginations run wild.
10. DIY No-Sew Mermaid Tulle Skirt
You do not need a sewing machine for this. All you need is some elastic (cut to your kid’s waist size) and a bunch of tulle in different colors. Blue, green, purple, teal—the more the merrier.
Cut the tulle into long strips. Then, simply fold a strip in half, loop it behind the elastic, and pull the ends through the loop to tie it on. Repeat. And repeat. And… keep repeating. It’s a bit repetitive for the adult, but the kids can hand you the strips and it’s a good team-building exercise. Once you have the elastic covered, you have a gorgeous, floofy, no-sew mermaid skirt. They will wear it constantly. I’m talking to the grocery store. To bed.
11. Cardboard Box Mermaid Grotto
Got a large cardboard box from an online delivery? Don’t you dare recycle it. That’s prime mermaid real estate. This is a great way to use up leftover paint and craft supplies.
Turn the box on its side so the opening faces you. Now, let the kids design the interior of their secret mermaid grotto. They can paint the walls with coral designs, tape on cut-out construction paper fish, hang streamers from the “ceiling,” and arrange pillows inside as a throne. They will spend hours decorating it and then hours more playing inside it. It will take up a massive amount of space in your living room, and you will trip over it for a week. IMO, it’s totally worth it.
12. “Message in a Bottle” Scavenger Hunt
This combines imaginative play with a bit of a puzzle. Before the kids wake up, write a few simple clues on pieces of paper. “Look where the books live,” or “Go to the place where we eat breakfast.”
Roll the clues up, tie them with a bit of string or ribbon, and put them in a clean, empty glass bottle. You can even add a little sand and tiny shells at the bottom for effect. Hide the bottle somewhere in the house or yard. When they “find” it, they have to work together to read the clues (or have you read them) and follow the map. At the end, have a small treasure waiting—maybe some of that “mermaid water” and a new shell for their collection. It’s an adventure that starts the moment they find the bottle.
So, there you have it. Twelve ways to bring a little bit of ocean magic into your home without having to actually, you know, own a dolphin. 😛
Pick one, try it out, and just go with the flow. Some activities will be a massive hit, and others might end with a glitter-fueled meltdown. That’s just the nature of the beast. The important part is that you’re making memories and fostering that incredible imagination.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an egg carton to rescue from the recycling bin and a very insistent five-year-old demanding we make a grotto. Wish me luck! Do you have a go-to mermaid activity that I missed? I’d honestly love to hear about it!
