10 Simple Ways to Celebrate World Oceans Day at Home

Last Updated on June 16, 2025

World Oceans Day, celebrated annually on June 8th (and in 2025, a big one with the UN Ocean Conference happening in Nice, France!), is a global reminder of the ocean’s vital role in our lives and the urgent need to protect it. World Oceans Day 2025 theme, “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us,” beautifully encapsulates the awe-inspiring nature of our oceans and their critical support for all life on Earth. While grand gestures are essential, the most impactful change often begins with small, consistent actions within our families.

This comprehensive guide offers 10 simple, fun, and educational ways your family can celebrate World Oceans Day at home, fostering a deeper connection to the ocean and inspiring a lifelong commitment to its conservation. Get ready to dive in.

Transform Your Living Room into an “Under the Sea” Sanctuary

Who says you must visit an aquarium to feel immersed in the ocean? Bring the ocean to you! This activity is a fantastic way to spark imagination and create a festive atmosphere.

Step-by-Step:

• Decorate: Use blue and green blankets, pillows, and fabrics to mimic the ocean’s hues. You can even use a Blue and Green Ocean-Themed Fabric Set to drape and create flowing “waves” around the room. Hang paper cut-out fish, jellyfish (from paper plates or tissue paper), and seaweed (green streamers) from the ceiling. Add some Ocean-Themed Wall Decals or Removable Stickers featuring marine life for a quick wall transformation. Dim the lights to create an underwater glow.
• Soundscape: Play ocean sounds in the background – gentle waves, whale songs, or a soothing ocean-themed playlist.
• Marine Life: Scatter stuffed animal marine creatures around the room. An Assorted Plush Ocean Animals set can provide a delightful variety of sea creatures for kids to identify and learn about. Encourage kids to identify them and share interesting facts.
• Storytelling: Gather in your “ocean” and read books about marine life, ocean adventures, or conservation heroes.

Dive into DIY Ocean Crafts

Crafts are an excellent way for children to express their creativity while learning about the ocean. Using recycled materials adds an eco-friendly layer to the fun.

 Step-by-Step:

• Recycled Material Marine Life: Challenge your family to create ocean animals from household recyclables. Think toilet paper roll crabs, plastic bottle fish, or egg carton turtles. You can start with an Eco-Friendly Kids Craft Supply Kit that often includes sustainable materials like recycled paper, natural dyes, and plant-based glues. Don’t forget a large Googly Eyes Bulk Pack (Self-Adhesive); they’re a must for bringing those creatures to life with less mess!
• Paper Plate Jellyfish: Paint plates in vibrant colors, then cut crepe paper or yarn strips for tentacles. Attach them to the plate for wobbly jellyfish.
• Ocean Sun catchers: Use sticky-backed plastic, contact paper, and tissue paper cut into ocean shapes (fish, seaweed). Stick them onto a window to create a beautiful, light-filtering ocean scene.
• Shell Art: If you have collected shells from past beach trips, clean them and use them to create mosaics, decorate picture frames, or make little shell creatures with googly eyes and pipe cleaners. If you don’t have a personal collection, a bag of Natural Assorted Seashells for Crafts provides an excellent variety for all creations.

Host an “Ocean Explorer” Movie Marathon

Learning can be incredibly engaging when paired with captivating visuals. Many fantastic documentaries and animated films highlight the beauty and challenges of our oceans.

Step-by-Step:

• Select Films: Choose age-appropriate documentaries like the awe-inspiring Blue Planet II (DVD/Blu-ray), which showcases incredible ocean biodiversity, or the deeply moving My Octopus Teacher (DVD/Blu-ray or Digital Code), perfect for older kids and adults. For younger children, animated movies like “Finding Nemo” or “Moana” can introduce ocean themes.
• Snack Smart: Prepare ocean-themed snacks! “Fish” crackers, blue Jell-O, “ocean water,” or fruit cut into marine shapes can add to the experience.
• Discuss: After each film, talk about what you learned. What surprised you? What made you feel inspired or concerned? How can your family help protect the ocean based on what you saw?

Become “Plastic Pollution Problem Solvers”

One of the biggest threats to our oceans is plastic pollution. This activity helps families understand the problem and find solutions together.

 Step-by-Step:

• Plastic Audit: Spend a day or two collecting all single-use plastics your family uses. At the end of the audit, lay them out and discuss how many you could save.
• Brainstorm Alternatives: As a family, brainstorm reusable alternatives for everyday single-use items. Start by investing in a Family Pack of Reusable Water Bottles (Stainless Steel or BPA-Free Tritan) to ditch plastic bottles. Keep a set of Collapsible Reusable Grocery Bags (Multi-Pack) handy for all your shopping trips. Silicone-reusable food storage bags are a fantastic, durable alternative to plastic baggies for packed lunches and snacks.
• “Plastic-Free” Challenge: Implement a “plastic-free” hour, day, or even a week. Reward yourselves for reducing your plastic footprint.
• Recycling Review: Go through your household recycling together. Ensure everyone knows what can and cannot be recycled in your local area to prevent contamination.

Whip Up Ocean-Friendly Meals

Our dietary choices have a direct impact on ocean health. World Oceans Day is an excellent opportunity to explore sustainable eating habits.

Step-by-Step:

• Sustainable Seafood Spotlight: If your family eats seafood, research sustainable seafood options using guides like the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. To get inspired, a cookbook like Good Catch: A Guide to Sustainable Fish and Seafood with Recipes can be an excellent resource for delicious and responsible choices.
• “Meatless Monday” (or Ocean Day!): Dedicate World Oceans Day to a plant-based meal. Reducing meat consumption can lessen your carbon footprint, benefiting the ocean.
• Reduce Food Waste: Get creative with leftovers to minimize food waste, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and indirectly impacting ocean health.
• Grow Your Own: Plant some herbs or vegetables if you have a garden. Growing your vegetables will connect you to where your food comes from and reduce your reliance on transportation, benefiting the environment.

Create an “Ocean Sensory Bin” for Little Hands

Sensory bins offer a hands-on, engaging way for the youngest members of your family to explore the ocean.

Step-by-Step:

• Gather Materials: Use a large, clear plastic storage bin with a Lid for fun and easy storage. Fill it with blue-dyed water (a few drops of Blue Food Coloring (Natural or Plant-Based), Play Sand (Washed and safe for Kids), small pebbles, and seashells.
• Add Creatures: Include small plastic ocean animals. A set of Realistic Mini Ocean Animal Figurines (BPA-Free) will provide diverse creatures for exploration. You can also add Aquarium Plastic Plants (Non-Toxic) to enhance the underwater feel.
• Tools for Exploration: Provide scoops, small nets, cups, and sponges for scooping, pouring, and exploring. A Kids’ Fine Motor Tool Set (Scoops, Squeezers, Droppers) can further enhance their developmental play.
• Supervised Play: Always supervise young children during sensory play, especially with water and small objects.

Embark on a “Water Conservation Quest”

Every drop counts when it comes to protecting our planet’s most precious resource, and conserving water at home directly impacts our waterways and, ultimately, the ocean.

 Step-by-Step:

• Leak Detective: Go on a “leak hunt” around the house. Check faucets, toilets, and pipes for drips. Even a small leak can waste a lot of water.
• Shorter Showers, Fuller Baths: Challenge everyone to take shorter showers. For baths, explain why filling the tub less can save water.
• Turn Off the Tap: Remind everyone to turn off the faucet while brushing teeth, washing hands, or doing dishes.
• Rainwater Harvesting (if applicable): If you have a garden, discuss how collecting rainwater can be used to water plants, reducing reliance on treated water. For those looking to take a bigger step, consider adding a Rain Barrel for Garden/Outdoor Use – a fantastic way to conserve water and educate the family. 

Create an “Ocean Art Gallery” with Conservation Messages

Combine creativity with a powerful message. This activity encourages thoughtful engagement with ocean conservation.

 Step-by-Step:

• Art Supplies: Provide paper, paints, markers, crayons, and any other art supplies you have on hand. A Washable Kids Paint Set (Non-Toxic) is ideal for vibrant colors and easy cleanup, and a Construction Paper Assortment (Ocean Colors) offers a perfect palette for all their marine masterpieces.
• Choose a Theme: Assign each artwork a specific ocean conservation theme, such as “Protecting Coral Reefs,” “Say No to Plastic,” “Happy Whales,” or “Clean Beaches.”
• Display Your Art: Once completed, create a “gallery” in your home. Take turns presenting your artwork and explaining the message behind it.
• Share Online (Optional): With parental permission, share your family’s ocean art on social media using #WorldOceansDay to inspire others.

Learn About a New Marine Species

The ocean is home to an incredible diversity of life. Picking one new species to learn about can be a fascinating family project.

 Step-by-Step:

• Choose a Creature: Let each family member pick a marine animal they want to learn more about (e.g., a specific type of shark, a deep-sea creature, a coral, a particular fish).
• Research Together: Use reputable online resources (like National Geographic Kids, World Wildlife Fund, or museum websites) or library books to research your chosen species. The National Geographic Kids Ocean Encyclopedia is a fantastic, visually engaging resource to spark curiosity, and Marine Life Fact Cards or Flashcards can make learning quick facts fun and interactive.
• Share Discoveries: Create a short presentation, draw a picture, or write a few fun facts about your creature to share with the family.
• “Did You Know?” Game: Turn your new knowledge into a “Did You Know?” game, sharing surprising facts about marine animals.

Plan a Future “Ocean Action” as a Family

World Oceans Day is not just a single day; it’s a springboard for ongoing action. Planning future activities fosters a sense of continued responsibility.

 Step-by-Step:

• Brainstorm Ideas: As a family, discuss what you want to do to continue supporting ocean conservation in the coming months.
• Local Cleanup: Look for local beach or river cleanup events you can participate in. Even cleaning up litter in your neighborhood helps prevent it from reaching waterways. Equip your little helpers with a Litter Picker/Grabber Tool for Kids to make cleanups more engaging and accessible. Remember to use Heavy-Duty Reusable Trash Bags or Collection Sacks for efficient and eco-friendly waste collection.
• Support Ocean Organizations: Research reputable ocean conservation organizations and discuss how your family might support them, whether through symbolic adoption of a marine animal, a small donation, or simply following their work and sharing their messages.
• Advocate for Change: Talk about ways to advocate for stronger ocean protection policies, such as writing letters to local representatives or participating in online campaigns.

 Making Waves from Home

Celebrating World Oceans Day at home isn’t just about fun activities; it’s about instilling a profound appreciation for our planet’s most vital ecosystem. By engaging in these simple, step-by-step activities, your family can become active participants in the global movement to protect and restore our oceans. Every eco-friendly craft, every sustainable meal, every conversation about marine life, and every drop of water saved creates a ripple effect, contributing to a healthier blue planet for future generations. So, this World Oceans Day, embrace the “Wonder” of our oceans and empower your family to be guardians of this extraordinary world beneath the waves, right from home.