5 Fun When a Dragon Moves In Activities
I earn a commission from products purchased through links in this post.
Summer seems like the perfect time to read a book set at the beach. When a Dragon Moves In tells the story of a dragon who moves into a sandcastle built by a creative little boy.
The little boy and the dragon have lots of fun together playing on the beach. They toast marshmallows, fly kites, and all sorts of other activities.
Read the book, then do these When a Dragon Moves In activities with your kids.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hardcover Book
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
When a Dragon Moves In Activities
Build a Sandcastle
The dragon moves into a sandcastle, so building a sandcastle feels like a natural activity. Unfortunately, most of us do not live at the beach, which can make it a little difficult to build a sandcastle.
Don’t worry. There are ways to build sand castles at home:
- Build a sandcastle in a sandbox. When my kids were little, they had a sand and water table that they loved. They spent many afternoons building sandcastles in the backyard. We had purple, blue, and pink sand to make it extra fun!
- Build a sandcastle with kinetic sand. Many people shy away from kinetic sand because it can get messy, but my kids used it with a few rules. They had to either keep the sand in a large container (like an under-the-bed storage container) or play with it outside.
- Make pretend sandcastles using play dough. Yellow play dough can make a good building material for a pretend sandcastle because it is easily accessible, easy to clean up, and holds together well.
Roast Marshmallows
In the When a Dragon Moves In book we learn that dragons are pretty useful for making toasted marshmallows. We might not have a dragon, but we can still roast marshmallows!
My kids have always loved roasting marshmallows and I suspect they are not alone. Most Friday evenings in the summer we try to start a campfire in our fire pit. Neighbors come over and chat while the kids roast marshmallows. It is such a fun relaxing way to start the weekend.
Don’t want to roast marshmallows over a fire, but still want to enjoy s’mores? Try baking them in your oven!
Have a Special Picnic
Dragons are apparently hungry creatures. The dragon in the story manages to eat all of the peanut butter sandwiches, drinks the lemonade, and even sneaks some of the brownies.
This is a great opportunity to take a family picnic. We can pack the same lunch as the family in our book – peanut butter sandwiches, lemonade, and brownies. If we pack straws, the kids can even blow bubbles in their lemonade, just like the dragon.
Make a Fire Breathing Dragon
This craft is one of my favorite When a Dragon Moves In activities. Kids can use common craft materials to make a ‘fire’ breathing dragon.
Kids will need:
- Toilet paper roll
- Pom poms
- Construction paper
- Tissues paper
- Googly eyes
Find the complete directions on One Little Project.
Watch the Story Online
Storyline Online presents When a Dragon Moves In read by Mark Duplass. He does a great job making different voices and his reading definitely adds to the experience.
Watching the story online can be a great option if:
- You don’t have access to the book
- Your kids love the book and want to see the illustrations animated
- Your kids want to hear the story over and over.
Which of the When a Dragon Moves In activities was your favorite?
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Related Posts:
