Theme days / Athletics Carnival

Athletics Carnival ideas for OSHC

41 DIY activities for Athletics Carnival at before and after school care or vacation care. Pick and mix, or build a balanced day in one click.

Build a Athletics Carnival

Backwards Day · Opposites Day · Wacky Wednesday +2

Backwards Races

Children run, walk or crab-walk races in reverse, turning familiar races upside down for a silly, active challenge.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Cricket Day · Target Games Day · Summer Holidays +1

Bowling Accuracy Challenge

Children practise bowling a ball at cricket stumps to hit the target.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Water Play Day · Summer Holidays · Teamwork Day +1

Bucket and Sponge Relays

Teams race through a series of water relays using buckets and sponges, such as sponge passing and bucket carrying.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Games Carnival Day · Athletics Carnival · Kindness Day +1

Carnival Medal Ceremony

Every child steps up to a podium to receive a medal at the end of the games carnival. A joyful way to celebrate effort and good sportsmanship.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Gladiator Day · Athletics Carnival · Teamwork Day +2

Champion Relay

Teams race through a relay of running, hopping and carrying tasks to earn the title of champions.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Around the World Day · Teddy Bears' Picnic · Athletics Carnival +3

Classic Picnic Games

Children play old-fashioned picnic games such as three-legged races, egg-and-spoon races and sack races.

OutdoorHighSome prepPrep to Year 6 Athletics Carnival · Games Carnival Day · Great Race Day +2

Classic Sack Race

Children hop in sacks to the finish line in a classic carnival race full of tumbles and laughter.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Colour Fun Run · Holi · Rainbow Day +2

Colour Powder Fun Run

Children run a short course while educators dust them with coloured cornflour, ending in a rainbow finish.

OutdoorHighBig set-upPrep to Year 6 Colour Fun Run · Holi · Rainbow Day +2

Colour Station Relay

Teams race through colour stations, collecting dye on their shirts as they complete relay legs.

OutdoorHighBig set-upPrep to Year 6 Basketball Day · Athletics Carnival · Healthy Heart Day +1

Cone Dribble Relay

Teams dribble a basketball in and out of cones and back, building ball control and teamwork in a fast relay.

EitherHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Athletics Carnival · Easter · Games Carnival Day +2

Egg and Spoon Race

Children balance a plastic egg on a spoon and race to the finish without dropping it, practising balance and focus.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3 Healthy Heart Day · Athletics Carnival · Obstacle Course Day +2

Exercise Stations

Children rotate through skipping, star jumps, running and other stations to get their hearts pumping.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 NAIDOC Week · Reconciliation Week · Games Day +3

First Nations Children's Games

Children play games from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures using official sport resources, learning the story behind each game.

OutdoorHighSome prepPrep to Year 6 Games Carnival Day · Athletics Carnival · Cooking Day +1

Five Rings Biscuits

Children ice plain round biscuits in five ring colours and arrange them into the famous five-ring pattern. A sweet, simple treat for a games carnival.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 St Patrick's Day · Footy Day · Soccer Cup Day +2

Gaelic Football Skills Circuit

Children try the skills of Gaelic football, an Irish sport that mixes kicking, hand passing and bouncing, in a fast rotating circuit.

OutdoorHighSome prepPrep to Year 6 Games Carnival Day · Athletics Carnival · Craft Day +1

Gold Medal Making

Children make shiny medals from card, foil and ribbon to award at a games carnival. Every child can design one for themselves or a friend.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Footy Day · Target Games Day · Athletics Carnival

Handball Target Challenge

Children practise footy handballs by aiming into hoops placed at different distances.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Crazy Hat Day · Great Race Day · Down on the Farm +2

Hobby Horse Races

Children make simple hobby horses from socks and sticks, then gallop them around a race course in heats and finals.

OutdoorHighSome prepPrep to Year 6 Balloon Day · Games Carnival Day · Silly Tasks Day +1

Knee Balloon Races

Children race while holding a balloon between their knees, wobbling and waddling to the finish line.

EitherHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Greek Myths Day · Athletics Carnival · Gladiator Day +2

Mini Ancient Games

Children compete in ancient-style events such as sprints, long jump and a pool noodle javelin throw.

OutdoorHighSome prepPrep to Year 6 Footy Day · Athletics Carnival · States Day

Mini Touch Footy

Older children play short, modified touch football games, practising passing, running and fair play.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goYears 4 to 6 French Day · Wheels Day · Great Race Day +2

Mini Tour Cycling Race

Children race a looping course on bikes, scooters or on foot in stages, earning coloured jerseys like the famous French cycling race held every July.

OutdoorHighSome prepPrep to Year 6 Games Carnival Day · Athletics Carnival · Healthy Heart Day +1

Mini Track and Field

Children rotate through sprints, sack races, beanbag shot put and long jump. A classic carnival that everyone can join at their own level.

OutdoorHighSome prepPrep to Year 6 Netball Day · Games Day · Athletics Carnival +1

Netball Passing Drills

Children practise chest, bounce and shoulder passes in pairs and small groups.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Challenge Day · Obstacle Course Day · Ninja Obstacle Day +3

Obstacle Course Challenge

Children tackle an obstacle course of cones, hoops and mats, challenging themselves to improve their own times.

OutdoorHighSome prepPrep to Year 6 Obstacle Course Day · Athletics Carnival · Teamwork Day +2

Obstacle Course Relay

Teams race against each other through a simple obstacle course in relay style. A lively team game that suits big groups.

OutdoorHighSome prepPrep to Year 6 Games Carnival Day · Athletics Carnival · Around the World Day +2

Opening Ceremony Parade

Teams pick a country, design a flag and march in a parade with a cardboard torch. Sets the scene for a games carnival with plenty of colour.

OutdoorModerateSome prepPrep to Year 6 Games Carnival Day · Athletics Carnival · Around the World Day +2

OSHC Games Carnival

Teams each represent a country and compete in relays, long jump and silly events, with medals for everyone at the end. A whole-day event full of team spirit.

OutdoorHighBig set-upPrep to Year 6 Games Carnival Day · Athletics Carnival · Frisbee Day +1

Paper Plate Discus

Children throw paper plates like a discus and record their distances on a leaderboard. Simple, safe and surprisingly competitive.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Mini Golf Day · Games Day · Target Games Day +1

Putting Contest

Children take turns putting balls into cups on a homemade green to see who can sink the longest putt.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 World Teachers' Day · Learn to Day · Teamwork Day +2

Skill Swap Sports Stations

Children who are good at a sports skill run a station teaching it, from soccer dribbling to skipping tricks, and everyone rotates through as learners.

OutdoorHighSome prepPrep to Year 6 Water Play Day · Athletics Carnival · Summer Holidays +1

Sponge Relay Race

Teams soak a sponge, race across the field and squeeze it into their bucket, trying to fill it before the others.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Athletics Carnival · Healthy Heart Day · Great Race Day +2

Sprints and Baton Relays

Children run short sprints and team relays with batons, learning how to pass a baton and cheer each other on.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Footy Day · States Day · Athletics Carnival +1

State Colours Team Games

Children split into two state-colour teams for relays and challenges during the winter footy series, building team spirit.

OutdoorHighSome prepPrep to Year 6 Superhero Day · Extreme Challenge Day · Healthy Heart Day +1

Superhero Strength Stations

Older children rotate through friendly strength stations like plank holds, tyre pulls and wall sits, earning team points.

OutdoorHighSome prepYears 4 to 6 Great Race Day · Around the World Day · Teamwork Day +2

Team Flag Design

Each team designs its own flag with a name, colours and symbols, building identity and team spirit before a race or games day.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Athletics Carnival · Teamwork Day · Games Carnival Day +2

Team Tug of War

Two teams pull on a rope to bring the centre marker over their line, testing strength, teamwork and coordination.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 All About Australia Day · Aussie Outback Day · Summer Holidays +3

Thong Throwing Contest

Children fling rubber thongs for distance in a classic Aussie backyard contest that is silly, active and easy to set up.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6 Wheels Day · Obstacle Course Day · Ninja Obstacle Day +1

Tyre Obstacle Relay

Teams roll, hop through and stack old tyres in a relay race, working together for speed.

OutdoorHighSome prepYears 4 to 6 Big Kids Club · Games Carnival Day · Beach Day +2

Volleyball and Badminton Comps

A simple net set up runs whole-group volleyball and badminton competitions. Fast-paced fun that builds coordination and team spirit.

OutdoorHighSome prepYears 4 to 6 Games Carnival Day · Wacky Wednesday · Silly Tasks Day +2

Wacky Carnival Events

Children compete in silly events like gumboot throwing, egg-and-spoon races and backwards running. Laughter matters more than winning.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6