Backyard Play Day ideas for OSHC
29 DIY activities for a backyard play day at before and after school care or vacation care, usually run around Summer or Terms 1 and 4 or Summer. Pick and mix, or build a balanced day in one click.
Back to Nature Day
Children spend the day outdoors making nature collages, building cubbies and taking leaf rubbings with found materials.
Water Play Day · Summer Holidays · Backyard Play DayBackyard Slip and Slide
Children take turns sliding along a wet tarp on soft grass, enjoying a classic summer water game.
Backyard Play Day · Balloon Day · Wet Weather Day +1Balloon Keepy-Uppy
Younger children try to keep a balloon in the air for as long as possible, building coordination and teamwork.
Down on the Farm · Games Day · Animal Theme +1Barnyard Games
Children play classic circle and running games with a farm twist, such as farmyard tag and barnyard races.
Beach Day · Summer Holidays · Under the Sea +2Beach Games Afternoon
Children play beach-style volleyball and take on a sandcastle challenge in the sandpit, bringing a beach feel to the service.
Big Kids Club · Loose Parts Day · Cubby Day +2Big Loose Parts Builds
Children use planks, cable reels and crates to build large structures outdoors. Encourages teamwork, problem-solving and safe risk-taking.
Cubby Day · Camp Out Day · Nature Play Day +2Broom and Stick Cubbies
Children lean old brooms and long sticks together with sheets to make outdoor cubbies.
Bubbles Day · Games Day · Healthy Heart Day +1Bull Rush Running Game
Children try to run across the field without being tagged by the catchers in the middle, a classic high-energy playground game.
Messy Play Day · Nature Play Day · Backyard Play Day +2Bush Mud Kitchen
Children cook up mud pies, leaf soups and potions in an outdoor kitchen of old pots, pans and utensils.
Chalk Festival · Backyard Play Day · Games Day +1Chalk Hopscotch
Children draw their own hopscotch courts with chalk and play, practising balance, counting and taking turns.
Graffiti and Street Art · Chalk Festival · Art Attack Day +3Chalk Street Art
Children work together on large chalk murals across the playground, turning the ground into a giant canvas.
Free Play Day · Loose Parts Day · Backyard Play Day +1Child-Led Free Play Day
A relaxed day where children choose what they do and educators follow their interests with open-ended resources.
Around the World Day · Teddy Bears' Picnic · Athletics Carnival +3Classic Picnic Games
Children play old-fashioned picnic games such as three-legged races, egg-and-spoon races and sack races.
Big Kids Club · Backyard Play Day · Cricket Day +2Classic Playground Games
Educators lead old favourites like four square, handball, red rover and backyard cricket. Simple, inclusive games that get everyone moving.
Water Play Day · Summer Holidays · Backyard Play Day +1DIY Water Play Circuit
Educators raid the storage shed for buckets, tubs, spray bottles and sponges to set up a homemade water play circuit without hiring inflatables.
Board Games Day · Chalk Festival · Games Day +2Giant Chalk Board Game
Children draw a floor-sized snakes and ladders style board in chalk and become the playing pieces themselves.
Park Day · Water Play Day · Outdoor Explorers +2Low-Cost Park Play Day
Take water play gear, an obstacle course and a scavenger hunt to a local park for a big outing that costs little. Fresh air and new space to explore.
Nature Play Day · Messy Play Day · Backyard Play Day +1Mud Kitchen Cooking
Children cook pretend meals with mud, water and leaves in an outdoor kitchen, using their imagination to plan menus.
Messy Play Day · Nature Play Day · Backyard Play Day +1Mud Pie Bakery
Children shape, decorate and serve mud pies in an outdoor mud kitchen, using leaves, petals and stones as toppings.
Pioneer Day · Time Travellers Day · Grandparents Day +1Old-Fashioned Games
Children try games from the past like hoop rolling, marbles and hopscotch. A playful look at how children played long ago.
Pancake Day · Great Race Day · Games Carnival Day +1Pancake Flipping Races
Children race while flipping a felt pancake in a frying pan without dropping it. A traditional Shrove Tuesday game with lots of laughs.
Backyard Play Day · Pet Day · Animal Theme +2Paper Plate Puppy Masks
Younger children make cartoon puppy masks from paper plates, then use them for dog-themed backyard pretend play.
Teddy Bears' Picnic · Park Day · Backyard Play Day +1Picnic in the Park
Children spread out rugs, share their lunch and play classic picnic games outdoors, enjoying a relaxed day together in the fresh air.
Messy Play Day · Wizard School Day · Backyard Play Day +2Potion Kitchen and Sand Bakery
Children mix magic potions with water, petals and sand, and bake sand cakes in an outdoor kitchen of donated pots and bowls.
All About Australia Day · Cricket Day · Summer Holidays +2Relaxed Backyard Cricket
A casual, inclusive game of cricket with friendly rules so everyone gets a bat, a bowl and a laugh.
Beach Day · Summer Holidays · Knights and Fairies +2Sandpit Castle Contest
Children build their best sandcastles in the sandpit, using buckets, moats and decorations in a friendly building contest.
Camp Out Day · Cubby Day · Wilderness Adventure +3Tent and Cubby Building
Children work together to build tents and cubbies from sheets, poles and pegs, then use them for play.
Grandparents Day · Time Travellers Day · Games Day +2Then and Now Games
Children learn and play games from older generations, such as marbles and elastics, and compare them with games they play today.
Backyard Play Day · Music and Dance Day · Magic Day +2Xylophone Freeze Game
Children dance and move until they hear the xylophone, then freeze like statues, building listening skills and self-control.