Board Games Day ideas for OSHC
19 DIY activities for a board games day at before and after school care or vacation care, usually run around World Chocolate Day (7 July) or 27 February. Pick and mix, or build a balanced day in one click.
Board Game Design Lab
Groups invent a board game and play-test it with friends, refining the rules based on feedback.
Board Games Day · Games Day · Before School Calm Start +3Card Game Masters
Older children learn new card games such as rummy, snap variations or solitaire, building strategy, maths and turn-taking skills.
Big Kids Club · Board Games Day · Games Day +1Card Games Club
Children learn and teach new games with a standard deck of cards, from simple matching to strategy games. Builds maths, turn-taking and social skills.
Chocolate Day · Games Day · Board Games Day +1Chocolate Button Bingo
Children play bingo using chocolate buttons as counters, with a small taste for everyone at the end.
Creature Catchers Day · Mythical Creatures · Games Day +1Creature Card Trading
Children design their own creature cards, then trade them with friends. Builds negotiation skills and fair play.
Crazy Hat Day · Board Games Day · Games Day +1Dice Horse Race Game
Children roll dice to move numbered horses along a racetrack, cheering their pick to the finish line.
Emoji Day · Games Day · Board Games Day +1Emoji Bingo
Children play bingo using emoji symbols instead of numbers, matching faces as the caller describes them.
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.
Games Day · Board Games Day · Inventors Day +1Invent a Board Game
Groups design, make and play-test their own board game, complete with rules, pieces and a board.
Escape Room Day · Puzzle Day · Teamwork Day +1Jigsaw Race
Teams race to finish identical jigsaw puzzles, working together to sort edges and colours.
Magic Day · Talent Show Day · Board Games DayLearn a Card Trick
An educator teaches a simple forced-card trick, then children practise it in pairs until they can fool their friends.
Gaming Day · Board Games Day · Chalk Festival +1Life-Size Board Game
Children become the counters on a giant chalk board game, rolling big dice and completing challenges on each square.
After School Quick STEM · Games Day · Board Games Day +2Number Card Maths Game
Children use a deck of coloured number cards to play quick adding and multiplying games, turning maths practice into friendly competition.
Around the World Day · Harmony Day · Games Day +2Playground Games From Many Countries
Children learn and play traditional games from other countries, such as stone-counting board games and team tag games, and compare them with games they know.
Before School Calm Start · Puzzle Day · Board Games Day +2Quiet Puzzle Table
Jigsaws and logic puzzles are set out for early arrivals to enjoy quietly, alone or with a friend.
Fantasy Quest Club · Mythical Creatures · Dramatic Play Day +1Role-Play Quest Adventure
An educator guides children through a simple dice-based role-play quest, where they solve problems together as a party of heroes.
Board Games Day · Games Day · Challenge Day +1Round-Robin Games Tournament
Children compete in round-robin tournaments of classic games, practising good sportsmanship and strategy.
Crazy Sock Day · Games Day · Board Games Day +1Sock Matching Memory
Children play a memory game turning over socks to find matching pairs.
Board Games Day · Games Day · Learn to Day +1Teach a Board Game Properly
Educators teach the full rules of a board game to a small group so they can play confidently and independently.