oshc activities
Theme days / Budding Artists

Budding Artists ideas for OSHC

38 DIY activities for a budding artists at before and after school care or vacation care, usually run around Summer or Spring. Pick and mix, or build a balanced day in one click.

Build a Budding Artists
Chalk Festival · Art Attack Day · Graffiti and Street Art +2

3D Chalk Illusions

Children draw optical illusions on the ground with chalk, such as holes or steps, and photograph them from the right angle.

OutdoorCalmGrab-and-goYears 4 to 6Craft Day · Clay and Pottery Day · Art Attack Day +1

Air-Dry Clay Creations

Children model pinch pots, animals and small sculptures from air-dry clay that dries overnight.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Rock Band Day · Music Festival Day · Art Attack Day +1

Album Cover Design

Children invent a band name and album title, then design an eye-catching album cover, exploring graphic design and lettering.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goYears 4 to 6Balloon Day · Budding Artists · Art Attack Day +2

Balloon Stamp Painting

Younger children dip small balloons in paint and stamp them onto paper to make bubbly circle patterns.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3Craft Day · Rainbow Day · Summer Holidays +1

Bead Suncatchers

Children thread translucent beads onto wire to make suncatchers that glow in the window.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Big Kids Club · Long Projects Day · Art Attack Day +2

Big Shared Artwork

Older children choose a theme and plan a large shared artwork, working on it across the term. Gives them real ownership and a finished piece to display.

IndoorCalmSome prepYears 4 to 6Budding Artists · Bubbles Day · Art Attack Day +1

Blown Bubble Painting

Children blow coloured bubbles onto paper to create soft, round patterns, a gentle process art experience.

OutdoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Graffiti and Street Art · Art Attack Day · Budding Artists +1

Bubble Letter Name Tags

Children design their name in bold bubble or block letters, adding shading, outlines and colour in a street-art style.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goYears 4 to 6Graffiti and Street Art · Chalk Festival · Art Attack Day +3

Chalk Street Art

Children work together on large chalk murals across the playground, turning the ground into a giant canvas.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Clay and Pottery Day · Animal Theme · Craft Day +2

Clay Animal Sculptures

Children sculpt animals from clay, practising shaping, joining and adding texture.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Bubbles Day · Budding Artists · Art Attack Day +2

Coloured Bubble Prints

Children blow coloured bubbles and press paper onto them to capture bubbly prints, combining science and art.

OutdoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Budding Artists · Winter Wonderland · Polar Day +3

Coloured Ice Cube Painting

Younger children paint with frozen coloured ice cubes, watching colours melt and mix on paper.

OutdoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 3Before School Calm Start · Budding Artists · Art Attack Day +1

Daily Drawing Prompt

A fresh drawing prompt on the whiteboard each day gives early arrivals a calm, creative way to settle in.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Challenge Day · Art Attack Day · Budding Artists +2

Detailed Painting Challenge

Children slow down and focus on a detailed painting using fine brushes, building patience and careful technique.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goYears 4 to 6Art Attack Day · Budding Artists · Learn to Day +2

Educator-Led Drawing Lesson

An educator with art skills runs a relaxed step-by-step drawing or painting lesson, sharing their talent and teaching new techniques.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Budding Artists · Tiny Things Day · Detective Day +2

Fingerprint Characters

Children press fingerprints onto paper and turn them into tiny characters and animals with fine-line markers.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Craft Day · Block World Day · Emoji Day +1

Fuse Bead Art

Children create designs on pegboards with fuse beads, which an educator irons to set.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Chalk Festival · Art Attack Day · Graffiti and Street Art +2

Giant Chalk Murals

Children work together to create large chalk artworks across the playground, transforming the space with colour.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Beach Day · Under the Sea · Aquatic Adventure +1

Handprint Crabs and Lobsters

Younger children paint their hands and press prints onto paper, turning them into crabs or lobsters with simple details.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3Tiny Things Day · Art Attack Day · Budding Artists

Micro Art Challenge

Children paint tiny artworks on mini canvases, small stones or card squares using fine brushes and a steady hand.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goYears 4 to 6Raw Art Day · Nature Play Day · Outdoor Explorers +2

Nature Walk Sketching

Children sketch interesting plants, bark and textures on a walk. Slows them down to notice details.

OutdoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Art Attack Day · Messy Play Day · Raw Art Day +3

Outdoor Splatter Painting

Children flick, drip and splatter paint onto a large sheet outdoors, enjoying big, free movement and bold abstract results.

OutdoorModerateSome prepPrep to Year 6Art Attack Day · Big Kids Club · Café Day +2

Paint and Juice Session

Older children enjoy a relaxed canvas painting session with juice or mocktails, combining creativity with a social, café-style atmosphere.

IndoorCalmSome prepYears 4 to 6Art Through the Ages · Art Attack Day · Budding Artists +1

Paint Like a Famous Artist

Older children look at the styles of well-known artists, such as dots, swirls or bold shapes, and create their own artwork in that style.

IndoorCalmSome prepYears 4 to 6Recycle Day · Art Attack Day · Budding Artists +2

Paper Bag Painting

Children paint big, bold artworks on opened-out paper shopping bags, which make sturdy, free paper for large-scale painting.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Paper Crafts Day · Craft Day · Budding Artists +1

Paper Quilling Designs

Children roll thin paper strips into coils and shapes, then glue them into colourful patterns. A calm, detailed craft for older children.

IndoorCalmSome prepYears 4 to 6Craft Day · Budding Artists · Art Attack Day

Plaster Figurine Painting

Children paint plaster figurines with acrylic paint, adding fine details, then take home a finished keepsake.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Art Attack Day · Budding Artists · Messy Play Day +1

Rolling Marble Painting

Younger children roll paint-coated marbles around a tray lined with paper to create colourful, unpredictable patterns.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3Art Attack Day · Budding Artists · Rainbow Day +2

Salad Spinner Spin Art

Children drop paint onto paper circles inside a salad spinner and spin it to create swirling, colourful patterns.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Graffiti and Street Art · Art Attack Day · Budding Artists +1

Stencil Spray Art

Children cut stencils and spray watered-down paint through them to create street-art style pictures.

OutdoorModerateSome prepYears 4 to 6Art Attack Day · Budding Artists · Mother's Day +2

Step-by-Step Canvas Painting

Children follow guided step-by-step instructions to paint a simple scene on canvas, learning layering and brush techniques.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Art Attack Day · Budding Artists · Halloween +2

Straw Blow Painting

Children blow drops of watery paint across paper through straws to create branching trees or wild monster shapes.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Bug Day · Spring Fair · Art Attack Day +2

Symmetry Butterfly Painting

Children paint one half of a butterfly, fold the paper and press to reveal matching wings, discovering symmetry in a fun, surprising way.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3Budding Artists · Art Attack Day · Mother's Day +2

Tape Resist Painting

Children stick masking tape onto paper, paint over it, then peel the tape away to reveal crisp white shapes.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Glow Party · Neon Day · Art Attack Day +2

UV Glow Painting

Children paint pictures with fluorescent paint and watch them glow under a black light.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Fruit and Veggie Day · Art Attack Day · Budding Artists +1

Veggie Stamp Printing

Children dip cut vegetables into paint and stamp prints, exploring the patterns inside each one.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Art Attack Day · Budding Artists · Graffiti and Street Art +3

Whole-Group Collaborative Mural

Everyone adds their own section to a large mural on a shared theme, creating one artwork that reflects the whole group.

EitherCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Yarn Day · Art Attack Day · Messy Play Day +1

Yarn Painting

Children dip yarn in paint and drag, drop or pull it across paper to create swirling patterns.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3