oshc activities
Theme days / Christmas

Christmas ideas for OSHC

33 DIY activities for a christmas at before and after school care or vacation care, usually run around December or Mother's Day (second Sunday in May). Pick and mix, or build a balanced day in one click.

Build a Christmas
Christmas · Music and Dance Day · Long Projects Day +1

A Carol a Day

Each day focuses on a different carol, paired with a matching craft such as a clay angel or recycled drum.

IndoorModerateSome prepPrep to Year 6Fairy Tale Day · Gingerbread Day · Christmas +2

Biscuit Gingerbread Houses

Children build small houses from plain biscuits stuck together with icing, then decorate them with lollies.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Christmas · Music and Dance Day · Christmas in July +1

Carol Sing-Along

Children learn and sing carols together, adding actions and simple percussion.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Christmas · Around the World Day · Culture Celebration Day +2

Christmas Around the World

Children visit stations that show how different countries celebrate, each with a custom, a game and a small taste.

IndoorModerateBig set-upPrep to Year 6Christmas · Cooking Day · Christmas in July +1

Christmas Lunch Together

Children help prepare and share a festive meal, setting the table and enjoying it as a group.

IndoorModerateBig set-upPrep to Year 6Christmas · Long Projects Day · Christmas in July +1

Christmas Week Program

Run a week with a different Christmas focus each day, building from craft to cooking to a final party.

IndoorModerateBig set-upPrep to Year 6Mother's Day · Father's Day · Grandparents Day +2

Decorated Gift Candles

Children decorate pillar candles or battery candles with tissue paper and glue to create a special gift.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Santa's Workshop · Christmas · Christmas in July +1

Felt Stocking Decorating

Children decorate felt stockings with felt shapes, sequins and fabric glue to take home for the festive season.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Christmas · Christmas in July · Dramatic Play Day +1

Festive Charades

Children act out festive words and phrases without speaking while their team guesses.

IndoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Christmas in July · Christmas · Crazy Hat Day +1

Festive Dress-Up Day

Children wear red, green or their silliest festive gear for a mid-winter celebration day.

IndoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Santa's Workshop · Christmas · Christmas in July +2

Gift Wrapping Relay

Teams race to wrap boxes neatly against the clock, practising a handy life skill in a festive, fast-paced game.

IndoorHighSome prepYears 4 to 6Gingerbread Day · Christmas · Fairy Tale Day +1

Gingerbread Chase

An energetic tag game where a runner plays the gingerbread person and everyone tries to catch them.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3Gingerbread Day · Christmas · Christmas in July +2

Gingerbread Decorating

Children decorate gingerbread people with icing and toppings, then share or take them home.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Gingerbread Day · Christmas · Christmas in July +3

Gingerbread House Build

Children construct small houses from biscuits and icing, solving building problems as they go.

IndoorCalmSome prepYears 4 to 6Gingerbread Day · Sensory Day · Christmas +1

Gingerbread Sensory Dough

Children squish, roll and cut spiced playdough that smells like gingerbread.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 3Winter Wonderland · Christmas · Christmas in July +1

Glitter Snow Globes

Children glue a small figure inside a jar lid, then fill the jar with water, glycerine and glitter to make a shaking snow globe.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Christmas · Kindness Day · Wellbeing Wednesday +2

Kindness Advent Calendar

Children open a daily envelope with a kind act to do, spreading kindness across the service through December.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Santa's Workshop · Christmas · Kindness Day +1

Kindness Letters to the North Pole

Younger children write or draw a letter to the North Pole about kind things they have done or plan to do for others.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3Christmas · Santa's Workshop · Christmas in July +1

Magic Door Key Craft

Children decorate a magic key to hang outside for homes without a chimney, a festive craft to take home.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 3Winter Wonderland · Christmas · Christmas in July +1

Marshmallow Snowmen

Children stack marshmallows onto a skewer or pop stick, then add pretzel arms and icing faces to make edible snowmen.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3Pamper and Zen Day · Mother's Day · Father's Day +2

Melt-and-Pour Soap

Children add colour and scent to melted soap base and pour it into moulds to set. A simple handmade gift that feels special.

IndoorCalmSome prepYears 4 to 6After School Quick STEM · Paper Crafts Day · Challenge Day +2

One-Sheet Paper Chain

Teams try to make the longest possible paper chain from a single sheet, planning how to cut and join strips for maximum length.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Christmas · Cooking Day · Gingerbread Day +2

Paint Your Own Festive Biscuits

Children paint plain iced biscuits with edible food colouring, creating festive designs they can eat or take home.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Christmas in July · Christmas · Winter Wonderland +2

Paper Snowflakes

Children fold and cut paper into unique symmetrical snowflakes to hang around the room.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Christmas · Christmas in July · Games Day +1

Pin the Nose on the Reindeer

Blindfolded players try to stick a red nose onto a reindeer poster, with plenty of laughs along the way.

IndoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3Christmas · Craft Day · Paper Crafts Day +1

Pop-Up Christmas Cards

Children make pop-up Christmas cards with a hidden surprise that springs up when the card opens.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Santa's Workshop · Christmas · Recycle Day +3

Recycled Toy Workshop

Children become toy makers, building cars, puppets and games from recycled materials in a busy festive workshop.

IndoorModerateSome prepPrep to Year 6Pioneer Day · Time Travellers Day · Medieval Times +2

Safe Candle Dipping

Older children dip wicks into warm wax repeatedly to build up old-fashioned candles. An educator-run heritage activity with strict safety steps.

IndoorCalmBig set-upYears 4 to 6Christmas in July · Christmas · Craft Day +2

Salt Dough Ornaments

Children shape and paint their own salt dough or pop-stick ornaments to hang on a tree or take home.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Woodwork Day · Craft Day · Mother's Day +2

Sanding and Painting Wood Shapes

Children sand rough wooden shapes until smooth, then paint and decorate them as ornaments or gifts.

OutdoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Christmas in July · Christmas · Kindness Day +1

Secret Kindness Swap

Each child draws a name and secretly makes a small handmade gift or note for that person.

IndoorCalmSome prepYears 4 to 6Christmas · Around the World Day · Culture Celebration Day +1

Spanish Celebration Day

Children learn how Spain celebrates the festive season, share tapas-style foods for lunch and help make churros with educators.

IndoorModerateBig set-upPrep to Year 6Pamper and Zen Day · Mother's Day · Christmas +2

Supervised Candle Pouring

Older children pour melted soy wax into jars to make simple candles. An educator handles all heating and children work at a calm, supervised station.

IndoorCalmBig set-upYears 4 to 6