Craft Day ideas for OSHC
123 DIY activities for a craft day at before and after school care or vacation care, usually run around Easter (March/April) or 29 January (National Puzzle Day). Pick and mix, or build a balanced day in one click.
Air-Dry Clay Creations
Children model pinch pots, animals and small sculptures from air-dry clay that dries overnight.
Craft Day · Rainbow Day · Summer Holidays +1Bead Suncatchers
Children thread translucent beads onto wire to make suncatchers that glow in the window.
Coding Unplugged · Robot Day · Spy School +2Binary Bracelets
Children spell their initials in binary code using two colours of beads to make a coded bracelet.
Easter · Rabbit Garden Day · Crazy Hat Day +1Bunny Ear Headbands
Children make and decorate card bunny ears on headbands to wear for Easter activities.
Craft Day · National Families Week · Grandparents Day +1Button Families
Children glue buttons onto card to create families of characters, adding drawn details.
Craft Day · Yarn Day · Long Projects Day +1Cardboard Loom Weaving
Children weave colourful wool through simple cardboard looms, creating small woven pieces and learning an age-old craft.
Puzzle Day · Recycle Day · Craft Day +1Cereal Box Jigsaws
Children cut old cereal boxes into jigsaw puzzles and swap them with friends. Recycling meets puzzling.
Market Day · Money Day · Craft Day +2Children's Market Stall Day
Children make their own goods, set up stalls and trade with play money, taking turns as sellers and shoppers.
Clay and Pottery Day · Animal Theme · Craft Day +2Clay Animal Sculptures
Children sculpt animals from clay, practising shaping, joining and adding texture.
Tie Dye Day · Rainbow Day · Bug Day +1Coffee Filter Butterflies
Children fold coffee filters and dip them in coloured water to create tie-dye patterns, then pinch them into butterflies with pipe cleaners.
Desert Day · Beach Day · Craft Day +1Coloured Sand Art
Children create colourful pictures by sprinkling coloured sand over glue designs.
Easter · Craft Day · Rainbow DayColoured Sand Art Eggs
Children peel back sections of sticky egg stencils and sprinkle coloured sand to make bright patterned eggs.
Polar Day · Winter Wonderland · Animal Theme +1Cotton Wool Polar Bears
Children glue cotton wool onto a bear shape to make fluffy polar bears. A soft, sensory craft.
Wild West Day · Country Day · Crazy Hat Day +1Cowboy Hat Craft
Children decorate felt or card cowboy hats with patterns, stars and bandana trims for a Wild West dress-up.
Market Day · Money Day · Life Skills Day +1Craft Market Stalls
Children run small stalls selling handmade crafts for play money, practising counting, persuading and friendly customer service.
Crazy Hat Day · Mad Hatter's Tea Party · Recycle Day +1Crazy Hat Decorating
Children turn paper plates and recycled items into wacky hats to wear for the day.
Mad Hatter's Tea Party · Crazy Hat Day · Fairy Tale Day +2Crazy Hat Tea Party Parade
Children design and build wild, whimsical hats from card and craft scraps, then show them off in a tea party parade and picnic.
Halloween · Bug Day · Craft Day +1Creepy Egg Carton Crafts
Children turn egg cartons and paper into bats, spiders and other creepy critters.
Fairy Tale Day · Crazy Hat Day · Knights and Fairies +1Crowns and Character Ears
Children decorate card crowns or headband ears with gems and glitter to wear for the rest of the day.
Gardening Day · Craft Day · Mother's Day +3Decorate a Planter
Children paint a wooden or recycled planter and pot a small succulent to take home and care for.
Birthday for Everyone Day · Knights and Fairies · Fairy Tale Day +2Decorated Birthday Crowns
Younger children decorate card crowns with gems and stickers so everyone can feel like the birthday star.
Tie Dye Day · Fashion Design Day · Craft Day +1Decorated Calico Tote Bags
Children design and decorate their own calico bags with fabric markers, creating a useful, reusable bag they can take home.
Mother's Day · Father's Day · Grandparents Day +2Decorated Gift Candles
Children decorate pillar candles or battery candles with tissue paper and glue to create a special gift.
Movie Day · Film Club Day · Paper Crafts Day +1Design a Popcorn Box
Children fold and decorate popcorn boxes from templates, ready to fill for a movie session.
Dinosaur & Unicorn Day · Dinosaur Day · Mythical Creatures +1Dinosaur or Unicorn Crafts
Children pick a team and make dinosaur tails and fossils or unicorn horns, then show off their creations in a mini parade.
Silly Stories Day · Mindfulness Day · Wellbeing Wednesday +2Dream Jars
Children decorate a plastic jar and fill it with written or drawn dreams, wishes and happy thoughts to keep.
Fruit and Veggie Day · Craft Day · Art Through the AgesDried Bean Mosaics
Children glue dried beans and lentils onto card to create colourful patterns and pictures.
Art Attack Day · Budding Artists · Learn to Day +2Educator-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.
Ramadan and Eid · Culture Celebration Day · Harmony Day +1Eid Greeting Cards
Children design patterned greeting cards to share Eid wishes with families. A respectful way to celebrate a community festival.
Crazy Hat Day · Fashion Day · Fashion Design Day +1Feather Fascinator Making
Children make bright fascinators on headbands using feathers, card and ribbon, ready for a race day style hat parade.
Sewing Day · Craft Day · Teddy Making Day +1Felt Shape Sewing
Older children stitch two felt shapes together and stuff them to make small plush hearts, stars or animals.
Santa's Workshop · Christmas · Christmas in July +1Felt Stocking Decorating
Children decorate felt stockings with felt shapes, sequins and fabric glue to take home for the festive season.
Yarn Day · Craft Day · Mindfulness Day +2Finger Knitting
Children learn to finger knit chains of wool, a calming skill they can use to make bracelets, scarves or decorations.
Around the World Day · Harmony Day · Culture Celebration Day +2Flag Design and Symbols
Children explore what the colours and symbols on flags mean, then design their own flag that represents something about themselves.
Gardening Day · Autumn Leaves · Nature Play Day +3Flower Pressing
Children collect flowers and leaves, press them in heavy books and later use them to make cards or pictures.
Art Through the Ages · Recycle Day · Loose Parts Day +3Found Object Collage
Children collect and arrange found and recycled items into collages, exploring texture, colour and composition.
Craft Day · Block World Day · Emoji Day +1Fuse Bead Art
Children create designs on pegboards with fuse beads, which an educator irons to set.
Messy Play Day · Craft Day · Mother's Day +2Gem Art Photo Frames
Children decorate cardboard photo frames with gems, sequins and patterns to display a photo or drawing.
Tie Dye Day · Art Through the Ages · Craft Day +1Glue Batik Fabric Art
Children draw designs on fabric with glue, paint over them, then wash out the glue to reveal a batik-style pattern without hot wax.
Games Carnival Day · Athletics Carnival · Craft Day +1Gold 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.
Remembrance Day · ANZAC Day · Craft DayHandmade Poppy Wreath
Children make paper poppies and arrange them together on a card ring to create a group wreath for Remembrance Day.
Grandparents Day · National Families Week · Mother's Day +2Handprint Family Tree
Children make a tree using painted handprints as leaves, with each leaf naming a special person in their life.
Mother's Day · Yarn Day · Craft Day +1Heart String Art
Children wind string around pins in a heart shape to create a colourful string art picture.
Superhero Day · Crazy Hat Day · Dramatic Play Day +1Hero Mask Making
Children design and decorate their own hero masks from card, choosing colours and shapes to suit their character.
Craft Day · Fashion Day · Mother's Day +1Jewellery Making
Children thread beads into bracelets, necklaces and keyrings to wear or give.
All About Australia Day · Animal Theme · Aussie Outback Day +3Kangaroo and Koala Masks
Younger children paint and decorate paper plate masks of kangaroos or koalas, talking about the features of each native animal.
Autumn Leaves · Nature Play Day · Animal Theme +3Leaf Animal Creatures
Children collect fallen leaves and arrange them into animals and creatures, using shape and colour imaginatively.
Learn to Day · Yarn Day · Craft Day +3Learn to Finger Knit
Children start with finger knitting to learn the basics, then try simple needle knitting when ready.
Learn to Day · Sewing Day · Life Skills Day +2Learn to Sew
Children practise running stitch on hessian with plastic needles, then work up to making a simple pouch.
Craft Day · Yarn Day · Learn to Day +2Macrame Keyrings
Older children learn basic knots to make macrame keyrings or small plant hangers, a calm, focused craft with a satisfying result.
Christmas · Santa's Workshop · Christmas in July +1Magic Door Key Craft
Children decorate a magic key to hang outside for homes without a chimney, a festive craft to take home.
Wizard School Day · Magic Day · Fairy Tale Day +3Magic Wand Making
Children decorate chopsticks or twigs with glue, beads and paint to create their own magic wands.
Pamper and Zen Day · Mother's Day · Father's Day +2Melt-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.
Teddy Bears' Picnic · Paper Crafts Day · Craft DayMini Woven Picnic Baskets
Children weave paper strips over and under to create tiny picnic baskets for their teddies, practising patterns and fine motor skills.
Movie Day · Film Club Day · Craft DayMovie Colouring Competition
Children colour pictures themed to the day's movie and display them for a fun judging.
Ninja Obstacle Day · Craft Day · Superhero Day +1Ninja Headbands
Children decorate fabric strips into their own ninja headbands with symbols, names or patterns. A quick craft that sets the mood for an action-packed day.
Mismatch Day · Puppet Day · Crazy Sock Day +2Odd Sock Puppets
Children turn odd or lost socks into puppets with buttons, wool and felt, then put on a puppet show.
Harmony Day · Friendship Day · Kindness Day +1Orange Handprint Wreath
Each child adds an orange handprint to a group wreath, a symbol of belonging and coming together.
Paper Crafts Day · Japan Day · Craft Day +2Origami Animals
Children follow step-by-step folds to make paper animals like frogs, cats and fish. Builds focus and following instructions.
Desert Day · Rock and Gem Day · Gardening Day +2Painted Rock Cacti
Children paint smooth rocks to look like cacti and arrange them in a pot as a desert garden.
Taco Fiesta Day · Paper Crafts Day · Culture Celebration Day +2Papel Picado Banners
Older children fold and cut tissue paper into lacy Mexican-style banners to hang across the room.
ANZAC Day · Remembrance Day · Craft Day +1Paper and Button Poppies
Children make red remembrance poppies from paper and buttons, creating a display and learning about the symbol's meaning.
Ice Cream Day · Paper Crafts Day · Summer Holidays +1Paper Cone Craft
Children make paper ice cream cones with layered scoops and decorate them as their own invented flavours.
Holidays and Travel Week · Ice Cream Day · Summer Holidays +2Paper Ice Cream Cones
Children make colourful paper ice cream cones with scoops and toppings.
Creature Catchers Day · Craft Day · Gaming DayPaper Plate Catch Balls
Children paint paper plates into creature-catcher balls for a pretend creature hunt. Simple craft and play.
Down on the Farm · Animal Theme · Paper Crafts Day +1Paper Plate Farm Animals
Children turn paper plates into pigs, sheep and cows using paint, cotton wool and card features.
Beach Day · Under the Sea · Aquatic Adventure +2Paper Plate Fish
Younger children turn paper plates into colourful fish by cutting a tail and painting scales, practising cutting and colour.
Crazy Hair Day · Craft Day · Art Attack Day +1Paper Plate Hair Portraits
Children draw a face on a paper plate and give it wild hair from yarn and pipe cleaners.
Under the Sea · World Oceans Day · Craft Day +1Paper Plate Jellyfish
Children paint a paper plate dome and hang streamers and ribbons as tentacles to make floating jellyfish.
Panda Quest · Animal Theme · Craft Day +1Paper Plate Panda Masks
Children paint and cut paper plates into panda masks, then use them for animal play. A simple craft that sparks talk about pandas and their habitat.
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.
Pyjama Day · Yarn Day · Craft Day +1Paper Plate Woven Hangings
Children weave yarn across a paper plate ring and hang beads and feathers from it. A calm weaving craft for a pyjama day.
Paper Crafts Day · Craft Day · Budding Artists +1Paper Quilling Designs
Children roll thin paper strips into coils and shapes, then glue them into colourful patterns. A calm, detailed craft for older children.
Outdoor Explorers · World Bee Day · Bug Day +2Paper Roll Bees
Children paint cardboard tubes yellow and black and add wings to make buzzing bees. A simple craft that opens up talk about pollinators.
Paper Crafts Day · Craft Day · Yarn Day +1Paper Strip Weaving
Children weave paper strips over and under to create colourful mats. Simple pattern work that suits all ages.
Craft Day · Long Projects Day · Recycle Day +2Papier-Mâché Bowls and Masks
Children layer newspaper and glue over balloons to make bowls or masks, then paint them once dry over the following day.
Survival Challenge Day · Camp Out Day · Craft Day +1Paracord Survival Bracelets
Older children plait or knot a paracord bracelet with a buckle clip, a hands-on project they can wear home.
New Year's Party · Craft Day · Paper Crafts Day +1Party Popper Craft
Children turn cardboard tubes and tissue paper into colourful pretend party poppers filled with paper confetti. Great for a noise-free countdown celebration.
Bug Day · Science Week · Gardening Day +2Pasta Butterfly Life Cycle
Younger children glue pasta shapes onto card to show the stages of a butterfly's life cycle, from egg to butterfly.
Mini Golf Day · Craft Day · Games DayPersonalised Golf Balls
Children decorate ping pong balls with patterns and symbols so each player has their own ball for a mini golf game.
Photography Day · Art Attack Day · Craft Day +1Photo Collage
Children print and arrange photos they've taken into a collage with captions. Celebrates their view of the world.
Book Week · Craft Day · Under the Sea +2Picture Book Craft Response
Younger children listen to a picture book and then make a craft linked to the story, deepening their connection to it.
Clay and Pottery Day · Craft Day · Art Through the Ages +1Pinch Pots
Children form small bowls from air-dry clay using the pinch technique, then decorate them.
Craft Day · Budding Artists · Art Attack DayPlaster Figurine Painting
Children paint plaster figurines with acrylic paint, adding fine details, then take home a finished keepsake.
Yarn Day · Craft Day · Animal Theme +1Pom-Pom Creatures
Children make woolly pom-poms and turn them into animals by adding felt ears, eyes and tails.
Bug Day · Halloween · Craft Day +1Pom-Pom Spiders
Children craft fuzzy spiders by attaching pipe-cleaner legs and googly eyes to pom-poms, practising counting to eight and fine motor skills.
Paper Crafts Day · Craft Day · Mother's Day +2Pop-up Cards
Children cut and fold card to make pop-up greeting cards for someone special. A little bit of engineering in a craft.
Christmas · Craft Day · Paper Crafts Day +1Pop-Up Christmas Cards
Children make pop-up Christmas cards with a hidden surprise that springs up when the card opens.
Gardening Day · Craft Day · Mother's Day +2Pot Painting
Children decorate terracotta pots with acrylic paint to use for planting or as gifts.
Taco Fiesta Day · Birthday for Everyone Day · Culture Celebration Day +1Pull-String Paper Bag Piñata
Children decorate a paper bag piñata with crepe streamers, then take turns pulling strings until it opens and treats tumble out.
Circus Day · Balloon Day · Craft Day +1Rice Balloon Juggling Balls
Children fill balloons with rice to make squishy juggling balls, then practise juggling.
Rock and Gem Day · Kindness Day · Art Attack Day +2Rock Painting
Children paint smooth rocks with patterns, faces or kind messages to keep, display or hide around the garden.
Maker Day · Craft Day · Loose Parts Day +2Rotating Maker Stations
Children move freely between painting, clay and loose-parts stations, choosing how to create and testing ideas across different materials.
Art Attack Day · Budding Artists · Rainbow Day +2Salad Spinner Spin Art
Children drop paint onto paper circles inside a salad spinner and spin it to create swirling, colourful patterns.
Dinosaur Day · Rock and Gem Day · Clay and Pottery Day +1Salt Dough Fossils
Children press toy dinosaurs, shells and leaves into salt dough to make fossil prints that dry hard to take home.
Christmas in July · Christmas · Craft Day +2Salt Dough Ornaments
Children shape and paint their own salt dough or pop-stick ornaments to hang on a tree or take home.
Mother's Day · Father's Day · Grandparents Day +2Salt Dough Pendant Necklaces
Children shape salt dough pendants, bake and paint them, then thread them onto cord as a keepsake gift.
Raw Art Day · Beach Day · Craft Day +1Sand Art Bottles
Children layer coloured sand in clear bottles to make patterns. A calm, creative craft.
Woodwork Day · Craft Day · Mother's Day +2Sanding and Painting Wood Shapes
Children sand rough wooden shapes until smooth, then paint and decorate them as ornaments or gifts.
World Oceans Day · Under the Sea · Puppet Day +1Sea Creature Puppets
Children make sock or paper bag puppets of sea creatures, then use them for a short puppet show.
Seasons Day · Weather Watchers · Autumn Leaves +1Seasons Wheel
Younger children make a card wheel divided into four seasons, drawing what they see and do in each one.
Craft Day · Sewing Day · Long Projects Day +2Sew a Cushion
Older children sew, stuff and decorate a small cushion to take home.
Life Skills Day · Sewing Day · Learn to Day +1Sew On a Button
Children learn to sew a button onto felt, a practical skill they can use at home.
Pyjama Day · Sewing Day · Craft Day +1Sleep Mask Decorating
Children cut and decorate felt eye masks with sequins and stitching. A cosy craft for pyjama day.
Slime Lab Day · Craft Day · Science DaySlime Jar Decorating
Children decorate a container with stickers and labels to take their slime home, inventing a name for their slime recipe.
Crazy Sock Day · Fashion Design Day · Mismatch Day +1Sock Design
Children design patterns on plain socks with fabric markers to wear or display.
Pet Day · Puppet Day · Craft Day +1Sock Puppet Pets
Children turn odd socks into pet puppets, then put on a pet show. A creative mix of craft and performance.
Puppet Day · Craft Day · Recycle Day +1Sock Puppets
Children turn socks into puppet characters with buttons and felt. A quick, recycled craft.
Bug Day · Halloween · Craft Day +1Spider Web String Art
Children wrap wool around a notched paper plate to create their own spider web, building patience and hand-eye coordination.
Tie Dye Day · Rainbow Day · Fashion Design Day +2Spiral Tie-Dye T-Shirts
Children twist, bind and dye white shirts into bright spiral patterns, learning a classic textile technique they can wear home.
Tie Dye Day · Crazy Sock Day · Rainbow Day +1Spray Tie-Dye Socks and Totes
Children colour socks or tote bags with fabric markers, then mist them with spray bottles so the colours bleed and blend into tie-dye patterns.
Art Attack Day · Budding Artists · Mother's Day +2Step-by-Step Canvas Painting
Children follow guided step-by-step instructions to paint a simple scene on canvas, learning layering and brush techniques.
Art Attack Day · Budding Artists · Halloween +2Straw Blow Painting
Children blow drops of watery paint across paper through straws to create branching trees or wild monster shapes.
Teddy Making Day · Sewing Day · Craft Day +1Stuff and Name a Bear
Children stuff their own soft bear, or a sock bear, and write an adoption certificate giving it a name, birthday and personality.
Pamper and Zen Day · Mother's Day · Christmas +2Supervised 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.
Budding Artists · Art Attack Day · Mother's Day +2Tape Resist Painting
Children stick masking tape onto paper, paint over it, then peel the tape away to reveal crisp white shapes.
Book Week · Craft Day · Paper Crafts Day +2Tasselled Bookmark Making
Children design and decorate their own bookmarks with ribbon tassels, encouraging them to keep reading.
Recycle Day · Sustainable Superstars · Music and Dance Day +1Tin Can Wind Chimes
Older children paint clean tin cans and thread them with beads to make wind chimes that jingle in the breeze.
Taco Fiesta Day · Craft Day · Paper Crafts Day +2Tissue Paper Fiesta Flowers
Children make big, bright tissue paper flowers to decorate the room for a fiesta celebration.
Aquatic Adventure · Under the Sea · Beach Day +2Underwater Aquarium Jars
Children layer sand and shells in a jar and hang paper fish from fishing line to create their own miniature aquarium scene.
Vikings Day · Medieval Times · Knights and Fairies +1Viking Paper Plate Shields
Children design and paint round Viking-style shields on paper plates, adding a card handle so they can hold them up.
Earth Day · Recycle Day · Clean Up Australia Day +2Woven Recycled Place Mats
Children weave strips of junk mail and cereal boxes into sturdy, colourful place mats.
Yarn Day · Craft Day · Nature Play Day +1Woven Wool Stars
Children wrap colourful wool around crossed sticks to make a woven star decoration, a craft found in many cultures.