oshc activities
Theme days / Kindness Day

Kindness Day ideas for OSHC

36 DIY activities for a kindness day at before and after school care or vacation care, usually run around Summer or Children's Week (late October). Pick and mix, or build a balanced day in one click.

Build a Kindness Day
Games Carnival Day · Athletics Carnival · Kindness Day +1

Carnival Medal Ceremony

Every child steps up to a podium to receive a medal at the end of the games carnival. A joyful way to celebrate effort and good sportsmanship.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Children's Week · International Day of Peace · Harmony Day +1

Children's Rights Posters

Children learn about children's rights and create posters to share key ideas with the service.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goYears 4 to 6Feel Good Friday · Kindness Day · Friendship Day +2

Compliments Wall

Children write and draw kind notes about each other on a big sheet of paper to create a wall of positivity.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6R U OK Day · Mental Health Month · Friendship Day +2

Conversation Starter Cards

Children practise asking friends how they're really going using conversation cards. Builds empathy and listening skills.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goYears 4 to 6Op Shop Day · Kindness Day · Sustainable Superstars +2

Donation Sorting Drive

Children help sort, fold and pack donated items for a local charity or op shop. A meaningful way to give back to the community.

IndoorModerateSome prepPrep to Year 6Mental Health Month · Mindfulness Day · Wellbeing Wednesday +2

Feelings Wheel

Children make a spinning card wheel of emotions with faces and words, then use it to share how they are feeling.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Feel Good Friday · Friendship Day · Kindness Day +1

Friendship Bracelets

Children weave or knot embroidery thread into bracelets to give to a friend.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Friendship Day · Kindness Day · Feel Good Friday

Friendship Mailboxes

Children decorate small boxes as mailboxes and post kind notes to each other over the day.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Friendship Day · Kindness Day · Harmony Day

Friendship Snack Mix

Each child adds an ingredient to a big shared bowl to make a trail mix, showing how friends combine to make something great.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Friendship Day · Kindness Day · Harmony Day +2

Friendship Yarn Web

Children pass a ball of yarn across a circle, sharing something nice about each person who catches it, to build a web of connection.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Games Carnival Day · Athletics Carnival · Craft Day +1

Gold 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.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Mindfulness Day · Mental Health Month · Kindness Day +2

Gratitude Art

Children draw or collage the people, places and things they feel grateful for, then share one with the group.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6International Day of Peace · Kindness Day · Harmony Day +2

Handprint Peace Doves

Children trace and cut their hands to make doves, then write a wish for peace on each one.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Friendship Day · Teddy Bears' Picnic · Cooking Day +1

Heart Sandwiches

Children make sandwiches and cut them into heart shapes with cookie cutters to share.

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

Hello in Many Languages

Children learn to say hello in the languages spoken by families at the service, creating a welcome chart that celebrates everyone.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Father's Day · Mother's Day · Grandparents Day +1

Helpful Jobs Coupon Book

Children make a booklet of vouchers for helpful jobs they can do for a special person.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Pet Day · Kindness Day · Cooking Day +2

Homemade Dog Biscuits

Children mix and bake simple oat and pumpkin dog biscuits to donate to a local animal shelter. Cooking with kindness built in.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Kindness Day · Friendship Day · R U OK Day +2

Kind Note Drop

Children write kind notes and hide them around the service for others to find.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Wellbeing Wednesday · Kindness Day · Mental Health Month +2

Kind Words Painted Stones

Children paint positive words, affirmations or symbols on smooth stones to keep, give away or place in the garden.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep 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 6Kindness Day · Friendship Day · Feel Good Friday +2

Kindness Bingo

Children complete kind acts throughout the day to tick off squares on a bingo sheet.

EitherModerateGrab-and-goPrep 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 3Kindness Day · Rock and Gem Day · Art Attack Day +2

Kindness Rocks

Children paint kind messages and pictures on rocks to place around the school for others to find.

OutdoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Friendship Day · Pi Day · Kindness Day

Lolly Heart Graph

Children sort small heart lollies by colour, count them and make a bar graph before sharing.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3National Families Week · Harmony Day · Culture Celebration Day +1

My Family Is Wall

Children finish the sentence 'My family is...' and display their words with family photos or drawings on a shared wall.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Harmony Day · Friendship Day · Kindness Day +1

Orange Handprint Wreath

Each child adds an orange handprint to a group wreath, a symbol of belonging and coming together.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Wizard School Day · Book Week · Kindness Day +2

Owl Post Letters

Children write letters to friends or educators that are delivered by a pretend owl post service around the room.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Mother's Day · Father's Day · Grandparents Day +2

Pop-Up Heart Card

Children fold and cut card to make a greeting card with a heart that pops up when it opens.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Superhero Day · Emergency Services Day · Kindness Day +1

Real-Life Heroes Thank-You Cards

Children write and decorate thank-you cards for local paramedics, nurses and firefighters, then deliver or post them.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Reconciliation Week · NAIDOC Week · Harmony Day +1

Reconciliation Reflection Wall

Children write or draw what reconciliation means to them and add it to a shared wall, creating a visible record of the group's thoughts and hopes.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Lunar New Year · Paper Crafts Day · Culture Celebration Day +1

Red Envelope Making

Children fold and decorate red envelopes and write good-luck wishes inside, learning about the custom of giving red envelopes at Lunar New Year.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Rock and Gem Day · Kindness Day · Art Attack Day +2

Rock Painting

Children paint smooth rocks with patterns, faces or kind messages to keep, display or hide around the garden.

IndoorCalmGrab-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 6Kindness Day · Careers Day · Friendship Day +1

Thank You Notes

Children write thank you notes to staff, cleaners and others who help at school.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Kindness Day · Friendship Day · R U OK Day +2

Toothpaste Words Lesson

Children squeeze toothpaste onto a plate and try to put it back, a simple demonstration of how words can't be taken back once said.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6R U OK Day · Kindness Day · Rainbow Day +2

Yellow Kindness Day

Children wear yellow and complete acts of kindness throughout the day. A whole-group focus on checking in and caring.

EitherModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6