oshc activities
Theme days / Summer Holidays

Summer Holidays ideas for OSHC

37 DIY activities for a summer holidays at before and after school care or vacation care, usually run around Summer or Terms 1 and 4 or Summer. Pick and mix, or build a balanced day in one click.

Build a Summer Holidays
Water Play Day · Summer Holidays · Backyard Play Day

Backyard Slip and Slide

Children take turns sliding along a wet tarp on soft grass, enjoying a classic summer water game.

OutdoorHighSome prepPrep to Year 6Beach Day · Summer Holidays · Under the Sea +2

Beach Games Afternoon

Children play beach-style volleyball and take on a sandcastle challenge in the sandpit, bringing a beach feel to the service.

OutdoorHighSome prepPrep to Year 6Craft 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 6Beach Day · Milk Day · Café Day +3

Blended Fruit Milkshakes

Children help blend milk and fruit into fresh milkshakes, learning about healthy ingredients and simple kitchen skills.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Cricket Day · Target Games Day · Summer Holidays +1

Bowling Accuracy Challenge

Children practise bowling a ball at cricket stumps to hit the target.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Wheels Day · Planes, Trains and Automobiles · Summer Holidays

Bring Your Wheels Day

Children bring bikes, scooters or skates from home for a supervised riding circuit, with helmets on at all times.

OutdoorHighSome prepPrep to Year 6Water Play Day · Summer Holidays · Teamwork Day +1

Bucket and Sponge Relays

Teams race through a series of water relays using buckets and sponges, such as sponge passing and bucket carrying.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Camp Out Day · Wilderness Adventure · Survival Challenge Day +2

Camp Out Afternoon

Children pitch tents outdoors and help make a simple camp afternoon tea on a portable stove, experiencing camp life at the service.

OutdoorModerateBig set-upYears 4 to 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 3Water Play Day · Summer Holidays · Backyard Play Day +1

DIY Water Play Circuit

Educators raid the storage shed for buckets, tubs, spray bottles and sponges to set up a homemade water play circuit without hiring inflatables.

OutdoorModerateSome prepPrep to Year 6Messy Play Day · Art Attack Day · Water Play Day +2

Frozen Paint Cubes

Children paint with frozen cubes of paint that melt into bright, smooth colours as they glide across paper.

OutdoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 3Beach Day · Fruit and Veggie Day · Summer Holidays +3

Fruit Kebabs and Ice Blocks

Children thread fruit onto kebab sticks and pour juice into moulds for homemade ice blocks, creating cool healthy treats.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Fruit and Veggie Day · Healthy Heart Day · Café Day +1

Fruit Smoothies

Children choose fruit and help blend creamy smoothies to taste and compare.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Bubbles Day · Science Week · Water Play Day +3

Giant String Bubbles

Children dip large string wands into bubble mix and create giant, wobbly bubbles outdoors, exploring surface tension.

OutdoorModerateSome prepPrep to Year 6Ice Cream Day · Science Day · Cooking Day +3

Ice Cream in a Bag

Children shake cream, sugar and vanilla in a bag surrounded by salted ice until it freezes into ice cream.

OutdoorModerateSome prepPrep to Year 6Art Attack Day · Café Day · Cooking Day +3

Juice Mocktail Bar

Children mix fruit juices, sparkling water and chopped fruit into colourful mocktails, practising measuring and creating their own recipes.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Everything's Duckie · Market Day · Money Day +2

Lemonade Stand

Children squeeze lemons, mix lemonade and run a pretend stand with signs and play money.

OutdoorModerateSome prepPrep to Year 6Beach Day · Emergency Services Day · Careers Day +3

Lifeguard Rescue Relays

Older children run relays using pool noodles as rescue tubes, learning a little about water safety and lifesaving roles.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goYears 4 to 6Park Day · Water Play Day · Outdoor Explorers +2

Low-Cost Park Play Day

Take water play gear, an obstacle course and a scavenger hunt to a local park for a big outing that costs little. Fresh air and new space to explore.

OutdoorHighBig set-upPrep to Year 6Tennis Day · Summer Holidays · Games Day

Mini Tennis

Children play short-court tennis using smaller rackets, soft balls and low nets, so everyone can get rallies going quickly.

OutdoorHighSome prepPrep to Year 6Water Play Day · Teamwork Day · Summer Holidays +1

Over-the-Head Bucket Fill

Teams pass cups of water over their heads down the line to fill a bucket at the end, racing to fill it first.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Ice Cream Day · Paper Crafts Day · Summer Holidays +1

Paper Cone Craft

Children make paper ice cream cones with layered scoops and decorate them as their own invented flavours.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3Holidays and Travel Week · Ice Cream Day · Summer Holidays +2

Paper Ice Cream Cones

Children make colourful paper ice cream cones with scoops and toppings.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3Teddy Bears' Picnic · Park Day · Backyard Play Day +1

Picnic in the Park

Children spread out rugs, share their lunch and play classic picnic games outdoors, enjoying a relaxed day together in the fresh air.

OutdoorModerateSome prepPrep to Year 6All About Australia Day · Cricket Day · Summer Holidays +2

Relaxed Backyard Cricket

A casual, inclusive game of cricket with friendly rules so everyone gets a bat, a bowl and a laugh.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Beach Day · Summer Holidays · Under the Sea +2

Sand Sculpture Contest

Children sculpt animals, cars or creatures from damp sand, exploring texture and design in a creative outdoor contest.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Beach Day · Summer Holidays · Knights and Fairies +2

Sandpit Castle Contest

Children build their best sandcastles in the sandpit, using buckets, moats and decorations in a friendly building contest.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Water Play Day · Science Week · Science Day +1

Sink or Float

Children predict whether everyday objects will sink or float, test them in tubs of water and sort them by result.

OutdoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 3Summer Holidays · Water Play Day · Park Day +1

Splash Park Challenge

Children help plan a series of outings to free local splash parks across the holidays and tick each one off a map.

OutdoorHighBig set-upPrep to Year 6Water Play Day · Athletics Carnival · Summer Holidays +1

Sponge Relay Race

Teams soak a sponge, race across the field and squeeze it into their bucket, trying to fill it before the others.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Beach Day · Crazy Hat Day · Summer Holidays +2

Sun-Safe Hat Design

Children decorate a bucket hat with fabric markers while learning why hats are important for sun protection.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Ice Cream Day · Summer Holidays · Café Day +2

Sundae Bar

Children build their own sundaes from a selection of ice cream, fruit and toppings.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Tennis Day · Challenge Day · Summer Holidays

Tennis Rally Challenge

Pairs try to keep a rally going for as many hits as possible, counting together and trying to beat their own record.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6All About Australia Day · Aussie Outback Day · Summer Holidays +3

Thong Throwing Contest

Children fling rubber thongs for distance in a classic Aussie backyard contest that is silly, active and easy to set up.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Water Play Day · Summer Holidays · Balloon Day

Water Balloon Toss

Partners toss a water balloon back and forth, taking a step back after each catch until the balloon bursts.

OutdoorModerateSome prepPrep to Year 6Water Play Day · Target Games Day · Summer Holidays +1

Water Blaster Ball Push

Children use water blasters to push a light ball across the grass and into a hoop, working out angles and teamwork.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Water Play Day · Target Games Day · Summer Holidays

Water Squirter Target Knockdown

Children use water squirters to knock down cups and targets lined up on a bench or fence.

OutdoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6