oshc activities
Theme days / Water Play Day

Water Play Day ideas for OSHC

24 DIY activities for a water play day 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 Water Play Day
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 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 6Water 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 6Vikings Day · Science Week · Water Play Day +1

Floating Longship Challenge

Children build Viking-style longships from foil and pop sticks, then test whether they float and how much cargo they can carry.

EitherModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6Polar Day · Winter Wonderland · Wild Rescue +2

Frozen Animal Rescue

Children free toy animals frozen in ice blocks using salt, droppers and warm water. A sensory science rescue mission.

OutdoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 6Dinosaur Day · Water Play Day · Science Day +1

Frozen Dinosaur Eggs

Children search for ice eggs with toy dinosaurs frozen inside, then work out how to hatch them with warm water and salt.

OutdoorModerateSome prepPrep to Year 3Messy 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 3Tie Dye Day · Bubbles Day · Water Play Day +1

Giant Bubble Games

Children make giant bubbles with homemade wands and play chase-and-pop games, enjoying the science and fun of bubbles outdoors.

OutdoorModerateSome 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 6Winter Wonderland · Polar Day · Water Play Day +2

Ice Block Castle

Children build a castle from frozen ice blocks, using salt and water to help blocks stick together.

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 6Down on the Farm · Water Play Day · Milk Day +1

Milk the Glove Cow

Children squeeze water from a pin-pricked rubber glove udder into a bucket, racing to fill a cup line first.

OutdoorModerateSome 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 6Everything's Duckie · Water Play Day · Great Race Day +1

Rubber Duck Gutter Race

Children race rubber ducks down a length of guttering or a water trough, using cups of water or breath to push them along.

OutdoorModerateSome prepPrep 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 6Water Play Day · Art Attack Day · Colour Fun Run +2

Squirter Splash Painting

Children squirt watered-down paint at large sheets of paper using water pistols or spray bottles, creating bold splash art.

OutdoorModerateSome prepPrep to Year 6Science Week · Science Day · After School Quick STEM +1

Surface Tension Coin Drops

Children predict and count how many water drops fit on a coin before it spills, discovering how water holds together.

IndoorCalmGrab-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 6Clean Up Australia Day · World Oceans Day · Environmental Day +3

Waterways Pollution Demo

Children use a simple model to see how litter on the ground travels through drains into waterways.

OutdoorModerateSome prepPrep to Year 6