Winter Wonderland ideas for OSHC
27 DIY activities for a winter wonderland at before and after school care or vacation care, usually run around Winter or Winter (June to July). Pick and mix, or build a balanced day in one click.
Blubber Glove Experiment
Children put one hand in a shortening-lined bag and dip both hands in icy water to feel how fat keeps polar animals warm. Memorable science.
Budding Artists · Winter Wonderland · Polar Day +3Coloured Ice Cube Painting
Younger children paint with frozen coloured ice cubes, watching colours melt and mix on paper.
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.
Polar Day · Winter Wonderland · Inventors Day +1Explorer Sled Design
Children design and build a sled from pop sticks to carry a toy explorer across the snow. Engineering with a story.
Polar Day · Winter Wonderland · Wild Rescue +2Frozen Animal Rescue
Children free toy animals frozen in ice blocks using salt, droppers and warm water. A sensory science rescue mission.
Dinosaur Day · Water Play Day · Science Day +1Frozen Dinosaur Eggs
Children search for ice eggs with toy dinosaurs frozen inside, then work out how to hatch them with warm water and salt.
Winter Wonderland · Christmas · Christmas in July +1Glitter 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.
Pyjama Day · Winter Wonderland · Chocolate Day +2Hot Chocolate Station
Children measure cocoa and milk to make warm hot chocolate and add marshmallow toppings. A cosy treat for pyjama day.
Winter Wonderland · Polar Day · Water Play Day +2Ice Block Castle
Children build a castle from frozen ice blocks, using salt and water to help blocks stick together.
Winter Wonderland · Disco Day · Music and Dance Day +1Ice Statue Freeze Dance
Children dance to music and freeze like ice statues when it stops; anyone who wobbles melts and joins the judges.
Polar Day · Winter Wonderland · Recycle Day +1Igloo Building
Children build igloos from milk bottles or marshmallows and talk about how shape keeps them strong. Building with a twist.
Cooking Day · Winter Wonderland · Farm to Table Day +1Loaded Baked Potatoes
Children top baked potatoes from a toppings bar, perfect for a cold afternoon.
Polar Day · Under the Sea · Winter Wonderland +1Magnetic Ice Fishing
Children use magnetic rods to catch paper fish from a pretend icy pool. A gentle game with counting.
Lost Creatures · Science Day · Polar Day +3Mammoth Ice Melt
Children test which methods melt a block of ice fastest to free a hidden toy mammoth or animal.
Winter Wonderland · Christmas · Christmas in July +1Marshmallow Snowmen
Children stack marshmallows onto a skewer or pop stick, then add pretzel arms and icing faces to make edible snowmen.
Winter Wonderland · Recycle Day · Wet Weather Day +2Paper Snowball Fight
Children scrunch scrap paper into snowballs and throw them across a divided room, trying to clear their side before time's up.
Christmas in July · Christmas · Winter Wonderland +2Paper Snowflakes
Children fold and cut paper into unique symmetrical snowflakes to hang around the room.
Polar Day · Winter Wonderland · Animal Theme +1Penguin Waddle Relay
Children waddle like penguins with a ball between their knees. A silly relay that suits younger children.
Earth Day · Bird Watching Day · Nature Play Day +1Pine Cone Bird Feeders
Children roll pine cones in a nut-free spread and birdseed to hang outside, then watch for visiting birds.
Pioneer Day · Time Travellers Day · Medieval Times +2Safe 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.
Science Day · Rock and Gem Day · Science Week +1Salt Crystal Pipe Cleaners
Older children make pipe cleaner shapes and hang them in a strong salt solution to grow crystals overnight.
Pyjama Day · PJ Disco · Winter Wonderland +1Slumber Party Day
A whole day in pyjamas and dressing gowns with hot chocolate, movies and sleepover games. A cosy favourite for winter.
Winter Wonderland · Paper Crafts Day · Christmas in July +2Snowflake Symmetry
Children fold and cut paper snowflakes, exploring lines of symmetry and how repeating patterns form.
Winter Wonderland · Polar Day · Magic Day +1Snowflake Wands
Children make wands topped with paper snowflakes and glitter for a winter wonderland celebration.
Winter Wonderland · Sensory Day · Messy Play Day +2Two-Ingredient Fake Snow
Children mix bicarb soda and hair conditioner into cool, mouldable snow for building tiny snowmen and wintry scenes.
Christmas in July · Cooking Day · Winter Wonderland +1Winter Feast Lunch
Children help prepare a shared roast-style or festive lunch, setting the table and enjoying it together.
Winter Wonderland · Book Week · Seasons Day +1Winter Story Time
Children read a selection of winter-themed picture books and compare the stories, settings and illustrations.