

Group games are a wonderful way to build social skills, cooperation, and confidence in preschoolers. They encourage children to listen, take turns, and celebrate each other’s successes. Here are 30 tried‑and‑true favourites you can introduce to your kindy group.
When you’re running OSHC programs, it’s easy to feel like you’re recycling the same handful of activities. Children thrive on variety, and having a big bank of creative options can help you break out of that slump. Below is a list of 50 diverse art and craft ideas, ranging from quick, low-prep projects to collaborative, cultural, and recycled-material activities. They’re designed to spark imagination, foster belonging, and keep sessions fresh and engaging for all ages.
Harmony Week (16th–23rd March) is a national celebration of cultural diversity, respect, and inclusion. For toddlers and preschoolers, it’s an opportunity to explore the idea that everyone belongs through play, stories, and shared experiences.
In early childhood settings, Harmony Week is not about complex discussions—it’s about simple, joyful ways to show kindness, celebrate differences, and build a sense of belonging. By weaving Harmony Week into everyday routines, educators can help children understand that our world is made richer when we learn from each other.
This guide provides practical strategies, activity ideas, and reflection prompts tailored for toddlers and preschoolers. It’s designed to support educators in creating meaningful, age-appropriate experiences that highlight diversity and inclusion while keeping learning playful and accessible.
It is not uncommon for children aged 3–5 to show curiosity about bodies, including private parts. This behaviour is part of early exploration and does not carry sexual intent. However, when children seek privacy or involve peers, educators must respond with clear boundaries and child-safe practices. The goal is to guide children respectfully, without shaming, while reinforcing safety and trust.
Minecraft has become a powerful tool for engaging children in OOSH. Its open-ended, creative environment allows children to explore, build, and collaborate in ways that naturally align with the MTOP. When thoughtfully facilitated, Minecraft activities can extend children’s interests, foster teamwork, and embed meaningful learning outcomes.
In OSHC, children often mirror cultural trends. The rise of “Sephora kids," young people fascinated by skincare and makeup, has sparked curiosity about how educators can channel this interest safely. While applying cosmetics directly to children’s skin isn’t appropriate, there are many playful, imaginative strategies that let them explore beauty culture without risk.
Potion play is a form of sensory and imaginative play where children mix natural or everyday materials (like water, herbs, petals, spices, sand, or glitter) to create “potions.” It’s not about real magic but about sparking creativity, curiosity, and exploration. Children pretend their mixtures have special powers, which builds storytelling and symbolic thinking.
Lunar New Year (17th February 2026) is a vibrant celebration observed across many Asian cultures, symbolizing renewal, family, and hope for the year ahead. In early childhood settings, it offers a rich opportunity to honor cultural diversity, foster inclusion, and spark joy through sensory experiences, storytelling, and creative play. By tailoring activities to babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, educators can create meaningful, age-appropriate engagements that respect traditions while nurturing curiosity and belonging.
Children thrive when they can do—exploring, tinkering, and experimenting. Science activities in OSHC settings not only engage curious minds but also build teamwork, problem‑solving, and resilience. Best of all, many experiments can be done with everyday materials, keeping costs low while maximising fun.
Children are naturally drawn to bright, vivid colours, which makes rainbow-themed science experiments instantly engaging and relatable. Because colours are part of their everyday world—seen in toys, clothes, art, and nature, rainbow experiments provide a familiar entry point into scientific exploration.
These activities spark curiosity and wonder by showing how ordinary materials can transform into extraordinary displays of color. Whether it’s watching water “walk” across paper towels, seeing milk swirl into rainbow patterns, or layering liquids into a colorful tower, children experience science as something magical yet understandable.
The Children’s Services Award introduces a streamlined classification system and updated pay rates designed to better recognise the skills, qualifications, and responsibilities of early childhood… Read More
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Floorbook is a documentation approach that uses a large book with blank pages for children to record different aspects of their learning in small groups… Read More
In Norway and most other Scandinavian countries, children nap in the outdoors. According, to research outdoor sleeping not only promotes better daytime sleeping, but it… Read More
Nature programs in early childhood settings are a fantastic way to connect children with the natural world and promote holistic development. The following article provides… Read More
From 2026, every educator covered by the Children’s Services Award will move into a new, simplified classification structure. Instead of navigating 30 different levels, educators… Read More
Schemas are patterns of repeated behavior that allow children to explore and express developing ideas and thoughts through their play and exploration. The following article… Read More
The following article lists 30 art and craft descriptions and links to the EYLF. These can be used as a blurb, during observations, used for… Read More
Positive phrases play a crucial role in children's growth because they help nurture their emotional, social, and cognitive development. The following article lists 30 positive… Read More
From the earliest months of life, babies thrive when given opportunities to experience the outdoors. Nature is not just a backdrop for play—it is a… Read More

A: A summary of learning in early childhood education provides a comprehensive overview of a...
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The following lists the sub-outcomes, examples of evidence when children achieve each sub-outcome and how...
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The My Outdoor Classroom Nature Passport package supports educators in taking children outdoors for enriched play-based learning...
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