In OOSH services, educators are constantly looking for ways to balance energy, encourage wellbeing, and create calm transitions for children after a busy school day. Yoga in OOSH offers a simple, inclusive practice that combines movement, mindfulness, and fun. With just a few minutes of guided breathing and playful poses, children can reset their bodies and minds, helping them feel more focused, relaxed, and ready for the next activity.
Reward systems in OOSH settings can be a fun and engaging way to encourage positive behaviours, build community, and motivate children. Whether it’s a prize box filled with small treasures, a raffle system, or creative approaches like OOSH dollars, these strategies often spark excitement and give children something to look forward to. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of reward systems, practical ideas for implementation, and strategies to make sure every child feels seen and celebrated.
Play in OOSH settings is more than just fun; it is a powerful tool for children’s social, emotional, and cognitive growth. As educators, reflecting on play experiences helps us understand how children are learning, interacting, and developing in these settings.
Critical reflection ensures that play opportunities are inclusive, meaningful, and aligned with both developmental needs and program goals. By asking thoughtful questions, educators can evaluate the quality of play and make informed decisions to enhance children’s experiences.
Sustainability isn’t just about recycling; it’s about helping children understand their role as caretakers of the planet. In OOSH settings, educators have a unique opportunity to weave eco-friendly practices into everyday routines, turning play and learning into powerful lessons about responsibility and respect for the environment.
The following mapped activities are grouped into five key areas: Recycling & Reuse, Energy & Resources, Nature & Gardening, Biodiversity & Care, and Creative & Reflective, each with six practical ideas to inspire children and educators alike.
Rainy days don’t have to dampen the fun in OOSH! When outdoor play isn’t possible, educators can turn indoor time into an opportunity for creativity, movement, and laughter. Wet weather games are more than just "fillers"; they help children release energy, practice teamwork, and build social-emotional skills in a safe environment.
The following 20 indoor games are designed to be simple, adaptable, and fun for mixed-age groups, ensuring that rainy days become memorable moments of play and learning.
The Zones of Regulation are a self-regulation framework that helps children identify and manage their emotions, energy, and attention. In OOSH settings, where children transition between school, home, and care environments, this tool can be especially powerful for fostering independence, resilience, and social-emotional wellbeing.
Risky play in OOSH services is encouraged as a way to build children’s confidence, resilience, and risk-assessment skills, but it must be balanced with structured risk management and compliance practices.
In Out of School Hours care, educators manage large groups of children in dynamic environments where safety, belonging, and engagement must coexist. One of the most essential, yet often contested, practices is the roll call and headcount.
This article explores practical strategies to help OOSH educators balance safety with connection, reduce parent complaints, and transform roll call into a positive ritual.
For OOSH (Out of School Hours) children, Reconciliation Week topics should focus on identity, respect, caring for Country, storytelling, friendship, and truth-telling. These themes help children understand Australia’s shared history and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in age‑appropriate ways.
The Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) is not just a compliance document—it’s the heartbeat of continuous improvement in OOSH services. It shows how your service reflects on practice, identifies strengths, and sets goals for better outcomes. Even if you’ve never written one before, you can contribute meaningfully by following a clear, mapped process.
Here is the list of the EYLF Learning Outcomes that you can use as a guide or reference for your documentation and planning. The EYLF… Read More
The EYLF is a guide which consists of Principles, Practices and 5 main Learning Outcomes along with each of their sub outcomes, based on identity,… Read More
This is a guide on How to Write a Learning Story. It provides information on What Is A Learning Story, Writing A Learning Story, Sample… Read More
One of the most important types of documentation methods that educators needs to be familiar with are “observations”. Observations are crucial for all early childhood… Read More
To support children achieve learning outcomes from the EYLF Framework, the following list gives educators examples of how to promote children's learning in each individual… Read More
Reflective practice is learning from everyday situations and issues and concerns that arise which form part of our daily routine while working in an early… Read More
When observing children, it's important that we use a range of different observation methods from running records, learning stories to photographs and work samples. Using… Read More
Within Australia, Programming and Planning is reflected and supported by the Early Years Learning Framework. Educators within early childhood settings, use the EYLF to guide… Read More
This is a guide for educators on what to observe under each sub learning outcome from the EYLF Framework, when a child is engaged in… Read More
The Early Years Learning Framework describes the curriculum as “all the interactions, experiences, activities, routines and events, planned and unplanned, that occur in an environment… Read More
Here are several ideas for an outdoor experience that weaves together sustainability and Aboriginal perspectives/culture...
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Risky play in OOSH services is encouraged as a way to build children’s confidence, resilience...
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Caring for and teaching children is some of the most important work in the country...
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