Across OSHC services, educators and leaders are voicing the same challenge: how do we meet documentation requirements with limited staff without drowning in double-handling or excessive detail?
Music has always been a powerful tool in OSHC programs—whether it’s setting the tone for a calm morning or energising children after school. Many educators are exploring how to use music not just as background noise, but as a way to support regulation, inclusion, and child agency.
The following gives you 50+ boredom-busting activities across five themed days—Maker Monday, Challenge Tuesday, Creative Wednesday, Active Thursday, and Chill Friday. Each theme includes 10 low-prep, high-engagement ideas that respect older children’s growing identity and sense of autonomy.
Older children in OSHC often hit us with the classic line: “I’m bored.” But when asked what they’d like to do, the reply is just as familiar: “I don’t know.”
This isn’t laziness; it’s a developmental stage. They’re testing independence, craving novelty, and rejecting anything that feels “too little kid.” The challenge for educators is to offer activities that are low-prep, high-engagement, and feel authentically “big kid.”
Supporting children in OSHC with regulation techniques means creating safe, predictable environments and teaching strategies that help them manage emotions, behaviour, and social interactions. The most effective approaches combine self-regulation, co-regulation, and environmental adjustments tailored to children’s needs.
The My Time, Our Place (MTOP) Framework is designed for school-age care, with five outcomes that guide planning and reflection. Embedding it means linking everyday activities to these outcomes in ways that are intentional, inclusive, and meaningful. Here’s a clear breakdown with activity examples mapped to each outcome.
Transitions are one of the most vulnerable times in OSHC programs. Children move between spaces, activities, or staff supervision, and without structure, these moments can become chaotic. A structured line‑up system provides predictability, safety, and efficiency, ensuring every child is accounted for while fostering calm routines.
Australia is facing a significant shortage in Outside School Hours Care (OSHC), leaving many families—particularly working mothers—struggling to balance employment and childcare responsibilities.
LEGO challenge task cards: a fun classroom management tool that builds creativity, problem‑solving, teamwork, and hands‑on learning for children.
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
Yoga is one form of practise which includes breath control and specific body postures (asanas)...
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The "No Hat, No Play" policy is a common sun safety rule in early childhood...
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The structure and organisation of a learning environment can have immense impact on all aspects...
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