OSHC stands for Outside School Hours Care – a place where primary school-aged children (typically 5 to 12 years old) can feel safe, supported and inspired outside of regular school hours. At Camp Australia, OSHC includes Before School Care, After School Care and our much-loved Rocketeers Vacation Care during school holidays.

Bringing back the joy of play: Why it matters more than ever
Childhood looks a lot different today. With more screen time and packed schedules, kids have fewer opportunities for unstructured play. However, one thing hasn’t changed—play remains essential for children’s growth and development. 

At Camp Australia, we’re committed to bringing play back through our Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) programs. We offer kids the freedom to explore, create, and connect in ways that screens and structured activities can’t replace. 

Why play is more than just fun
Play isn’t just about having fun—it’s how kids learn best. Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a leading child psychologist, says that play supports kids’ cognitive, social, and emotional growth (The Sector, March 2025). Through play, children develop problem-solving skills, creativity, and resilience—things that rigid schedules and screen time can’t teach. 

At Camp Australia, we design our OSHC programs around play-based learning. Whether it’s arts and crafts, outdoor games, or group challenges, we create an environment where kids can build friendships, try new things, and grow in confidence. 

Building connections through play 
Play also helps kids connect with others. In the past, children of all ages played together, allowing older kids to mentor younger ones. Today, with more time spent indoors and distracted by screens, those natural interactions are disappearing. 

That’s why our OSHC programs bring kids of different ages together, encouraging teamwork and leadership. Older kids help guide younger ones, and everyone benefits from a stronger sense of belonging. 

Less screen time, more growth 
We all know that too much screen time can lead to shorter attention spans, less physical activity, and weaker social skills. Despite the pressures of modern life, parents still recognise the value of real play experiences (The Sector, March 2025). 

At Camp Australia, we provide screen-free play that encourages movement, creativity, and problem-solving. Our programs help kids rediscover the joy of active, social play—something that’s more important than ever in today’s digital world. 

Let’s make play a priority 
Camp Australia’s OSHC programs offer more than just supervision—they give kids the space to play, grow, and thrive. By choosing our programs, parents can be confident their children are getting the right balance of fun and development. 

Find out more about Your OSHC.

Children from the ages of 5-8 years old are full of wonder and enthusiasm for fun activities that keep them engaged and entertained. As parents, we want our children to learn as they play as well. Camp Australia offers a range of activities that are well suited to children in this age range. 

We understand that children in their first years of primary school have different developmental and social needs than older school children. That’s why the team at Camp Australia have a range of activities for children aged from 5-8 years old that are fun while being beneficial to their development in so many ways. Let’s look at these in more detail.

Camp Australia’s Range of Activities for Young Children

From puzzle and brain games to arts and crafts, Camp Australia has before and after-school care and holiday activities that will keep both children and parents satisfied. Here are some of our favourite activities for children between the ages of 5-8 years old and the benefits of each:

1. Creative Arts and Crafts 

Activities: Children are encouraged to get involved in arts and crafts because it’s fun and offers a range of benefits all within a creative and hands-on experience. Best of all, children can take their masterpieces home with them.

Activities including finger painting, creative collages and even simple knitting or crochet projects become a source of inspiration and pride, where children can see the results of their efforts. They get to experiment with different colours and textures while expressing their creativity through different mediums. Arts and crafts are perfect for seasonal gifts including Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Easter, Christmas and Diwali.

Benefits: Arts and crafts are great ways for children at this age to develop patience, concentration and mindfulness, by being in the moment of creating their art pieces. Cutting and pasting physical collages may help with their motor skills and dexterity using tools such as age-appropriate scissors and glue. Completing art and craft pieces can give children a sense of achievement and pride in the crafts they’ve created.

2. Puzzles and Brain Games

Activities: Puzzles and memory games such as Guess Who are a wonderful way for children to have fun and flex their brain muscles at the same time. Puzzles, for example, let children visualise how each piece they connect comes to form the final complete image. Even basic card games like Snap enhance memory recognition and focus in a fast-paced and entertaining way.

Benefits: Puzzles and brain games can help children sharpen their focus, concentration and problem-solving skills, all in the name of fun. Puzzles teach children patience as they try different solutions to get the right pieces to match up. It also encourages open-mindedness as they try various options to make sure the correct pieces are connected to fit. 

3. Story Time and Reading

Activities: Reading is a special time for children to explore stories that ignite their imagination. They can enter fantastical worlds with colourful characters and tales that they love to explore further. Whether they’re humorous, full of action or magical adventures, children can get lost in the stories, and storytime can involve asking them what they think will happen next. 

Benefits: Apart from being entertaining for your children, reading and story time helps improve their vocabulary and communication skills. Stories can also help children develop a love of storytelling and reading, encouraging them to become life-long readers and learners. It is also a great way to introduce quiet time to add some balance to their day.

4. Building Activities

Activities: Using building blocks and LEGO bricks is a fantastic way for children to get hands-on in their creative pursuit to build objects that experiment with design, balance, and structure. Children at this age love building towers, houses and bridges using their imagination to create structures found in their immediate environment, or sometimes building things that are purely fantastical.

Benefits: Building and construction activities help children with their problem-solving skills, while examining concepts including balance, symmetry and support disguised as play. An interest in building and construction at an early age may be useful in learning STEM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) subjects in more senior study years.

Benefits of Kids Completing Activities With Other Kids Their Age

Particularly in this age group, children benefit greatly from completing activities together with their peers, including building their social skills, developing their communication skills and others. Here are some of these benefits in more detail:

Social Skills benefits: Children develop and build on their basic social skills at this age, so group activities are a wonderful way to learn taking turns, sharing and listening to others. This can build on their friendship group structures as well. 

Boosting Self-Confidence: Accomplishing group activities like completing puzzles together helps boost their self-confidence. Children get to experience the satisfaction of teamwork in a fun and productive way.

Communication Skills benefit: Activities such as building or story time help children discuss their point of view, letting them express themselves as well as listening to what their peers are expressing. This helps children express their inner feelings outwardly and also builds their vocabulary and sense of understanding one another.

Camp Australia’s before, after school and holiday programs for children in the 9-12 age range offer both participants and parents the confidence that there will be a range of age-appropriate activities to keep them interested and entertained.

Children in this age range have a few advantages over younger school children; they are generally more settled in with the routines and experiences of school and have a better sense of who they are and what they enjoy. 

Activities That Aid in Children’s Development

Children in their senior primary school years have different needs from their younger peers. That’s why Camp Australia has a range of activities that appeal to this age group, offering them the opportunity to be engaged in areas that interest them and stimulate their sense of curiosity and exploration. 

Here are some activities that Camp Australia offers, tailored to enhance their skills and interests and promote well-rounded development. 

1. STEM Challenges and Experiments

At this age group, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) challenges appeal to the curiosity of young people through the combination of science and creative problem-solving activities. 

Building simple battery-operated electronic circuits or basic science experiments encourages children to think critically while working through solutions. The element of trial and error brings fun into learning that children love to experience and re-live when they share with their parents afterwards.

2. Cooking and Nutrition Education

Cooking offers children the opportunity to combine fun and life skills by creating culinary experiences they can share with their friends and family. They understand how foods combine different ingredients to create something tasty and nutritious. 

Plus they get to enjoy the labour of their efforts by eating their creations before going home – what a way to enjoy the end of their day!

3. Outdoor Adventure Games

This is perfect for highly energetic children who need some fuel to burn at the end of the day. Games like scavenger hunts and obstacle courses help with problem-solving, teamwork and physical endurance – the perfect antidote to combat screen addiction through physical activity outdoors.

4. Art and Craft Projects

Art and craft is a popular way for children in the 9-12 age group to express themselves creatively. Painting, paper-mache and creative collages help stimulate their imaginations while refining their fine motor skills such as hand-eye coordination and overall dexterity. 

Art and craft time lets children slow down and focus on attention to detail. It’s also a great way for them to communicate their feelings and ideas through the art they produce. This is an excellent opportunity for parents to talk about their art and craft projects when their children are home. 

5. Mindfulness and Yoga Sessions

Children at this age can sometimes become overwhelmed with the demands of school and outside activities, so taking the time for connection with mind and body is an excellent opportunity to slow things down a notch. 

Basic yoga poses and simple breathing exercises can help children connect with their inner thoughts, develop resilience and manage stress. 

Benefits of Activities Camp Australia Offers for Growing Kids

Activities offered by Camp Australia are full of benefits helping to support the development and growth of your children. These include developing and building upon essential skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, creativity and self-expression while building confidence, independence and making learning fun!

Camp Australia’s team leaders create environments where children can thrive while making friends and developing life skills that will help them into their senior school years and beyond. 

Benefits of Children Completing Activities With Other Kids Their Age

When children complete activities with peers their age, they gain many benefits compared to activities done solo. Not only is it fun to share experiences with friends, it also helps children develop skills including communication, cooperation and empathy. Completing activities together builds motivation and healthy competition as they try to come up with interesting art projects or compete at sports. 

Camp Australia focuses on activities that are inclusive and help develop a sense of belonging for children in this age group. Social belonging and acceptance are important in children of all ages, particularly in the age range of 9-12, so our activities aim to help nurture socially capable, emotionally curious and intelligent children.

Getting back to school is a fun and exciting time for your child to catch up with their favourite friends and teachers after school holidays. It’s also a great way for parents to settle into the routine of their children being back at school. 

But after an extended break, are you prepared for the back to school transition of school drop-offs and pickups, early mornings and packed lunch routine? Help both your children and yourself with this back to school checklist for Australian children and parents. 

How to Prepare for a Smooth Transition Back to School

Getting into the back to school headspace comes with being prepared. To help your child get back to school easily, we’ve prepared some back to school checklists for kids to make the transition as seamless as possible. 

School Supplies and Essentials

Making sure your child is equipped with the right school supplies helps with getting them out of holiday mode and into school readiness. Start with must-have school supplies for every grade level including notebooks, pencils and crayons for younger students, and items like calculators and binders for older students. 

Be sure to organise school supplies for easy access to help with morning transitions to school. An organised set-up at home can help things run smoothly during the morning prep for school, especially after a long holiday break. Have a dedicated zone in your child’s bedroom or somewhere in the house where all their school supplies, including books and backpacks, can be stored. The key is to establish a routine where everything is in its right place for a smooth transition back to school.

Clothing and Uniforms

Having the right clothing or uniforms ready for school can help your child feel comfortable and in step with their peers. Check your school’s dress code and buy clothing that’s within the specified guidelines. Focus on comfortable clothing that is easy to wash and dry.

School clothes and uniforms can quickly add to the family budget, so avoid doubling up on items. Pre-loved school clothes are a great option, especially when children are young and often outgrow their clothing quickly! Check with your school first, as they often have slightly used uniforms at reduced prices. Another option is to check social media sites such as Marketplace where parents often list school clothing in your area at very reasonable prices. 

Setting Up a Productive Study Space

Setting up a dedicated study space is always a great option for students to stay on top of their homework. Choose a spot away from TV’s or gaming areas so your child can avoid distractions while they’re studying. 

Some must-have items for focused study include a calendar or whiteboard to help visualise deadlines and make sure supplies including markers, highlighters, pens, etc are always available. 

Health and Wellness Preparation

To prevent the impact of illness on your child’s school routine, be sure to include back to school health checkups and vaccinations for your child. Your healthcare provider can help plan out these checkups with you. Another consideration is keeping on top of vision and hearing checkups, as these can impact your child’s focus and ability to perform at school.

Packing nutritious lunches and snacks helps with your child’s overall wellbeing, as well as having the energy and focus for the days ahead. Avoid excessive processed foods and snacks, and opt for fruit and vegetables as much as possible. Healthy snacks like yoghurt or whole-grain crackers are good in helping curb hunger. Prioritise good sleep hygiene and healthy eating for your child to perform their best.

Establishing a Back to School Routine

Creating a back to school routine can make a remarkable difference to your child’s transition from holidays to school mode. Focus on establishing a consistent sleep schedule that includes a wind-down time before sleep. This period should avoid the use of screens, to help ease them into a restful night’s sleep. A school child’s day is full of energy, learning and structure, so getting rejuvenating sleep the evening before is important. 

Also, planning morning and after-school routines can help give structure to your child’s school day. Check if your school is partnered with a before and after-school care provider; their services can help augment your child’s school day experience by offering structured activities and homework support.

Technology and Digital Tools

Technology is part of every student’s schooling experience, so digital tools and apps are integral to your child’s education, even from an early age. While in their early primary school years, children focus more on pen and paper type writing aids, as they approach middle school they will undoubtedly be working with laptops, tablets and other technologies. 

A student who can use tools to organise and track their homework deliverables and manage their schedules will be at an advantage for later in life. Tools like Google Calendar, Microsoft OneNote and apps such as GoodNotes for tablets can help support your child’s learning and focus throughout their education, so don’t be afraid to incorporate technology into their back to school checklist.

Social and Emotional Readiness

Preparing your child socially and emotionally is another important element of getting them ready for school. Talk with your child about their new school years ahead and what they can look forward to, including learning new things, new friendship groups and new experiences overall. 

This is also a good time to address any concerns or areas of anxiety your child may be feeling about going back to school. This is a common concern for parents and students alike, and should be treated with empathy and support. 

Keep an open dialogue with your child and help them with strategies such as mindfulness, positive self-talk and visualisation to help them deal with anxiety. If you can see that your child is constantly feeling overwhelmed, additional support from a school counsellor or health professional may be helpful.