News & Blog
News & Blog
Showing search results for XXXXXX
Search results
Outdoor Art & Craft Ideas for Your Children
5 Art & Craft Ideas for Your Children
Valentine’s Day: Let’s Get Crafty
Eco-friendly Christmas Decorations
Top 3 purchases for your Back to School NSW Vouchers
Material Encounters: Ideas for Mark-making and Drawing
Connecting with Your Kids Through Art
How to Make a Pompom Decoration
Outdoor Art & Craft Ideas for Your Children
Outdoor art activities are a great way to get children to step outside and be creative in a natural setting. These activities encourage children to explore and use natural materials like leaves, stones, and sticks in their projects. They help children connect with nature and only require basic supplies that
5 Art & Craft Ideas for Your Children
Nurture the creativity of your little ones! Celebrate and share children’s creative talents through fun and engaging art & craft activities for kids. Inspired by Big Art at Camp Australia – Be Bold, Be Brave, Be You! Encourage your young artists to dive into easy and enjoyable kids art and
Navigating the New School Year: A Canvas of Emotions and the Artistic Palette
As the summer holidays fade, a new chapter begins for countless children -the start of a new school year. The anticipation, excitement, and inevitably a hint of anxiety fills the air. The journey ahead is a canvas waiting to be painted with experiences, challenges, and triumphs. In this exploration of
Valentine’s Day: Let’s Get Crafty
Love is in the air! With Valentine’s Day upon us, what better way to show someone you love and care for than by giving the gift of something handmade? Here are some great crafty ideas from Your OSHC to get the kids involved and having fun! A bouquet of flowers
Eco-friendly Christmas Decorations
Each year, Christmas leaves us with great memories and gifts, but also a great deal of waste from wrapping paper, unwanted gifts and other packaging materials. Spread your goodwill this festive season by getting children involved in sustainable ways to decorate for Christmas. There are lots of ways to get
Top 3 purchases for your Back to School NSW Vouchers
The Back to School NSW Vouchers program provides 3 x $50 vouchers, totalling $150 for each eligible child. There are limited eligible expenses which you can use the vouchers for, including school supplies purchased from registered businesses. But it can get quite tricky trying to allocate $150 across everything –
Material Encounters: Ideas for Mark-making and Drawing
By Dr. Gai Lindsay, University of Wollongong When we value children as citizens with the right to experience “cultural and artistic life,” (Article 31, UNCRC) we will intentionally support them to engage in playful meaning-making, communication and self-expression through the arts. This requires that we provide children with quality visual arts materials
Learning, Connecting and Communicating Through Art: The Radical Idea of Art as a Visual Language
By Dr. Gai Lindsay – University of Wollongong “All people – and I mean scholars, researchers and teachers, who in any place have set themselves to study children seriously – have ended up by discovering not so much the limits and weaknesses of children but rather their surprising and extraordinary
Connecting with Your Kids Through Art
Minnie Zammit is a Creative Arts Therapist and Counsellor working with primary and high school aged children. She writes about how to connect with children through art. As a Creative Art Therapist and Counsellor at Creative Kids Therapy and a Mum of two primary aged kids, one in Prep and
How to Make a Pompom Decoration
Who doesn’t love a pompom, right? Check out Pip Lincolne’s Pompom Decoration video and download the project sheet here. You will need … a few balls of wool thick cardboard scissors a stick from the garden some ribbon or string How To Make It Cut your cardboard into a rectangle shape as shown.
Outdoor Art & Craft Ideas for Your Children
Outdoor art activities are a great way to get children to step outside and be creative in a natural setting. These activities encourage children to explore and use natural materials like leaves, stones, and sticks in their projects. They help children connect with nature and only require basic supplies that can be carried from home. Read about the best outdoor craft activities that children and families can do together! Benefits of Outdoor Art and Craft Activities for Your Children There are so many benefits to outdoor arts and crafts: Fosters Creativity and Imagination: Children can explore and use natural materials like leaves, stones, and sticks in their projects. It encourages
5 Art & Craft Ideas for Your Children
Nurture the creativity of your little ones! Celebrate and share children’s creative talents through fun and engaging art & craft activities for kids. Inspired by Big Art at Camp Australia – Be Bold, Be Brave, Be You! Encourage your young artists to dive into easy and enjoyable kids art and craft activities, perfect for sparking their imagination at home. And add a sprinkle of competitiveness with the Big Art Competition! Inspire your aspiring artist to get hands-on and express their colourful side by trying these easy activities at home. Here are our top 5 picks of art and craft ideas for kids: Kids Art And Craft Ideas Bubble Painting What
Navigating the New School Year: A Canvas of Emotions and the Artistic Palette
As the summer holidays fade, a new chapter begins for countless children -the start of a new school year. The anticipation, excitement, and inevitably a hint of anxiety fills the air. The journey ahead is a canvas waiting to be painted with experiences, challenges, and triumphs. In this exploration of the start of a school year, we delve into the emotional landscape children often navigate and discover how the power of art can be a guiding light through these uncharted waters. For many, the fear of the unknown, the challenge of making new friends, and the pressure to meet academic expectations can be overwhelming. I remember only too well the
Valentine’s Day: Let’s Get Crafty
Love is in the air! With Valentine’s Day upon us, what better way to show someone you love and care for than by giving the gift of something handmade? Here are some great crafty ideas from Your OSHC to get the kids involved and having fun! A bouquet of flowers that don’t dry up with no maintenance required? That’s right. Let’s explore how to make beautiful flowers using coloured paper. Watch this video for a step-by-step guide to making your own paper flowers! No more picking flowers from the garden! Here’s an eco-friendly way to re-use popsicle sticks and some paper or felt to create your own one-of-a-kind reusable flower for Valentine’s
Eco-friendly Christmas Decorations
Each year, Christmas leaves us with great memories and gifts, but also a great deal of waste from wrapping paper, unwanted gifts and other packaging materials. Spread your goodwill this festive season by getting children involved in sustainable ways to decorate for Christmas. There are lots of ways to get the whole family to have fun while being eco-conscious. It’s all about getting children excited and eager to learn about the importance of sustainability. From one-of-a-kind Christmas trees to gift-worthy artwork and beyond, let’s see out what our children at Camp Australia created for the holiday season. Reuse and recycle Who said a Christmas tree had to be an actual
Top 3 purchases for your Back to School NSW Vouchers
The Back to School NSW Vouchers program provides 3 x $50 vouchers, totalling $150 for each eligible child. There are limited eligible expenses which you can use the vouchers for, including school supplies purchased from registered businesses. But it can get quite tricky trying to allocate $150 across everything – keeping in mind that each voucher (or multiple vouchers together) can only be redeemed once in the same transaction up to the total. What does this mean? Here are examples provided from Service NSW: One voucher can be used at a registered business for books, then two vouchers can be used together for one transaction at a registered business for
Material Encounters: Ideas for Mark-making and Drawing
By Dr. Gai Lindsay, University of Wollongong When we value children as citizens with the right to experience “cultural and artistic life,” (Article 31, UNCRC) we will intentionally support them to engage in playful meaning-making, communication and self-expression through the arts. This requires that we provide children with quality visual arts materials that will make expressive and rich marks. Before expecting children to communicate and express their ideas through drawing, it is important to first provide them with repeated opportunities to ‘get to know’ the materials; to become familiar with the many expressive capacities of the materials and learn how to use them through experimentation, play, trial and error. The processes children
Learning, Connecting and Communicating Through Art: The Radical Idea of Art as a Visual Language
By Dr. Gai Lindsay – University of Wollongong “All people – and I mean scholars, researchers and teachers, who in any place have set themselves to study children seriously – have ended up by discovering not so much the limits and weaknesses of children but rather their surprising and extraordinary strengths and capabilities linked with an inexhaustible need for expression and realisation” (Malaguzzi, 1998, p.78). The quote above, written by one of the foundational teachers from the world-renowned educational project in Reggio Emilia in Italy, has inspired my 30+ year career as a teacher, researcher and academic and my passion for arts education. My research focuses on the visual arts skills,
Connecting with Your Kids Through Art
Minnie Zammit is a Creative Arts Therapist and Counsellor working with primary and high school aged children. She writes about how to connect with children through art. As a Creative Art Therapist and Counsellor at Creative Kids Therapy and a Mum of two primary aged kids, one in Prep and one in Year 6; I can understand the juggle and at times overwhelm with being a parent who works, manages the home, kids sports, homework and appointments. Introducing art into the home may not be the priority; I often hear parents don’t want to deal with the mess and think they can do it at school. What many don’t realise
How to Make a Pompom Decoration
Who doesn’t love a pompom, right? Check out Pip Lincolne’s Pompom Decoration video and download the project sheet here. You will need … a few balls of wool thick cardboard scissors a stick from the garden some ribbon or string How To Make It Cut your cardboard into a rectangle shape as shown. Tie your wool around the cardboard. Wrap the wool around and around the cardboard until you have a very thick layer. Tie a long length of yarn around the middle, very tightly. Tie it a couple more times to secure the middle of your pompom. Slide the unfinished pompom off the cardboard carefully. Knot once more in the middle to
Fun, Learning & Adventure: What’s On at Your OSHC This Term 2
Term 2 is here, packed with exciting activities and opportunities for children to learn, grow and enjoy every moment. Let’s look at all the exciting
Big Art, Big Ideas: How Camp Australia Inspires Creativity in Every Child
Every Friday is art day at Camp Australia’s OHSC. Children are naturally creative, so what better way to get their creativity flowing at the end
2025 School Holiday & Term Dates Across Australia: What Parents Need to Know
School holidays are a valuable opportunity for students to have some much needed rest and a break from the term just passed. And it’s not
Make Beautiful Nature-Inspired prints with Kerry Evitts
Looking for a fun and creative way to bring nature indoors? Let’s turn ordinary leaves into stunning butterfly prints! Inspired by the beauty of the
Play! Why LEGO® Bricks Might Be the Building Blocks of Wellbeing
When was the last time you played just for the sake of it? No agenda. No end goal. Just play. For children, play isn’t just
OSHC Explained: Out of Hours School Care
What is OSHC? OSHC stands for Outside School Hours Care – a place where primary school-aged children (typically 5 to 12 years old) can feel
Understanding School Refusal: Tips For Getting Your Child Back To School
Understanding School Refusal: Tips For Getting Your Child Back To School Many children are excited and eager to get to school and start their day. It’s the chance to catch up with their friends, play and learn. So what do
Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025
This week marks Neurodiversity Celebration Week, a time to recognise and embrace the diverse range of neurological differences among individuals. Our award-winning CARE Program is tailored to support children with additional needs. Through CARE, we aim to foster neuro-inclusivity within
Let’s talk art with Kerry Evitts – Exploring Art in Different Mediums
Medium Magic: A Creative Journey for Kids Art is a playground of expression; it’s an exciting adventure filled with endless possibilities. Each artistic medium offers unique benefits, stimulating creativity, enhancing motor skills, and enabling emotional expression and lots more. Whether
Top 3 tips for building resilient kids that go beyond teaching them to ‘toughen up’
Article written by Maggie Dent for Camp Australia We hear a lot about resilience. It is often seen as a person’s capacity to ‘bounce back’ from adversity or adapt to challenges. When viewed only like that, it can seem a
Embracing the Australian Summer Holidays
Hello Sunshine! As the school year winds down and the first whispers of summer heat arrive, it’s impossible not to feel that tingle of excitement in the air. Australian summer holidays are a glorious mix of long days, salty skin,
Tips for the transition to ‘big school’
Article written by Dr Kaylene Henderson for Camp Australia This transition to ‘big school’ can feel daunting, and not just for our children. After all, there’s a whole lot of ‘newness’ that lies ahead – your child will soon be
We Need To Talk About Anxiety
Article written by Dr Kaylene Henderson for Camp Australia Much is said about anxiety these days, but rarely are we reminded that anxiety is, in fact, a universal human experience; a normal, helpful emotion, just like excitement or sadness, but
Let’s talk art with Kerry Evitts – School Holiday Fun
Embracing the Spring Holidays with Art, Nature and Family Connection Spring is upon us and with it brings the end of term 3 and the school holidays, creating a mix of excitement and anxiety for many parents. While kids look
Celebrating decades of dedication to OSHC: Denise and Annette’s inspiring journey at Camelot Rise Primary School
At Camelot Rise Primary School, a heartwarming story unfolds through the dedication of two extraordinary women who, as both friends and colleagues, have become the heart and soul of the Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) program. Denise Holmes and
Benefits of LEGO® Play for your child
Looking for a way to spark your child’s curiosity whilst encouraging their natural ability to explore and discover? Give your child a positive start to life with enjoyable activities that also nurture their brain development, improve hand-eye coordination, and help