What Do Kids Do at OSHC? Activities, Play and Learning Explained

Kids at OSHC take part in a mix of creative activities, outdoor play, games, homework support, social experiences and quiet downtime, all within a safe and supervised environment. What that actually looks like on any given day is worth spelling out properly, because "just played" undersells a lot of what happens.

Our educators are trained to spot these moments and build on them, which is why a good OSHC program feels noticeably different once you understand what's happening underneath the "just played."

What Activities Are Offered at OSHC?

For your understanding, we have divided OSHC activities into seven broad categories, and a well-run program rotates through most of them across a week rather than repeating the same routine daily.

Arts and Crafts

Arts and crafts give children a way to create without needing to get every detail "right." Painting, drawing, collage and simple craft projects also build fine motor skills, which feed directly into handwriting and classroom tasks. We tend to set out open-ended materials rather than a single template, so the same box of supplies becomes ten different creations depending on who's at the table.

Sports and Active Games

Sports and active games cover basketball, soccer, relay races and skipping. These sessions burn off the energy kids have banked from sitting at a desk all day, and they teach teamwork in a far more natural way than a classroom exercise ever manages.

Outdoor Play

Outdoor play is an important part of many OSHC programs, and it's something we prioritise whenever weather allows. Time outside supports gross motor development and gives children a genuine change of scenery before the next part of the afternoon.

Imaginative Play

Imaginative play includes dress-ups, role-play corners and scenarios the kids build themselves. A surprising amount of social and language development happens here, usually without anyone realising learning is taking place.

Board Games, Puzzles and Construction

Board games, puzzles and construction activities such as Lego, jigsaws and strategy games build concentration and the patience to work through a problem that doesn't resolve itself in thirty seconds.

Cooking and Practical Activities

Cooking and practical activities let kids follow steps, measure ingredients and see a direct result from their own effort. These sessions also introduce basic life skills that don't always get covered during the school day itself.

Quiet Activities

Quiet activities such as reading corners or drawing tables give children who need a slower pace somewhere to recharge. Not every child wants to be in the middle of a game of tag by 3:30 pm, and a program that only offers high-energy options misses a chunk of the group.

What Do Kids Do During School Holidays?

School holidays shift the rhythm from short afternoon sessions to full days, which opens up more room for bigger, longer-form activities. Instead of a 90-minute window, kids get a whole day to sink into a project, whether that's an extended craft build, a themed activity day, incursions, or excursions to local parks and community spaces. 

Cooking sessions can run longer, sports tournaments can actually finish, and quieter kids get more breathing room between activities too. Holiday programs are also where a lot of OSHC providers, including ours, get to lean into seasonal themes and special one-off experiences that wouldn't fit into a regular after-school slot.

Do Kids Learn at OSHC?

Yes, though it looks different from classroom learning because most of it happens through play rather than direct instruction.

Homework and Reading

Homework and reading get dedicated time in most sessions, usually earlier in the afternoon while children still have some focus left. Educators are on hand if a child gets stuck, though OSHC isn't designed to replace a parent checking in on homework at home.

Learning Through Play

Learning through play is the bigger piece, and it's guided by the My Time, Our Place framework, Australia's official national approach to quality school-age care. Under this framework, a game of Uno builds numeracy, a group craft project builds collaboration, and a pretend restaurant builds literacy and social confidence. Because our OSHC operates alongside our Early Learning Centre in Balcatta, our team carries that same early-education mindset into the after-school setting rather than treating it as a separate, lesser thing.

Social and Communication Skills

Social and communication skills develop naturally in a mixed-age environment where children from different year levels share the same space. Older kids end up mentoring younger ones during games, which builds confidence in both directions, something we notice constantly at pick-up when a Year 5 is patiently explaining Uno rules to a Year 1.

What Does a Typical OSHC Session Look Like?

A typical session follows a loose but consistent rhythm, built around arrival, food, play and a calm finish before pick-up.

Time	What Happens
Arrival	Children sign in and settle in with a low-key activity while the group gathers
Afternoon snack	A shared snack gives kids a chance to refuel and chat before the main activities begin
Free or structured play	Children choose from craft, games, construction or imaginative play, sometimes alongside a planned group activity
Outdoor activities	Sport, playground time or group games, when weather allows
Quiet time	Reading, drawing or a calmer activity as the session winds down
Pick-up	Educators hand children over to parents or carers, with a quick update on the day

That structure isn't fixed to the minute. Educators read the room and adjust, since a group buzzing with energy needs a different afternoon than one that's tired after a big school day.

Are OSHC Activities Different for Different Ages?

Yes, even within the same session. Younger children in early primary tend to gravitate toward imaginative play, simple craft and shorter games with clear rules. Older primary-aged kids usually want more complex construction projects, competitive sport and strategy games like chess or card games.

A well-run OSHC program doesn't force every child into the same activity. Instead, educators run multiple options at once, so a Year 1 student building with blocks and a Year 6 student mid-basketball game are both having an afternoon suited to where they're actually at developmentally.

Why You Should Choose Discovery Kids for OSHC?

Plenty of providers can supervise your child after school. At Discovery Kids, our Out of School Hours Care programs run at four Catholic primary schools around Perth, and no two sessions play out exactly the same. Some afternoons lean heavily into sport because the kids arrive wound up from a big day. Others turn into a full craft table because it's raining and someone asked for painting. That flexibility is deliberate, and it's the bit most parents don't see from the school gate.

Here's what we believe makes the afternoon actually count. 

• We know your school. Because we partner directly with Our Lady of Good Counsel, Holy Rosary, St Helena's and St Luke's, the transition from classroom to care is seamless, not a scramble across town.

• Our team is genuinely qualified, not just rostered on. Every activity is guided by educators who understand child development, not just supervision.

• Play has a purpose here. Every game, craft and quiet corner is built on the My Time, Our Place framework, so your child is developing real skills, even when it looks like "just playing."

• We're an extension of our Early Learning Centre philosophy, built on secure relationships and a genuine love of learning, not a bolt-on service.

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FAQs

Do children get free time at after-school care?

Yes. Children usually have time for self-directed play, relaxing, reading or choosing activities that match their interests and energy levels.

Can children make friends in out-of-school hours care?

Yes. Children have opportunities to play with peers, join group activities, develop friendships and practise social skills in a relaxed setting.

What do older children do in after school care?

Older children can enjoy sports, construction, games, creative projects, challenges and activities that encourage greater independence and decision-making.

Can children choose their own activities during OSHC?

Yes. Quality programs provide both structured and self-directed activities, allowing children to make choices based on their interests and needs.

What happens when children arrive after school?

Children are welcomed by educators, signed in and usually have afternoon tea before moving into indoor, outdoor, free-play or planned activities.