Reading Time: 3 minutes

4 Fun and Easy DIY Activities for You to Do With Your Kinder Child

Watching your little one grow and develop from a baby to a toddler to ready for kinder is one of life’s privileges, and when they start communicating and talking with you, you feel the rewards! Spending quality time with your kinder-age child is fun and it’s also vital for their creativity, learning, and development as they prepare for school. Research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies (2017) shows that play-based, hands-on activities support little one’s fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and imagination. And the best part: spending time together strengthens family bonds.  

Here are four simple activities you can try together using things you will find around your home amongst everyday household items: 

1. DIY Bird Feeders

What You Need: An empty kitchen paper roll, a pinecone or gumnuts; butter; and birdseed. 

  1. Spread butter on a paper roll (or pinecone). 
  2. Roll it in birdseed. 
  3. Thread a string through and hang it from a tree.  
  4. Wait and watch as the local birds arrive! 
  • What Your Child Will Learn: Wildlife, nature, and responsibility as they observe birds visiting. This supports early science learning and environmental awareness (Department of Education and Training Victoria, 2022). 
2. Easy Paper Mache Balloon Bowl

What You Need: A balloon, strips of newspaper, flour, water, bowl, paint. 

  1. Mix flour and water into a paste.  
  2. Dip newspaper strips, layer over half the balloon (3–4 layers) 
  3. Allow to dry for 24 hours, then pop the balloon.  
  4. Decorate the hardened shell as a colourful snack bowl. 
  • What Your Child Will Learn: Improving their fine motor skills (and patience!) while introducing them to creative arts. 
3. DIY Flower Pots

What You Need: Small pots, soil, seeds or seedlings, paints or stickers. 

  1. Take a pot and decorate with paints or stickers. 
  2. Fill the pot with soil. 
  3. Make a divet in the soil with your finger and place the seed in.  
  4. Sprinkle soil over the seed and water gently. 
  5. Children can water their pots daily and watch their plants grow. 
  • What your child will learn: Responsibility, basic biology, and a love and respect for nature. Gardening activities in early learning build both cognitive and social skills (Barblett & Maloney, 2010). 
4. DIY Photo Frames

What You Need: Cardboard, scissors, markers, stickers, decorations. 

  1. Choose a photograph to frame. 
  2. Help your child cut out frame shape to fit the photograph. 
  3. Decorate the frame, 
  4. Add the photograph and display on the fridge or wall to celebrate their creativity. 
  • What your child will learn: Fine motor skills and self-expression. Additionally, displaying children’s work builds confidence and resilience, key factors in early education success. 
Why DIY Activities Matter for Kindy Children

While these fun projects are wonderful creative outlets, they also prepare your child for their school years by building communication, resilience, and problem-solving skills. The Australian Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) highlights play and creativity as essential for school readiness and lifelong learning. 

At Believe Early Learning in Mooroopna and Eaglehawk, our early childhood educators design programs that combine structured learning with hands-on creativity. Families across Shepparton, Bendigo, and regional Victoria trust us to nurture their child’s curiosity, confidence, and joy for learning. 

👉 At Believe Early Learning Mooroopna and Eaglehawk, we encourage families from Shepparton, Bendigo, and across regional Victoria to extend learning beyond the classroom with DIY activities that are fun, educational, and easy to do at home. 

📞 Book your free Stay and Play session today. Your child can join in creative learning while you enjoy a coffee and a look at our programs. 

References (Australian Sources)
  • Barblett, L., & Maloney, C. (2010). Complexities of assessing social and emotional competence and well-being in young children. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 35(2), 13–18. 
  • Australian Institute of Family Studies (2017). Children’s play and learning in Australia. [AIFS Research Paper]. 
  • Department of Education and Training Victoria (2022). Early Childhood Education and Care: Learning through play. 
  • Monash University (2021). Play-based learning and critical thinking in early childhood education. 

Keep Reading (Related Blogs)

Kids playing in the sand area at Believe Early Learning Mooroopna, exploring textures and creativity.
7 Ways Parents Can Help Their Young Child Prepare for Starting Childcare

Heading off to childcare is a significant milestone for both children and parents alike. For young children, this transition can be exciting, but they may also feel apprehension as they navigate new environments, routines, and social interactions.

Read More
4 Ways How Childcare Helps Your Child with Their Numeracy and Literacy Skills

If you’re considering childcare for your little one, one of the advantages that quality childcare plays in your child’s development is its role in shaping children’s numeracy and literacy.

Read More
Children playing in imaginative role play using natural wooden teaching aids encouraging creativity at Believe Early Learning

Dream. Explore. Achieve.

Scroll to Top