Australia Day Activities For Toddlers 2025
Australia Day is a great opportunity to spend quality time with family and celebrate what makes this beautiful country special. But for parents with toddlers, it can sometimes be tricky to find engaging, age-appropriate activities amidst all the festivities.
If you’re planning to make Australia Day 2025 a memorable event for your little ones, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of fun, creative, and toddler-friendly activities to keep the youngest members of your family entertained while embodying the Australian spirit.
1. Host a Backyard “Aussie Adventure”
Turn your backyard into a mini outback adventure for your toddlers. Set up activity stations with elements of Australian culture and wildlife, such as stuffed kangaroos and koalas, or a mini “kangaroo hop” obstacle course. Add some outdoor exploration with a sandpit for “gold mining” or buckets filled with water for sensory play.
💡 Pro Tip: Create mini Australian flags for your toddler to “plant” in the sand after they’ve “struck gold”!
2. Australia Day Craft Corner
Toddlers love doing arts and crafts, so why not make it Australia-themed? Simple ideas include coloring Australian flags, making paper plate koalas, or designing kangaroo masks. Use non-toxic paints, toddler-safe scissors, and plenty of stickers to spark creativity.
Craft Ideas:
- Handprint Aussie animals (like echidnas or platypuses).
- DIY boomerangs made from cardboard with colorful patterns.
- Glitter-studded Southern Cross star decorations.
Set up a craft station everyone can enjoy, and don’t forget to keep a few aprons or smocks handy!
3. “Toddler Tastes” BBQ
Who says toddlers can’t enjoy an Australia Day BBQ? Create a toddler-friendly version of the classic Aussie barbecue. Mini sausages, slider-sized burgers, veggie sticks, and small lamington squares are perfect bite-sized options for little hands.
You could also include some fun Aussie snacks like fairy bread or damper rolls with honey for a sweet treat!
4. Play Water Games
If you’re lucky enough to have a sunny Australia Day in 2025, water-based activities are a fantastic way to keep toddlers cool and entertained.
Set up small paddling pools, sprinklers, or a water play table in your yard for splash-time fun. You can even throw in some floating Aussie-themed toys, like rubber kangaroos or koalas.
Key Safety Tip:
Never leave toddlers unattended around water, no matter how shallow it is. Always have an adult supervising nearby.
5. Storytime with Aussie Books
Introduce your toddler to Australian culture and wildlife with storytime using books like Possum Magic by Mem Fox, Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French, or Koala Lou by Mem Fox.
Gather blankets and cushions for a cozy reading nook, and bring the day to life by relating the stories to real-life animals or places. It’s a calm and educational activity that doubles as a way to wind down.
6. Aussie Dress-Up Parade
Get your toddlers into the Australia Day vibe with a fun dress-up parade. Encourage them to don national colors (green and gold), or dress as iconic animals like kangaroos, wombats, or kookaburras. Face painting is another vibrant way to add flair to their outfits—be sure to use skin-safe, non-toxic paints.
Once everyone’s dressed up, have a mini parade around the house or backyard while playing traditional Aussie tunes.
7. Sing-Along to Aussie Classics
Speaking of music, toddlers love to sing and dance! Create an Australian playlist including kid-friendly classics like Give Me a Home Among the Gumtrees and Waltzing Matilda.
Don’t forget to include some fun actions to go along with the songs. Kicking legs during the line “and he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled” will have toddlers giggling in no time!
8. Mini Aussie Sports Day
Celebrate Australia’s love for sports with a mini sports day for toddlers. You don’t need a large space—just a few simple activities to engage their little muscles. Options include:
- Koala sack races (using kid-size hessian sacks).
- A toddler-friendly game of cricket with lightweight plastic bats and balls.
- Relay races where they “jump like kangaroos” or “crawl like wombats.”
Get the whole family involved and turn it into a fun bonding moment.
9. Take a Nature Walk
Australia’s natural beauty is one of its most unique aspects, so take your toddlers on a short nature walk to explore it firsthand. Choose family-friendly trails in parks or along beaches where they can collect shells, leaves, or small pebbles to create their own nature keepsakes.
For urban families, local botanic gardens or even the backyard can provide a safe and stimulating exploration opportunity.
10. End the Day with Fireworks (Toddler Style)
While traditional fireworks displays might be too overwhelming for toddlers, you can create your own calmer version at home. Use glow sticks, LED balloons, or projector lights to mimic a colorful show. This sensory-friendly alternative is perfect for little ones who may find loud sounds frightening.
Pair your “fireworks” with a calming bedtime story about Australia to wind down the day.
