100 Fun and Engaging Pyjama Day Activities for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC)

What is National Pyjama Day?

National Pyjama Day in Australia is an annual event aimed at raising awareness and funds for children in foster care. This event is organised by the Pyjama Foundation, a charity dedicated to supporting and mentoring foster children to help them achieve better educational outcomes. On National Pyjama Day, Australians of all ages wear their favourite pyjamas to school and work, participate in fun activities, and donate to the foundation. These efforts contribute to improving the lives of foster children across the country.

When is National Pyjama Day 2024?

National Pyjama Day 2024 will be held on Friday, 19th July. Although the official day is in July, events can be hosted anytime between July and September, providing plenty of opportunities to organise a comfy and fun day while supporting a fantastic cause.

The History of National Pyjama Day

The Pyjama Foundation was founded in 2004 with the goal of enhancing the lives and future prospects of children in foster care. Recognising that foster children often face educational disadvantages, the foundation set out to provide these children with the support they need to succeed academically and develop life skills and confidence.

National Pyjama Day was created to raise funds for the foundation's Love of Learning Programme, which recruits and trains volunteers known as Pyjama Angels. These volunteers offer one-on-one mentoring and support to foster children across Australia, focusing on improving their literacy and numeracy skills.

Teddy Bear Picnic: Set up a picnic area where children can bring their favourite teddy bears or stuffed toys for a pretend meal.

Story Time in Pyjamas: Read bedtime stories while everyone is in their pyjamas, using soft lighting to create a cosy atmosphere.

Pillow Fort Building: Encourage children to build forts using pillows and blankets.

Dream Journal Drawing: Have children draw pictures of their dreams or what they imagine when they sleep.

Sensory Sleep Playdough: Make lavender-scented playdough to promote relaxation and sensory exploration.

Pyjama Dance Party: Play soft, calming music and let children dance around in their pyjamas.

Bedtime Routine Role Play: Set up a pretend play area where children can act out bedtime routines, including brushing teeth and reading books.

Moon and Stars Craft: Create moon and star decorations using glow-in-the-dark paint.

Family Tree Activity: Help children create a family tree, discussing different types of families, including foster families.

Bedtime Story Puppets: Make puppets to act out favourite bedtime stories.

Cosy Corner Reading Nook: Set up a comfortable reading nook with blankets and pillows.

Dream Catcher Craft: Create dream catchers using beads, feathers, and yarn.

Sensory Bed Sheets: Use textured fabric pieces for children to explore with their hands.

Pyjama Art: Let children paint or colour pictures of themselves in their pyjamas.

Quiet Time Yoga: Teach children simple yoga poses to help them relax.

Sleepy Time Snacks: Make healthy snacks that could be part of a bedtime routine, like sliced fruit or yogurt.

Star Gazing: Use glow-in-the-dark stars or a planetarium projector to simulate a night sky.

Bedtime Music Box: Create a music box with lullabies and gentle tunes.

Reggio Emilia Light Table: Use a light table with translucent shapes to create night-time scenes.

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Montessori Bed Making: Teach children how to make a bed using small blankets and dolls.

Sensory Bottle: Create calming sensory bottles with glitter and water.

Pyjama Collage: Make a collage using pictures of pyjamas cut from magazines.

Pajama Pattern Matching: Match pyjama patterns using fabric swatches.

Nature Night Sounds: Play recordings of night-time nature sounds, such as crickets and owls.

Lavender Scented Play: Use lavender essential oils in sensory bins or playdough for a calming effect.

Foster Family Story Time: Share stories and books about foster families and different types of families.

Night Sky Sensory Bag: Create a sensory bag with gel and star confetti.

Bedtime Buddy Craft: Make a stuffed toy or soft doll that children can take home as a bedtime buddy.

Pyjama Fashion Show: Let children walk down a pretend runway to show off their pyjamas.

Moon Phases Activity: Use Oreo cookies to teach children about the phases of the moon.

Soft Toy Sorting: Sort soft toys by size, colour, or type.

Glow Stick Dance: Dance with glow sticks in a dimly lit room.

Starry Night Painting: Paint a night sky scene with stars and a moon.

Bedtime Routine Chart: Create a visual chart of bedtime routines for children to follow.

Bedtime Story Writing: Have children create their own bedtime stories.

Pillowcase Decorating: Decorate pillowcases with fabric markers.

Sensory Bedtime Box: Fill a box with items that promote sleep, like a soft blanket, a small pillow, and a bedtime book.

Family Photo Wall: Create a wall of family photos, including foster families.

Dream Cloud Craft: Make cloud shapes from cotton balls and paper.

Glow in the Dark Play: Use glow-in-the-dark paint or materials in a darkened room.

Calm Down Jars: Make jars filled with glitter and water that children can shake to help them calm down.

Star Counting Game: Count and sort star shapes.

Night Time Nature Walk: Go on a pretend nature walk, looking for nocturnal animals and plants.

Pyjama Patterns: Create patterns using fabric swatches or paper cutouts.

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Bedtime Story Sharing: Invite parents or carers to come and read bedtime stories.

Pyjama Art Gallery: Display children’s pyjama-themed artwork.

Bedtime Meditation: Guide children through a simple bedtime meditation.

Favourite Teddy Bear Show and Tell: Let children bring in their favourite teddy bears for a show and tell.

Sleepy Sensory Bin: Fill a sensory bin with soft materials like cotton balls and fabric pieces for children to explore.

Shadow Puppet Theatre: Create a shadow puppet theatre and have children perform bedtime stories.

Sensory Rice Bin: Fill a bin with coloured rice and small bedtime-themed items for children to find.

Sleepy Slime: Make calming slime with glitter and lavender scent.

Glow Stick Hide and Seek: Hide glow sticks around the room for children to find.

Pyjama Pattern Puzzles: Create puzzles from pictures of different pyjama patterns.

Star Mobile Craft: Make star mobiles using sticks, string, and star cutouts.

Relaxation Breathing: Teach children simple breathing exercises to help them relax.

Soft Fabric Exploration: Provide various soft fabrics for children to touch and compare.

Family Story Circle: Have children sit in a circle and share stories about their families.

Dream Catcher Making: Create dream catchers with beads, feathers, and yarn to promote fine motor skills.

Pyjama Obstacle Course: Set up an obstacle course where children can crawl under blankets and over pillows.

Calming Sensory Bottles: Fill bottles with water, glitter, and small objects for children to shake and watch.

Star Gazing in Tents: Set up small tents indoors and use projectors to display starry skies on the ceiling.

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Bedtime Routine Role Play: Set up a play area with dolls and props for children to act out bedtime routines.

Pajama Yoga: Lead a yoga session with poses designed for relaxation and bedtime.

Counting Sheep Game: Use toy sheep or cutouts to practice counting.

Foster Family Book Reading: Read books about foster families and discuss different types of families.

Soft Toy Washing Station: Set up a pretend washing station with water and soap for children to clean their soft toys.

Night Sky Sensory Path: Create a sensory path with different textures that mimic the night sky.

Calm Corner: Designate a quiet corner with soft pillows and calming activities for children to use when they need a break.

Moon Sand: Make moon sand for sensory play using flour and baby oil.

Storytelling Circle: Have a circle time where each child adds to a collaborative bedtime story.

Glow in the Dark Art: Create art using glow-in-the-dark paint or markers.

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Bedtime Routine Chart Creation: Have children create their own bedtime routine charts with pictures and stickers.

Pyjama Hat Craft: Make paper hats that resemble nightcaps.

Dream Stories Sharing: Encourage children to share stories about their dreams or favourite bedtime stories.

Night Sky Play Dough: Use dark coloured play dough and star-shaped cutters for sensory play.

Sensory Bag Exploration: Fill bags with different soft and squishy materials for tactile exploration.

Family Portrait Drawing: Have children draw portraits of their families, including foster families if applicable.

Soft Toy Sorting by Size: Provide a variety of soft toys for children to sort by size.

Pyjama Day Memory Game: Create a memory game with pictures of different pyjamas.

Dream Pillow Craft: Make small pillows using fabric and stuffing.

Glow Stick Painting: Use glow sticks dipped in paint for a unique art activity.

Star Counting Activity: Use star stickers or cutouts to practice counting and number recognition.

Moon Phases Craft: Create a craft showing the different phases of the moon.

Bedtime Story Puppet Show: Put on a puppet show of a popular bedtime story.

Lavender Sensory Bags: Fill bags with lavender-scented rice for a calming sensory experience.

Pyjama Pattern Sorting: Sort different fabric swatches by their pyjama patterns.

Storytelling with Puppets: Use puppets to tell a bedtime story and encourage children to join in.

Nighttime Sensory Bottles: Create sensory bottles filled with glitter and small objects that mimic the night sky.

Soft Toy Sleepover: Have children bring a soft toy for a pretend sleepover, complete with bedtime stories and a cozy setup.

Glow in the Dark Treasure Hunt: Hide glow-in-the-dark objects for children to find in a darkened room.

Calm Down Corner with Fidgets: Create a corner with fidget toys and soft lighting for children to use when they need to calm down.

Bedtime Story Writing Workshop: Help children write their own bedtime stories and share them with the group.

Moon and Stars Sensory Path: Create a sensory path with different textures representing the moon and stars.

Bedtime Song Sing-Along: Have a sing-along session with popular bedtime songs and lullabies.

Nighttime Adventure Stories: Read adventure stories that take place at night and discuss the themes with the children.

Calm Down Glitter Jars: Make glitter jars that children can shake and watch to help them relax.

Pyjama Day Scrapbook: Create a scrapbook documenting the day's activities and reflections from the children.

Curriculum Links

Learning Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity

• These activities help children develop self-awareness and a sense of belonging. By participating in group activities, children feel included and valued in their community.

Learning Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world

• Engaging in activities that involve social interactions and understanding different family structures, including foster families, helps children build connections and learn about empathy and respect for others.

Learning Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing

• Activities that promote physical health, relaxation, and sensory experiences contribute to children’s overall wellbeing. They learn self-regulation, mindfulness, and healthy lifestyle habits.

Learning Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners

• Creative and problem-solving activities encourage children to explore, experiment, and express their ideas. These activities promote curiosity, resilience, and cognitive development.

Learning Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators

• Through storytelling, role play, and expressive arts, children develop language and communication skills. These activities enhance their ability to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas effectively.

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