Hey there!
So, you’re on the hunt for some meaningful activities to do with the kids, and you’ve landed on Aboriginal culture. That’s awesome. Seriously.
If you’re anything like me, you want to move past the generic “multicultural” crafts that sometimes feel a bit… well, tacked on. You know the ones—where you print a symbol off the internet and call it a day. I wanted something with a bit more depth for my own kids. Something that fosters genuine respect and understanding, not just a passive activity.
But here’s the tricky part. As a non-Indigenous parent, I often worry about getting it wrong. How do we explore such an ancient, living culture without accidentally dipping into appropriation? How do we keep it fun for the kids while ensuring we’re teaching them to be respectful?
It’s a delicate balance, but I promise it’s doable. I’ve spent a good chunk of time researching, talking to educators, and trying things out in my own chaotic living room (glitter explosions and all) to find activities that celebrate and educate.
So, grab a cuppa, and let’s chat about 12 Aboriginal activities for kids that focus on learning and respect. FYI, these aren’t ranked in any particular order, just a collection of our favourites.
1. Learn the Difference Between Acknowledgement and Welcome
Before we even pick up a paintbrush, this is the foundational conversation we need to have at home. It’s not a “craft,” but it’s the most important activity on this list.
I sat my kids down and explained it like this: A Welcome to Country is a ceremony performed by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Elders. It’s like being officially invited into someone’s home. Only they can give it.
An Acknowledgement of Country is something anyone can do. It’s a way of paying respect to the Traditional Owners of the land you’re on. It’s like knocking on the door and saying, “Hey, I see you, I respect you, and I’m grateful to be here.”
How to Practice This at Home
- Start your day with an Acknowledgement. Before we dive into homeschool or a weekend of fun, we stand up, face outside, and say a simple one. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Ours goes something like: “Today we are playing and learning on the land of the [insert local language group here]. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and acknowledge their deep connection to this land.”
- Look up your local area. This is crucial. You can’t just guess. A quick Google search for “Traditional Owners [your town/city]” will tell you exactly whose land you’re on. Write it down and put it on the fridge!
2. Symbol Story Stones
Okay, now for something a bit more tactile. We love a good rock in this house (don’t we all? My kids’ pockets are a geological disaster zone). Story stones are a brilliant, hands-on way to introduce Aboriginal art symbols.
The key here is context. We don’t just paint random dots. We talk about how symbols were (and still are) a way to tell stories, share maps, and pass on knowledge. They aren’t just “decorations.”
What You’ll Need:
- Smooth, flat stones (river rocks are perfect).
- Acrylic paint pens or paints with fine brushes (paint pens are a game-changer for little hands, IMO).
- A printable sheet of common Aboriginal symbols (a quick search will give you plenty of kid-friendly options).
Making the Stones:
- Clean and prep your rocks. Give them a wash and let them dry.
- Let the kids choose a few symbols to paint. Common ones include a U-shape for a person, concentric circles for a waterhole, and a wavy line for water or a snake.
- As they paint, talk about what the symbols mean. “I’m painting a campsite symbol! Who is sitting around the campfire in your story?”
- Once dry, use them to tell stories! Lay them out in a sequence on the ground and have your child “read” the story back to you. It’s a fantastic literacy and oral language activity.
3. Listen to Yarning Circle Podcasts
Sometimes, the best activity is just listening. And honestly, sometimes we parents need a break from being the “entertainment committee.” This is where we can lean on the incredible work of Aboriginal storytellers.
Yarning Circle style podcasts are perfect for car rides or quiet time. They tell Dreamtime stories, share cultural knowledge, and are presented in a way that’s accessible for kids.
Our Favourites:
- Big Sky Stories – This one is beautifully produced and dives into the stars and constellations from an Indigenous perspective. Ever wondered why the emu in the sky looks the way it does? The kids will tell you after listening to this.
- Little Yarns – This is perfect for the younger set. It explores the diverse languages and stories of Indigenous Australia. Each episode is a little nugget of gold.
- The Takeaway: After listening, just chat. What was their favourite part? Did it make them feel a certain way? No worksheet needed, just a good old-fashioned conversation.
4. Bush Tucker Gardening (Even in a Pot)
We don’t all have acres of land (I certainly don’t), but connecting with the land through food is a powerful teacher. Growing a bush tucker plant is a long-term activity that teaches patience, care, and respect for native resources.
Getting Started:
- Do your research first. Find a plant native to your area. This is so important. You don’t want to introduce something that isn’t meant to be there.
- Easy starter plants: For many areas, things like Finger Limes, Muntries, or even a simple Warrigal Greens (a native spinach) are relatively easy to grow in pots.
- Get the kids involved: Let them choose the pot, decorate it (maybe with some of those symbols from Activity 2!), and be responsible for watering it.
- Taste test! If you’re lucky enough to get a harvest, incorporate it into a meal. It blows my kids’ minds that food can come from a “bush” and not just a supermarket aisle. The look on their faces when they try a finger lime for the first time is priceless. A mix of “what IS this?” and “MORE!” 😀
5. Create a Nature-Based Collage
Aboriginal art has a deep, profound connection to the land. This activity strips back the glitter and glue sticks and focuses on using natural materials, just like Aboriginal kids might have done for thousands of years.
This is less about recreating a specific art style and more about embracing the philosophy of using what’s around you.
How to Do It:
- Go on a nature walk. Head to a park, the backyard, or even just the street gutter (supervised, of course!). Collect leaves, small sticks, seed pods, gum nuts, feathers (that are clearly just lying around!), and interesting bits of bark.
- Back at base, grab a piece of cardboard or thick paper as a base.
- Create a landscape. Encourage your child to use the materials to build a scene. The sticks can become trees, the gum nuts can be animals or people, and the leaves can be the ground or a billabong.
- Glue it all down. A good, strong craft glue is your friend here.
- The Conversation: While you create, talk about how the land provides everything. “Look, we didn’t need to buy any plastic toys to make this art. The earth gave us everything we needed.”
6. Learn a Few Words in a Local Language
English is a relatively new language to this continent. Before 1788, there were over 250 distinct languages spoken here. How incredible is that? Learning a few words is a simple, profound way to show respect.
A Few Tips:
- Find the right language. Just like with the Acknowledgement of Country, you need to learn words from the language group of the land you live on. Don’t just pick up a book on a language from hundreds of kilometers away.
- Start simple. You don’t need to become fluent. Pick a few words like:
- Hello / Welcome
- Kangaroo (the word Guugu Yimithirr people gave to Captain Cook was “gangurru”)
- Dog
- Water
- The word for a local landmark or animal.
- Use them. Greet each other with the local word for hello. When you see a kangaroo, use the local word. It makes the language living and relevant.
7. Dot Painting with a Purpose
Ah, dot painting. It’s probably the first thing that pops into everyone’s head, right? And for good reason—it’s visually stunning and meditative. But we need to tread carefully here.
The Crucial Context: Dot painting is a specific style from Central and Western Desert art. It’s not representative of all Aboriginal art. Also, the stories and symbols within a real dot painting are sacred. They are not just random patterns.
Our Approach:
- Acknowledge the source: Before we start, I say, “We are going to try a painting style that comes from the desert peoples. It’s a special way they tell their stories.”
- Tell your story: We don’t try to copy a sacred story. Instead, the kids tell their own story using the technique. “Let’s paint a story about our trip to the beach. What symbols can we use for the waves? For our car? For the seagulls that stole our chips?” (Those birds are a universal menace).
- Tools: Use sticks or cotton buds to apply the paint. It’s all about the process, not perfection.
8. Read Books by Indigenous Authors and Illustrators
This is one of the easiest and most impactful activities you can do, day in and day out. It’s about filling your bookshelf with authentic voices.
Screen what you’re buying. Look for the Black&Write! sticker or do a quick search for award winners. We want books that are written by Aboriginal people, not just about them.
Must-Haves for Your Bookshelf:
- Stolen Girl by Trina Saffioti – A powerful (and yes, heartbreaking) introduction to the Stolen Generations for older primary kids. Have tissues ready.
- Sorry Day by Coral Vass – Explains the significance of National Sorry Day in a beautiful, child-friendly way.
- Anything by Bronwyn Bancroft. Her illustrations are absolutely breathtaking. Possum and Wattle: My Big Book of Australian Words is a stunning starting point for little ones.
- Young Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe – For older kids, this book uses historical evidence to challenge the myth that First Nations peoples were just hunter-gatherers. It will blow their minds (and yours).
9. Try Weaving with Natural Fibres
Weaving is an integral part of many Aboriginal cultures across Australia. It’s also a fantastic fine motor skill workout for kids. Plus, it’s surprisingly calming.
Getting Started:
- Keep it simple. You don’t need to go out and harvest your own rushes for this (unless you really want to!). You can start with raffia, jute twine, or even long grass from the backyard.
- Start with a simple braid. Show your child how to plait three strands together. This is a great entry point.
- Move on to a simple coil. This is a classic weaving technique. You can use a bundle of raffia as the core and then wrap and stitch another piece of raffia around it to create a small mat or the start of a basket.
- Watch and learn. There are wonderful videos online of Aboriginal weavers explaining their craft. Watching an expert at work is much more powerful than just looking at a photo.
10. Explore the Night Sky (Indigenous Astronomy)
Forget the Greek myths about constellations for a night. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander astronomy is arguably the oldest in the world, and it’s far more practical. It was (and is) a calendar, a map, and a storybook all rolled into one.
Activities for Stargazers:
- Find the Emu in the Sky. This isn’t a constellation made of stars, but one made of the dark spaces between them—the Coalsack Nebula. It’s easiest to see on a clear, moonless night in the winter months. Look for the Southern Cross, and the Emu’s head is near it, with its body stretching along the Milky Way.
- Tell stories about the stars. Read books or listen to podcasts about the stories of the Seven Sisters (Pleiades) or how the Milky Way was created.
- Connect it to the seasons. For many groups, the rising of certain stars signals it’s time to hunt a certain animal or harvest a certain plant. Chat about what we plant or do in our own gardens during different seasons.
11. Visit a Local Cultural Centre or Aboriginal-Led Tour
Okay, I know this isn’t technically an “at-home” activity, but it’s the absolute gold standard. There is simply no substitute for hearing directly from Traditional Owners on their own Country.
Making the Most of It:
- Do your homework. Find a centre or tour that is Aboriginal-owned and operated. This ensures the money and the message are going to the right place.
- Prepare the kids. Talk about it beforehand. Explain that we are guests, and we need to listen carefully and be respectful. What questions do they have?
- Let them lead the interaction. Many guides are brilliant with kids and love answering their (sometimes hilariously blunt) questions. “Why did you paint that lizard blue?” Let them ask!
- Buy something. If there’s a shop, let the kids pick out a small, authentic item—a book, a small painting, some seeds. It supports the community and gives them a tangible memory.
12. The “Respect Check” Before Any Activity
I’m adding this as the final, ongoing activity. It’s a mental habit we can build in ourselves and our kids.
Before we do any of these activities, we do a quick respect check.
- Is this activity sharing a culture, or just taking an idea?
- Are we acknowledging where this comes from?
- Are we using materials and stories in a way that feels honest and kind?
It’s a simple question: “Is this a way of learning with respect, or just learning about?” If it ever feels like we’re just playing dress-up or mimicking something sacred, we stop and rethink it.
This habit is, I think, the most important thing we can teach our kids. It’s about turning a craft into a connection.
So, there you have it. Our family’s go-to list of 12 activities. It’s not about being perfect or getting it 100% right all the time. It’s about trying, listening, learning, and most importantly, teaching our kids that this incredible culture is not a thing of the past. It’s living, breathing, and all around us.
Happy exploring! I’d love to hear which ones you try first. 🙂
