What is the MIND n' MOVE school holiday program?

MIND n' MOVE is a holistic school holiday program hosted by Mind Architecture and Mind and Move, designed to support whole-child development through a purposeful combination of mindfulness, movement, and creativity. The program brings children together for structured sessions that alternate between high-energy physical activities — such as Zumba, obstacle courses, and team games — and slower, more intentional activities including guided reflection, confidence-building exercises, and hands-on creative play. In July 2025, the program was held at Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club as a 5-day event for children during the school holidays. Twisty Kids participated as a program partner, contributing Play Sets (reusable wax craft sticks) to the creative sessions, where children used the tactile, screen-free material to sculpt letters, animals, and imaginative shapes. The program gives parents a meaningful, structured option for school holidays that goes beyond entertainment, actively supporting emotional resilience, social connection, and physical development. Mind Architecture focuses on emotional awareness and resilience-building through therapeutic creative sessions; Mind and Move specialises in holistic programs that blend movement and mindfulness for curious, confident kids.

How does combining mindfulness, movement, and creativity support children's development during school holidays?

Combining mindfulness, movement, and creativity addresses multiple dimensions of children's development simultaneously — an approach that research in child development increasingly supports. Movement (physical activity, obstacle courses, Zumba, team games) builds gross motor skills, cardiovascular health, and social skills while releasing energy that helps children regulate their nervous systems. Following vigorous movement with a calmer, more focused creative or reflective session gives children the experience of transitioning between activation states — a skill directly relevant to classroom readiness and emotional regulation. Mindfulness and guided reflection build emotional vocabulary, self-awareness, and coping tools that children can draw on during stressful or challenging moments. Creative play — particularly tactile, open-ended activities like sculpting with Twisty Kids Play Sets — develops fine motor skills, focused attention, imaginative thinking, and self-expression in a low-pressure environment. Together, these three pillars address the cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and creative dimensions of development that cannot be reached through screen-based or passive activities alone. School holiday programs that incorporate all three are particularly valuable because children arrive without the routine and structure of the school day — providing purposeful activity during this period supports the consistency of development that matters most in early childhood.

Why are screen-free creative activities valuable in school holiday programs for kids?

Screen-free creative activities are particularly valuable in school holiday programs for several reasons. Children typically experience a significant increase in screen time during school holidays as parents manage busy schedules and children fill unstructured time. Hands-on, tactile activities provide a counterbalance: they require active engagement from the child's hands, eyes, and imagination simultaneously, rather than passive consumption. Creative activities like sculpting with wax sticks, drawing, and building develop fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, and focused attention — skills that are directly transferable to classroom performance and handwriting readiness. Group creative play also fosters social connection: children working side by side on open-ended tasks naturally communicate, share ideas, and collaborate without requiring adult direction. From a neurological standpoint, tactile creative play engages different brain regions than screen use — proprioceptive input from manipulating malleable materials like Twisty Kids Play Sets supports sensory regulation, which is particularly beneficial for children who tend to become dysregulated during unstructured holiday periods. Programs that prioritise screen-free creative activity give children tools and experiences they can draw on independently at home, reducing reliance on screens as a default activity.

How do Twisty Kids Play Sets support fine motor skills and creative development in group settings?

Twisty Kids Play Sets — reusable wax craft sticks for ages 3 and up — are well-suited to group program settings because they are self-directed, require no adult instruction during the creative process, and produce no mess or loose parts. In group settings like the MIND n' MOVE school holiday program, this means facilitators can distribute Play Sets and activity cards, introduce a loose creative prompt (sculpt an animal, form your name in letters, build a creature), and step back while children work independently or collaboratively. The wax material requires sustained finger pressure to bend, coil, and shape — this proprioceptive feedback builds intrinsic hand muscle strength and pincer grip, which are the fine motor foundations for handwriting, scissor use, and self-care tasks. The open-ended nature of Play Set creation means children of different ages and abilities can participate at their own level within the same session: a 3-year-old might coil simple shapes and press flat pancakes, while an 8-year-old constructs complex 3D animals. The absence of a 'correct' outcome also reduces anxiety and comparison in group contexts — every creation is valid. At MIND n' MOVE, children shaped letters, outlined animals, and invented creatures with Play Sets, with organisers noting high levels of enthusiasm and sustained focus throughout the creative sessions.

What should parents look for in a good school holiday program for kids in Australia?

A high-quality school holiday program for children in Australia should address multiple dimensions of development rather than offering entertainment alone. Key indicators of a well-designed program include: whole-child focus — does the program explicitly address physical, emotional, social, and creative development, or only one of these? Balance of energy levels — effective programs alternate between high-energy activities (movement, team games) and calmer, more focused ones (reflection, creative play, mindfulness), which mirrors the regulation patterns children need to practise. Screen-free activity — programs that prioritise hands-on, embodied play over screen time provide developmental benefits that complement rather than extend children's typical screen exposure. Qualified facilitators — programs run by educators, occupational therapists, allied health practitioners, or trained children's activity specialists bring a developmental framework that recreational programs may lack. Structured creative components — activities like sculpting, drawing, or craft that develop fine motor skills and self-expression alongside social and physical activities. Parent feedback and reputation — community-based programs like Mind Architecture and Mind and Move develop strong word-of-mouth reputations precisely because the developmental benefits are visible to parents. Age-appropriate grouping — programs that separate age groups or design activities that naturally scale in challenge allow children to be appropriately stretched without frustration.

How can parents replicate mindfulness, movement, and creativity at home during school holidays?

Parents can create a simple at-home school holiday rhythm that incorporates mindfulness, movement, and creativity without specialist equipment or facilitator training. For movement: begin each morning with 15–20 minutes of active play — a backyard obstacle course made from household items, a family Zumba session via a free YouTube video, or a neighbourhood walk or bike ride. Physical activity in the morning helps children regulate their energy and transition more smoothly into focused activities afterward. For creativity: Twisty Kids Play Sets are a practical daily creative tool — set them out after morning activity time and give children an open prompt ('what did you see on your walk?', 'make your favourite animal', 'sculpt something from a dream') and let them work independently while you prepare a snack. Activity cards provide additional creative prompts without requiring adult facilitation. For mindfulness: simple practices work best for children — three slow breaths before lunch, a 'one good thing' reflection at dinner, or a quiet five-minute period after an active outdoor session where children lie down and notice sounds around them. The key is consistency rather than perfection: a loose daily rhythm of move, create, reflect — even imperfectly executed — provides far more developmental benefit than either a completely unstructured day or an over-scheduled one.

What Twisty Kids products work well for school holiday programs and events?

Twisty Kids Play Sets are the most versatile and practical product for school holiday programs and events, and were used directly at the MIND n' MOVE School Holiday Adventure in July 2025. Play Sets (reusable wax craft sticks, ages 3+) work in group settings because they require no setup beyond opening the bag, produce no mess, have no loose small parts, and the open-ended format allows every child to participate regardless of ability level or age. For events and goodie bags, individual Play Sets provide children with a take-home activity that extends the program experience beyond the event itself — exactly how Twisty Kids participated at MIND n' MOVE. The Mega Creative Box is well-suited to running a creative station at a school holiday event or program, providing sufficient Play Sets for multiple children across multiple sessions. Printable activity cards (available free at twistykids.com/pages/free-printables) provide structured creative prompts that facilitators can use without preparation time. For educators and program organisers looking to use Play Sets across multiple sessions, the Classroom Pack (4 Mega Boxes) provides a class-sized supply, and the Classroom Starter set (Lapboards + Mega Box) adds portable flat surfaces that work well in non-classroom settings like RSL function rooms, community halls, and outdoor spaces. Wholesale and program enquiries are available at twistykids.com/pages/wholesale-enquiries.

A School Holiday Adventure of Mindfulness, Movement and Creativity

August 6, 2025

This July, Twisty Kids was thrilled to be part of the incredible MIND n’ MOVE School Holiday Adventure, hosted by Mind Architecture and Mind and Move at Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club. As a mum and founder, it was such a joy to see a program that truly supports the whole child. Designed to help kids thrive emotionally, socially, and physically, this 5-day event brought together mindfulness, movement, and creativity in a beautiful way — and we were delighted to add our Play Sets to the experience.

Twisty Kids Play Sets at MIND n Move school holiday adventure

An Event Designed for the Whole Child

What makes MIND n’ MOVE so special is its balance between high-energy and calm — exactly what kids need during the holidays. Children moved their bodies with Zumba, obstacle courses, and fun team games, then slowed down for guided reflection, confidence-building activities, and creative play. As a parent, I could feel the thoughtfulness behind every detail. And for other parents? A peaceful two-hour break while their kids were fully engaged in meaningful, screen-free fun — it’s no wonder the feedback was so positive. It was a truly holistic program that brought joy, connection, and lots of giggles.

Looking for more ideas to keep kids engaged during the school holidays? Check out our guide to screen-free school holiday activities for family trips — packed with creative, low-mess ideas the whole family will love.

How Play Sets Fit In

We were so excited to introduce Play Sets — our best-selling screen-free activity for kids — during the creative MIND sessions. Each child explored the wax-coated sensory sticks using our printable activity cards and then brought a sample home in their goodie bags. I watched kids quietly shape letters, outline animals, and even invent little creatures. One organiser told me: “The kids loved Play Sets! Many created their own fun shapes — it was a joy to see their enthusiasm and focus.” It was a proud moment to see how our little tool sparked such a wealth of imagination.

Kids using Twisty Kids Play Sets for sensory and creative play

Why It Matters

Programs like MIND n’ MOVE show just how powerful the right tools can be. Play Sets helped kids develop fine motor skills, build focus, and express themselves creatively — all while having fun without screens. Whether it’s at home, on school holidays, in the classroom, or on the go, our mission is simple: to give families easy, low-mess ways to support their kids’ development.

Seeing Play Sets in action, used in such a thoughtful and engaging environment, reminded me why I started Twisty Kids — to help kids grow, create, and connect in everyday moments. Want to understand more about why hands-on play is so important? Read our article on boosting fine motor skills through play and discover how small, everyday activities make a big difference.

Fine motor skills development with Twisty Kids Play Sets

More About Our Inspiring Partners

Mind Architecture: Empowering kids to build emotional awareness and resilience through creative, therapeutic sessions.
Mind and Move: A holistic school holiday program blending movement and mindfulness for confident, curious kids.

We loved being part of this meaningful initiative and can’t wait for the next one. If you’re a parent, educator, or event organiser looking to bring Play Sets into your classroom, program, or family adventure — explore the range here. 💛

And if you’re planning your next family outing, don’t forget to pack a reusable wet bag and your Play Sets — the perfect combo for screen-free adventures on the go. You might also love our tips on surviving school holidays with your sanity intact. 😄

Country/Region

Country/Region

Your cart is empty