Respectful NAIDOC week craft activities for toddlers

NAIDOC Week is dedicated to celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Held every July, it's a moment for all Australians to reflect, learn and honour the deep cultural roots of this land.

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For little ones, especially toddlers, it can feel tricky to know how to introduce something so meaningful in a way that makes sense to their curious, wiggly selves. But the truth is, toddlers are incredibly open and eager to learn. What better way to connect them with culture than through their favourite thing? Craft and creativity.

We’re running through some simple, meaningful ways to get creative this NAIDOC Week (and beyond).

But first, a note on cultural awareness and appreciation.

How to appreciate, not appropriate, during NAIDOC Week

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When celebrating Indigenous culture, it’s important to approach it with care, respect and curiosity.

Indigenous arts and symbols are an expression of belonging and connection to Country. They have significant cultural meaning, passing down stories and knowledge through generations.

Here are a few tips on how to appreciate Indigenous art respectfully.

1. Understand that there’s no single “Aboriginal culture”

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples belong to over 250 language groups across Australia, each with unique traditions, stories, art styles and connections to Country. Rather than generalising, take this as an opportunity to learn about the local Traditional Custodians of the land you live on.

Who are they? What language do they speak? What do their cultural practices look like?

2. Avoid copying sacred styles or symbols

Many Indigenous art forms, including symbols, painting styles and techniques, carry deep cultural significance. They often represent stories, places, or spiritual connections that aren’t always meant to be shared outside the community.

Instead of replicating specific styles like dot painting or traditional symbols, focus on creative experiences inspired by shared values, connection to land, storytelling, community and nature.

3. Do your own research on Indigenous traditions

Take Aboriginal dot paintings. When you think of Indigenous art, this style is often the first that comes to mind.

But did you know that this tradition only emerged in central Australia in the 1970s as a result of Aboriginal peoples working together with a white art school teacher, Geoffrey Bardon? Creative Spirits has a great article detailing the interesting history.

4. Support Indigenous voices and research

Choose books, music, stories and art created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These are powerful learning tools, and a great way to support Indigenous artists, authors and educators.

It also helps show your child that First Nations people are the rightful storytellers of their own cultures.

5. Keep it up past NAIDOC week

Don’t limit these conversations to one week. Weave in cultural appreciation throughout the year, whether it be incorporating picture books by First Nations authors, watching Indigenous-focused kids’ TV shows, or engaging with local community events.

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Nature-based craft and play

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Explore and create with natural materials

Spend time outside gathering natural materials (leaves, bark, stones, flowers) and bring them into your craft time. Encourage your little one to freely create with what they’ve collected, making collages, shapes or textured art.

Talk about the materials and where they came from. This is a gentle way to help little ones build a relationship with land and place, a central part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

You might explore how certain colours, patterns, and shapes in nature carry meaning, or talk about how different First Nations groups have a deep connection to specific animals, plants or places.

Create an acknowledgement of Country together

Use a craft session to help toddlers create a visual Acknowledgement of Country. You might create a poster using natural colours, handprints or drawings of the land (trees, rivers, animals). Read a child-friendly Acknowledgement of Country together and say it regularly to help embed the practice.

It’s a powerful way to start introducing the concept of respect for the Traditional Custodians of the land you’re on.

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Story and song-based activities

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Shared storytime

Choose storybooks written and illustrated by First Nations authors. Books like “Welcome to Country” by Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy, or “My Country” by Ezekiel Kwaymullina, are beautiful options that introduce toddlers to Country, family and culture through rich language and illustrations.

After reading, encourage toddlers to draw or paint what they remember or liked most about the story.

Musical play

Instead of making replicas of traditional instruments, explore music as a shared experience. Use simple homemade shakers, body percussion, or clapping games to explore rhythm together. Play First Nations music (where available and appropriate) and move to the sounds.

Talk about how music can bring people together, express stories, and celebrate culture.

Collaborative and creative projects

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Group murals and shared art

Collaboration is central to many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, where art, music, and ceremony are shared experiences. Group craft activities can reflect that sense of collective contribution.

Set up a large canvas or roll of butcher’s paper and invite toddlers to contribute to a shared mural. You might start with a theme, ‘journeys’ or ‘community’, or keep it open and abstract.

Each child’s input adds to a larger whole, reinforcing the idea that everyone’s voice matters, and creativity can be shared.

Respecting each other’s work

In a group setting, you can also use craft to support social development, like learning to share materials, take turns, and respect each other’s contributions.

Try a collaborative collage or weaving where each child creates a small piece that is later joined into one artwork.

You might tie fabric scraps into a shared frame or create individual symbols that come together in one design.

Musical play

This one isn’t a ‘craft’ per se, but still a beautiful creative activity for little ones.

Explore music as a shared experience. Use simple homemade shakers, body percussion, or clapping games to explore rhythm together.

Play First Nations music (where available and appropriate) and move to the sounds. Talk about how music can bring people together, express stories, and celebrate culture.

Thoughtful use of colour

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Painting with earthy tones

Instead of replicating specific Aboriginal symbols or art styles, focus on using natural colours inspired by the land, like ochres, browns, reds, yellows, and charcoal.

You can talk about how these colours come from nature and are often used in traditional art because they connect people to place. Another idea is to show the colours of the Aboriginal flag (red, yellow and black) and what each represents.

Let toddlers explore these colours freely, without needing to replicate specific styles or symbols. The focus here is on connection to nature and self-expression.

Wrapping it up

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NAIDOC Week activities and crafts are a gentle, creative way to begin conversations about culture, identity and respect for Indigenous Australians.

While they may not understand the full context just yet, your toddler is absorbing ideas about belonging, diversity and the stories of the land they live on.

This makes them more empathetic and compassionate little humans.