Free Printable Resources for National Pyjama Day
National Pyjama Day is fast approaching! We’ve put together some free printable resources for your fundraising efforts, whether you’re baking cupcakes at home or asking for donations at the office. Make sure to tag us in your pictures for a chance to feature on our social media or website!
Donation Jar Label
We have 2 options for your donation jar available for download. Simply print this out, write down your goal and stick it on a jar of your choice – we like to put ours around a recycled coffee jar. This is a great way to collect gold coin donations on an office reception desk or a teachers desk.
Download Donation Jar Label – Simple.
Download Donation Jar Label – Party.
Cupcake Toppers
If you’re planning on baking some cupcakes for your pyjama party, make sure to use our super cute cupcake toppers! There are 12 cupcake toppers per sheet featuring 9 different Pyjama Day themed designs. Simply print them out and wrap them around a toothpick for an easy way to increase the cute factor of your cupcakes!
Raffle Tickets
Holding a raffle is another great way to raise some extra money for your National Pyjama Day fundraising effort. This tactic is especially useful for businesses – you could donate a voucher for your service or create a hamper of goodies, and tickets could be sold to clients and customers or offered internally to your team. There are so many ways to fundraise! Make sure you pop the extra details of your raffle on the tickets, including the prize you are offering and your personal campaign page.
Note: You will need to print these double sided, flip on long edge. We used fit to paper as the scale – double check your scale to ensure none of the ticket is outside the printable margins. There are 5 tickets per page.
When distributing tickets, cut off the pink stubs with the ticket holder’s details and keep. Give the white part of the ticket to the ticker holder for their reference.
Photo Booth Props
This is such an easy way to add an element of silly fun to your National Pyjama Day event! Print out these photo booth props and tape them onto skewers or paddlepop sticks, and share some silly snaps with your friends!
If you or someone you know would be a fun and positive influence on a child in care, please consider volunteering for The Pyjama Foundation’s Love of Learning Program.
Together with their mentor, a child in foster care can learn valuable life-skills, confidence and self belief.
Video Chat Games for Kids!
Human connections between friends, family and other relationships have been certainly tested so far in 2020. These connections are vital to our mental well-being.
We have created a variety of resources and games which are perfect for video chat ‘dates’. These are free printable downloads for you to share with whoever you are wanting to reconnect with virtually.
There are occasionally times where getting together in person just isn’t possible. These games are still so much fun and show you can still maintain relationships from a distance.
FaceTime Battleship
This three-page resource is so fun to play with older kids-teenagers. It is a virtual take on the traditional ‘Battleship’ board game, and has printable grids for yourself and your opponent.
ART APART
Art Apart is a take on a classic game where one player has an image/item/drawing and has to give the other player (artist) instructions to recreate it. This game tests teamwork, language and describing skills – as well as artistic! Give this a go, it’s sure to be a lot of fun.
Roll & Write
Roll & Write is a story telling game where you roll a die to determine what, who, where and when your story took place. There are some wacky combinations to be created and hours of fun!
Thinking of You Week 2020
Thinking of You Week is a special week of reminding someone you care with a card. This day was designed to create a wave of love caring and happiness. Receiving a card with a sweet handwritten message, especially when it comes out of the blue, is so special. Being thought of is worth celebrating.
Thinking of You Week takes place from 14th till the 21st of June 2020. Of course, you can send a card to that special person anytime in the year!
You can either purchase cards, make your own, or use some of our handy printable cards. We created these specifically for this occasion and we hope you love them. These FREE cards all include a special quote, one of which is sure to fit how you feel towards the recipient.
The start of 2020 has been a challenge, and while sharing caring cards on birthdays is lovely, a thoughtful card shared unexpectedly just feels different.
Download Card Set 2
Download Card Set 3 
To use these cards, simply cut along the horizontal line to separate the cards. The next step is to fold across the vertical line to form your very own ‘Thinking of You’ cards.
Indoor & Outdoor Scavenger Hunts for Kids!
Keep the kids entertained with our FREE printable indoor and outdoor scavenger hunts!
Avoiding boredom for kids can be very difficult, but it is very important to keep them stimulated and active. These activities prove that with a bit of creativity, you can have fun with everyday household items.
These FREE printable scavenger hunt sheets are bound to keep even the busiest of child entertained for at least twenty minutes. Add in the optional element of timing the hunt, or making it a competition with more than one child.
Our Pyjama Angel volunteers love to do activities like this with their children, especially at the start of their visit.
The Pyjama Foundation has found a lot of their volunteers have the most success completing more education-based activities after tiring their children out first – 10 minutes of activity = 20 minutes of quiet time.
Indoor Scavenger Hunt
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
Are you likely to give these activities a go? Don’t forget to check out more of our ‘In Isolation’ activities for more fun ideas!
If you or someone you know would be a fun and positive influence on a child in care, please consider volunteering for The Pyjama Foundation’s Love of Learning Program.
Together with their mentor, a child in foster care can learn valuable life-skills, confidence and self belief.
Fostering change: Behind Floriana’s desire to help children in care
As we find ourselves living through an unexpected and uncertain circumstance, I think it is so necessary to acknowledge and express gratitude for what brings love and light to our lives.
This was the exact mindset that prompted me to embrace the unknown and try something completely new. In April of 2019 a significant chapter in my life closed, I found myself experience emotions I never thought possible (including that ugly demon heartbreak). I have always been somebody who embraces a challenge, craves opportunity and has a generous nature. However, at this point in my journey I felt completely deflated.
I distinctly remember a phone call had with a dear friend, former Pyjama Angel, Melissa Caccamo.
My gorgeous friend Melissa (pictured left)
Her words felt like sunshine.
She said “Flo, you need to find a way to divert all the love, positive energy and time you were feeding your relationship into something just as worthwhile’.
My friend reminded me of all the positive qualities I had to share with the world but had momentarily forgotten in the midst of sadness. Mel encouraged me to apply as a Pyjama Angel, give back to the community and be a ray of sunshine for a child who needed to be reassured that they are valued, worthy and loved.
Thank you for being my ray of sunshine that day and everyday Mel.
Without hesitation I applied that following day. Not long after I had my interview and attended training. I was shocked by the statistics around poor literacy and numeracy skills among children in care. However, I was more so enlightened, that spending only one hour a week with these children would help carve a positive outlook for their future.
Along the way I interacted with such passionate, likeminded and wholehearted individuals. The whole process just felt right. I knew that this was going to be such a special experience and I hadn’t even met my little cherub yet!
Typically, one Pyjama Angel is paired with one little person. However in light of embracing opportunity I was offered a dynamic duo, two brothers! I was paired with who I now like to call ‘Crazy number 1’ (aged 12) and ‘Crazy number 2’ (aged 9). I organically became ‘Crazy number 3’ (aged 23!).
My relationship with K&J began in August 2019 and the fun hasn’t stopped since!
Together we have;
- Planted a vegetable patch
My ‘magic bag’ of resources!
- Made slime
- Tackled puzzles and board games
- Kicked the soccer ball outside
- Read, researched and presented projects on their hobbies and interests
- Completed homework (after lots of convincing!) and sometimes;
- We just dance and sing like total crazies!
On a personal level, my passion for the non-for-profit sector and working with children has grown fiercely strong. I am also currently involved with The Pyjama Foundation team, working as a Marketing and Communications Assistant/Intern. This entire experience has prompted me to consider a return to university to study Youth Work. To nurture what I believe is my true calling!
Fostering a relationship with K&J has brought nothing but colour to my world. It helped turn such a dark and uncertain time into an incredible discovery of growth and opportunity. I feel grateful to be able to help these boys find a happier ending to their life story.
I thank The Pyjama Foundation for choosing me.
F xx
Townsville Pyjama Angel volunteer honoured for impact during Volunteer Week
AFTER five years of unwavering dedication to The Pyjama Foundation, Townsville resident Susanne Gardner has been honoured in the 2020 Volunteering North Queensland Awards.
Sue took out the Volunteer Impact Award category, for her work touching the lives of more than 600 people throughout the Townsville community.
An extremely deserving acknowledgement for a woman who not only dedicates time every week to support a child in foster care, but is also fundamental in keeping The Foundation’s resource library organised for other volunteers, as well as acting as vice president of the Townville Toy Library, secretary of the Probus Club and volunteer at St Joseph’s Catholic School The Strand.
North QLD coordinator Mel Vaughan said above all Sue is an incredibly beautiful person who has a quiet wisdom and listens to the stories of others without judgement.
“We have a wide range of volunteers, from a range of backgrounds. Sue welcomes everyone into our Foundation with a smile. She has a quiet, calm presence and is a joy to be around,” she said.
Sue began her journey by training as a Pyjama Angel volunteer in 2016 and was initially placed with an 8- year-old boy to support him in building learning, life skills and confidence.
This little boy moved out of Townsville but that wasn’t going to be the end of Sue’s journey.
“His carer loved Sue so much she asked her the following week to continue visiting another child in her home,” Mel said.
“Of course, Sue agreed. Sue’s weekly visits help one little vulnerable girl know that she is special, loved and has opportunities- which is priceless.”
The award presented to Sue is part of 2020 National Volunteer Week celebrations occurring across the country.
Volunteering North Queensland’s acting manager Natalie Dukes said National Volunteer Week is an opportunity when we, as a North Queensland community, publicly thank, acknowledge and celebrate our wonderful volunteers.
“Throughout the nominations received for the four awards this year, there was such a strong theme of empowering others to make a difference.
Click here for more information about becoming a Pyjama Angel or to apply.
Anzac Day Craft Activities for Remembrance
We have compiled a list of Anzac Craft Activities for you to introduce into your home this Anzac Day. Each family celebrates this differently, but there are traditions that seem to stand the test of time. Remembering those who fought to bravely for the freedom of our country is important. It is a hard topic to broach, but there are some easy ways to introduce this day to young kids. Keep reading for craft and recipe ideas to use this Anzac Day!
DIY Recycled Plastic Bottle Poppy Craft – This clever craft is created from recycled plastic bottles, and creates such a beautiful ornament style decoration. The kids will have an absolute ball making these pretty poppies.
Anzac Day Paper Plate Poppies – This is a great activity for younger kids, and it requires barely any supplies. Cut your paper plate into a poppy shape and assist your child to use red paint and colour it in. Black paper glued into the centre finishes the activity. You’ll be left with a great big poppy which would look great on a front door!
Donna Hay’s Anzac Biscuits – Who doesn’t love an Anzac Biccy? These traditional war-time biscuits are one of the most festive flavours of the year, and such an Aussie staple.
Australian Flag Cut and Paste Activity – This free printable will help young kids to learn the identifying features of the Australian flag, and older kids can learn the names of each feature and what they represent. This is quite a simple activity but a good addition to other Anzac traditions.
Remembrance Day Red Poppy Craft – You may not have had as many opportunities to purchase a Poppy Pin this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, or perhaps a DIY is more your style, either way this is the perfect craft!
Other Activities
We have been regularly updating our COVID-19 Response Page with loads of resources you can use to stay in touch with little ones in your life that you might not be able to see right now. Our COVID-19 Resources can be great for school aged pen-pals or even just keeping your kids busy while isolating. We hope you love them as much as we do!