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Keeping children busy during the holidays: 13 ideas
Mis à jour le☀️ School holidays
Two weeks of vacation, a child pacing around, and the dreaded phrase: "I have nothing to do." This guide brings together the best manual and creative activities to truly occupy children, without screens, without tantrums, and with something concrete to show at the end. Ready-to-use kits for all ages, ready to open.
⚡ Find quickly
The right activity for the moment's desire:
- 🧘Calm and concentration: Montessori puzzles, Poppik stickers, cozy stickers
- 🎨Create with your hands: paint, Fimo clay, air-dry clay, beads and jewelry
- ✨Guaranteed wow effect: Pouring Art, Decoden, DIY kids' kits
- 🧩Play and build: Plus-Plus, children's puzzles
- 👕The unusual activity: colorable pajamas: they create their own clothing
🧘 Calm and focused activities
1
Awakening and intelligence
Montessori games
Games that teach through play: color sorting, shapes, interlocking, fine motor skills. Perfect for children who need to manipulate to understand.
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Holiday tip: take out one game at a time, stored in its box. Children are less bored when the activity is presented as something special.
2
Concentration and logic
Children's puzzles
From 12-piece puzzles for toddlers to 250-piece puzzles for older children: an activity that truly keeps them busy, develops patience, and provides the satisfaction of a visible result.
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Holiday tip: Leave the ongoing puzzle on a dedicated tray or table. They'll come back to it on their own between activities.
3
Stickers and observation
Poppik sticker posters
A large blank poster to complete with hundreds of repositionable and illustrated stickers. Observation, concentration, discovery: the most addictive educational game for the holidays.
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Holiday tip: Hang the ongoing poster on a door or wall. They'll add stickers as they pass by, without having to "sit down to play."
4
Concentration and worlds
Cozy Stickers
Kawaii mini-stickers to place on illustrated scenes to bring them to life. Coffee shop, konbini, bookstore... A meditative activity that will keep both older children and teenagers busy.
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Holiday tip: Ideal for long car journeys or rainy afternoons. Compact, clean, no extra materials needed.
🎨
All JOY! kids' craft activities
Dozens of creative kits to keep children busy during the holidays. Ages 3+, all levels, all-inclusive.
🎨 Creative Activities: Getting your hands dirty
5
Jewelry and fine motor skills
Beads and jewelry sets
Bracelets, necklaces, rings: children create their own jewelry with colorful beads, threads, and charms. Wearable results, guaranteed pride.
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Holiday tip: Leave sorted beads in small bowls on the table. They'll come back to add elements throughout the day between activities.
6
Sculpture and modeling
Fimo clay kits
Sculpt figurines, animals, characters with Fimo clay that hardens in the oven. The themed sets guide step-by-step for stunning results.
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Holiday tip: Plan a "baking" session at the end of the day. Waiting for creations to harden in the oven creates a very motivating sense of anticipation.
7
Pottery without an oven
Air-dry clay
You model, you let it air dry, and in 24 hours you have a real decorative object. Bowls, vases, figurines, magnets: no oven, non-toxic, no risk. Pottery accessible to all.
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Holiday tip: Have them create an object on the first day of the holidays. The satisfaction of seeing it ready 48 hours later is a real reward.
8
Painting and expression
Children's paint sets
Paint kits specially designed for children: vibrant colors, adapted brushes, illustrated or blank supports. The classic activity, revisited with kits that guide without stifling creativity.
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Holiday tip: Prepare everything in advance on a protected table. When everything is ready, they start on their own. It's the setup that slows things down, not the desire.
9
Kawaii customization
Decoden kits
Decoden is the Japanese art of personalizing objects (phone cases, mirrors, boxes) with decorative cream and small kawaii elements. The result is spectacular and 100% personal.
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Holiday tip: Perfect for teenagers who "get bored." The result is an object they wear and show off: a strong argument to convince them to get started.
10
Fluid painting
Pouring Art
Pour fluid paints onto a canvas, tilt it, and watch unique marbled patterns appear. No technique required, each painting is a surprise. The most spectacular activity on the list.
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Holiday tip: Do it outside if possible. You won't risk staining what shouldn't be stained. And the effect is even more impressive in direct sunlight.
🧩 Games and Construction
11
Creative construction
Plus-Plus games
Small H-shaped pieces to interlock for 2D and 3D construction. Colorful puzzles, guided models, or free constructions: an activity that grows with the child.
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Holiday tip: Pour the pieces into a large bin or onto a tray. Children will spontaneously start playing with them, without being asked.
👕 The unusual activity of the selection
12
Fashion and creativity
The pajamas to color
Real white pajamas with patterns to color with special fabric markers. They create their own unique garment, worn every evening. The activity they'll tell everyone about.
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Holiday tip: Ideal activity for an entire afternoon. Lay the pajamas flat, take out the markers, put on some music: they won't want to stop.
✂️ And much more
📊 Which activity by age?
| Age | Recommended Activities | Typical Duration | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 to 4 years | Montessori games, 12-24 pc puzzles, children's painting | 20 to 40 min | Very Easy |
| 4 to 6 years | Puzzles, pajamas to color, clay, Poppik | 30 min to 1h | Easy |
| 6 to 8 years | Beads and jewelry, Plus-Plus, paint set, clay | 1 to 2h | Accessible |
| 8 to 12 years | Fimo, Decoden, Pouring Art, Cozy Stickers, embroidery | 1h30 to 3h | Intermediate |
| 12 years and + | Decoden, Pouring Art, Cozy Stickers, advanced jewelry kits | Variable | All Levels |
💡
Golden rule: always choose an activity slightly below the child's skill level for the first holidays. Finishing something = motivation to continue. An abandoned project = discouragement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What craft activity should I choose for a child who gets bored quickly?
Activities with quick results are the best: Pouring Art (1 hour, finished painting), beads and jewelry (30 minutes, bracelet ready to wear), and pajamas to color (immediate visible result). A child who gets bored quickly needs to see the results of their efforts rapidly to stay motivated.
Which activities can be done while traveling or on outdoor holidays?
Cozy stickers (compact, clean, no surface required), Poppik puzzles, beads and jewelry, and Poppik stickers travel very well. For activities with paint or clay, plan for a protected surface and do them at home or in rented accommodation instead.
How to prevent a child from abandoning their ongoing activity?
Three things really help: choosing an age-appropriate activity (neither too easy nor too difficult), preparing all the materials before starting so there are no breaks that break the momentum, and participating for at least the first few minutes to kick things off.
Do JOY! kits really contain all the materials?
Yes, each JOY! kit is designed to be complete: materials, accessories, and illustrated instructions are always included. You don't need to buy anything extra to get started. This is especially useful on vacation, when you don't want to run around looking for specialty stores.
Can these activities be done in a group for a birthday or an outing?
Several activities on this list are perfect for groups: Pouring Art (each child creates their own painting), the color-in pajamas, beads and jewelry, and Fimo clay. You just need to plan for one kit per child or multiply the materials according to the number of participants.
☀️
Creative holidays from A to Z
All the kits in this selection are available on JOY!, ready to be delivered. Order today, create tomorrow.
