A long walk in the fresh air followed by a little time at the playground seemed like the perfect plan for this weekend, but then the weather decided to have its say. Outside, it’s pouring rain, and the sun doesn’t seem willing to peek out. To ensure you can still enjoy your day, we’ve put together 5 game and activity ideas to keep your little adventurer busy at home!

Modeling clay workshop

Playdough is one of little ones’ favorite activities—they can spend hours imagining, shaping, rolling, and cutting out forms. We bet you loved it as a child, too. However, store-bought playdough often contains unnecessary ingredients, sometimes even ones that aren’t ideal for babies. By making your own playdough, you can be sure it’s non-toxic. Plus, it’s ultra-easy, budget-friendly, and eco-friendly. What’s more? It’s edible, which is helpful because it’s not uncommon for little ones—who love to explore with their mouths—to nibble on a few pieces. We’re sharing the secrets of our Homemade Playdough Recipe !

You will need to:

• 500 grams of flour

• 175 grams of salt

• 3 tablespoons of baking soda

• 7 tablespoons of neutral oil (rapeseed or sunflower)

• 500 millilitres of boiling water

• Liquid food coloring

You will need to proceed as follows:

1. Mix the dry ingredients and the oil. Then, gradually add the boiling water while stirring to obtain a smooth dough.

2. To color it, simply divide your dough into as many pieces as you have food colorings. Add a color to each piece of dough, then knead to distribute it evenly. Your modeling clay is ready!

3. To ensure your child can enjoy it for as long as possible, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This way, the dough will stay soft for several months.

Tip: You can make this activity even more fun by giving your child a theme. The goal is to shape forms that match it. For example, in autumn, you can suggest your little one create pretty leaves, mushrooms, or snails.

Cooking workshop: pancake recipe

If you’re tempted to introduce your little gourmet to the joys of family cooking, a cozy day at home could be the perfect moment.

It’s also a great activity for psychomotor development and a wonderful way to support your little one on the path to development. autonomy . Give them small tasks, such as transferring ingredients, rinsing fruit, or mixing the batter. On rainy, gloomy days, we rely on feel-good recipes to lift the whole family’s spirits, and we’ve included a few in our article Cooking for baby: recipes and tips ». We’re sharing our favorite pancake recipe , the one that will delight the taste buds of the whole family.

For a dozen banana pancakes, you will need:

• 180 g of rolled oats

• 4 bananas

• 2 eggs (vegan: 100 g of applesauce)

• Coconut oil (for cooking)

• Seasonal fruits for decoration

You will need to proceed as follows:

1. In a blender, blend the oats with the bananas and eggs until you get a smooth batter.

2. Heat a pan with a little coconut oil and pour in a spoonful of batter. When small bubbles appear on the surface of the pancake, it’s time to flip it.

3. Decorate with pieces of seasonal fruit, maple syrup, honey, compote, or white cheese, according to your tastes. Enjoy your meal!

Treasure Hunt Workshop

Take your little one on an incredible adventure between the living room and their bedroom by organizing a treasure hunt.

Hide small surprises in their toy chest, sock drawer, or under their pile of stuffed animals. Create a treasure of little things that will delight your child; these can be candies or toys. Let your imagination run wild by inventing a story to tell your little one—it will serve as the guiding thread of the adventure and lead them to different locations. Younger explorers will need a little help with their quest.

Our tip: Dress up your little one as an explorer to make the adventure feel even more real!

Music Workshop: homemade musical instruments

It may not be the best idea if you have noise-sensitive neighbors, but it’s still an ideal activity for bad weather! Musical instruments are perfect for introducing your little one to sounds and rhythms. They stimulate the ear and help develop fine motor skills.

• One ensemble of percussion instruments made from several overturned bowls and wooden spoons.

• Maracas made from yogurt pots and small Swiss-style jars. Simply clean and dry the jars well, then fill them with rice, pasta, or lentils. Tape two jars together with adhesive tape. You can make different maracas with various cereals or dried legumes for a variety of sounds.

• Castanets made with a strip of cardboard and caps (caps that seal glass bottles, like soda bottles). Cut a strip of cardboard and fold it in half. Glue the caps to the ends of the cardboard strip so that they touch.

• One pan flute made with straws for older children. Place 15 paper straws side by side, then cut the ends so they’re all different lengths. Arrange them in a line by size and secure them with adhesive tape.

The youngest musicians can help decorate the instruments—have fun painting or decorating them however you like.

Coloring Workshop

If there’s one activity that always works with little ones, it’s a coloring workshop. Did you know this activity has several benefits for young children? It supports psychomotor development and fine motor skills as well as the perception of spatial organization . Coloring sets your little artist on the path to learning to write, and it’s also a great way to learn colors!

Get comfortable around a table, take out your nicest crayons, and enjoy a coloring session with your little one—it’s a calm, enjoyable bonding moment! On the LILLYDOO app , you’ll find several coloring pages for children featuring our designs. Simply download and print them. Let your creativity run wild!

We hope these ideas help you enjoy a cozy day at home! Stick with tried-and-true activities: hide-and-seek, stickers, reading time, and other early-learning activities can also save the day. Fingers crossed the sun will come out soon. :)