What to do with children during the holidays (without screens)?

Finding a good activity for children during the holidays, especially without screens, can sometimes feel like a puzzle. A week off school means seven days to fill with ideas, energy and imagination — and the weather doesn't always cooperate. The good news: keeping a child busy during the holidays without a tablet is entirely possible, as long as you have a few creative activities on hand that truly hold their attention. Here is a simple, varied and joyful little programme to turn holiday days into moments your child will remember.

Why plan creative activities rather than screen time?

During the holidays, the temptation of screens is huge: it's easy, it calms things down right away, but it often leaves a child grumpy and frustrated once the tablet is switched off. Hands-on and creative activities, on the other hand, tire the mind in a good way: they require concentration, develop fine motor skills and produce a concrete result the child can be proud of.

The ideal is to vary: some free play, some cooking, time outdoors when the weather allows, and at least one big standout activity that truly keeps the child occupied — the one they ask for, rain or shine. That is the whole point of a home creative workshop: it becomes the unmissable highlight of the week.

A weekly activity programme for the school holidays

There is no need to plan everything down to the minute: you just need a reserve of ideas to dip into depending on mood and weather. Here is a framework that works for most families with children aged 6 to 13.

• The morning: a calm and creative activity (drawing, modelling, 3D workshop) while energy and focus are at their peak.
• The afternoon: some movement — a trip to the park, a bike ride, a treasure hunt in the garden.
• When it rains: switch everything indoors with a long activity that lasts one to two hours.
• End of the day: cooking as a family, reading, board games.

The goal is not to always do "more and more", but to have one key activity per day around which everything else is organised.

What can you do with children when it's raining?

This is the great holiday challenge: keeping a child busy on a rainy day without giving in to the easy option of screens. Several ideas work really well at home:

1. A home creative workshop: painting, clay, beads, or a 3D pen that lets you create three-dimensional objects.
2. Cooking as a family: cookies, afternoon cake, fruit skewers — we measure, we mix, we decorate.
3. An indoor den made of cushions and sheets, then reading by torchlight.
4. A mini show: the child prepares a little puppet theatre or a costume parade.
5. Board games reinvented as a family tournament.

Among all these options, the activity that keeps children busy the longest — and that gets them talking the most — is often the one where the child truly makes something with their own hands.

The 3D pen: the standout activity for holiday days

If you had to choose just one activity capable of keeping a child busy for an entire holiday, the 3D pen would come out on top. The concept is magical for children: instead of drawing on a sheet of paper, they draw in the air, and their creation hardens in just a few seconds. A flower, an animal, a keyring, a name in relief… every day brings a new idea.

For home use with children from age 6, the essential criterion is safety. The Pen'Up 3D 3D pen is designed for children: its tip does not get as hot as an adult 3D pen, its surface temperature stays low (around 35 °C), so it won't burn little fingers. Children can therefore create in complete peace of mind, even when you are preparing a meal in the next room.

It is also a screen-free activity par excellence: it develops creativity, concentration and fine motor skills, and the child comes away proud of an object they made entirely themselves. Pen'Up 3D is also an award-winning French brand (Prix Audace 2023), with instructions in French and customer service based in France — everything you need to start the holidays with peace of mind.

To kit your child out in one go, the simplest option is the Pen'Up 3D Complete Pack: the low-temperature pen, stencils, templates to reproduce and a good stock of colour spools, so there is something to create every day of the week.

Creation ideas so you never run out of inspiration

For an activity to last several days, you need a common thread. With a 3D pen, you can set a small daily challenge:

• Monday: a keyring with their name on it.
• Tuesday: a favourite animal in relief.
• Wednesday: decorations to hang in the bedroom.
• Thursday: a small gift for a grandparent.
• Friday: a free creation, completely made up.

If you want to understand in detail how this tool works and what age it is suitable for, our complete guide to the 3D pen for children answers all your questions. And to explore all the kits, refills and accessories, browse the full Pen'Up 3D shop.

FAQ, Children's activities during the holidays

What activity truly keeps a child busy during the holidays?

Activities where children make something with their own hands are the ones that last the longest. A creative workshop like a 3D pen, clay modelling or painting can keep a child busy for one to two hours at a stretch and can be renewed every day with new ideas.

How do you keep a child busy on a rainy day without screens?

Go for a long indoor activity: a home creative workshop, cooking as a family, a cushion den, a mini show or board games. Ideally, have a standout activity — like a 3D pen — that truly keeps the child occupied when they need to stay inside.

From what age can you offer a 3D pen workshop?

From age 6, with ideal use between 6 and 10 years old. The Pen'Up 3D 3D pen is designed for children: its tip stays at a low surface temperature (around 35 °C) and will not burn fingers, making it a suitable activity for younger children.

How do I stop my child from getting bored after just one day?

Set a small daily challenge: a keyring on Monday, an animal on Tuesday, a decoration on Wednesday, and so on. Having a different goal each day keeps the desire to create going all week long.

Do you need to prepare a lot of materials in advance?

Not necessarily. A complete set like the Pen'Up 3D Complete Pack already includes the pen, stencils, templates and several colour spools, which is enough to keep a child busy for an entire holiday week without buying anything else.