Unforgettable impressions and memories

Let's explore an exciting activity suitable for all little ones, designed to create unforgettable memories of the first years of your child's life, even infants can join in, provided there are no allergies to the materials used.

List of necessary items:

  • 100 g (1 cup) flour
  • 25 g (1/4 cup) salt
  • 80 ml (1/3 cup) hot water
  • Food coloring
  • Lid of a 4 liter ice cream container

Instructions :

  1. Collect all the ingredients in a container. Add water gradually if the dough seems too dry.
  2. Shape the dough into a ball and spread it in the lid to form a circle about 2.5 cm (1 in) thick.
  3. Invite your child to print their hand or foot in the dough. Carefully remove the dough from the lid, place it on a cookie sheet, and bake it at 150°F (65°C) for 1 to 2 hours.
  4. To hang the print on the wall, punch a hole in the dough before baking. Once cooled, give free rein to your creativity to decorate this print which could become a memorable gift.

Suggestions during impression preparation and creation:

  • Discuss the different ingredients with your child, even if he or she is still very young. Encourage him to explore the texture and smell of the dough.
  • Actively involve him in the process by asking him to describe his sensations while making the impression.

After baking the impression:

  • For babies, allow them to touch the print and explore the shapes and textures.
  • With toddlers, discuss how their footprint might change over time.
  • Compare the current impressions with those made previously to observe the differences in size and shape.
  • If your child is older, encourage them to think about how their hand or foot changes over time, and they can even date the print.

The benefits of this activity: Aligned with the Comfort, Play and Teach parenting approach, this experience strengthens the bond with your child, stimulates their imagination as they imagine their future growth, and provides teaching opportunities about ingredients, body changes and comparison with other prints, whether human or animal.