On the Mend
Sniffles. Coughs. Runny noses. Fever. Those symptoms spell a sick day at home with your kids during cold and flu season. But how can you get them to rest, so medicines and nature can help them heal?
Here are 14 ways to keep kids calm, relaxed and entertained while they are on the mend.
Organize Artwork or Photos
This is a great task for older kids, who will have a lot of fun reliving family memories. Go through old photo books or digital photos on the computer, and let your child organize them as he goes. Let's be honest: It's something you've been meaning to do for a long time, anyway.
Cookbook Fun
As long as your child isn't nauseous, this will be an activity he might want to do again and again. Every child likes to help prepare food in the kitchen. And cookbooks are surprisingly entertaining to flip through—even for small children.
Give your kid a stack of sticky notes to mark ideas for future dinners and desserts. Who knows, you he might help you find a new favorite dish.
Go Fish, Solitaire and War
Break out a fresh deck of cards, and let your sick buddy play games like Go Fish, Solitaire, Speed or War. It beats being on the iPhone all day, and the kid might just learn to love the real thing. While these games might seem old-fashioned to today's kids, there is a definite benefit to knowing these classic card games, which have been around for generations.
Re-watch a Favorite Movie
Break out an oldie but goodie. "Watch a movie together, maybe one from when you were little and home for a sick day," says New York–based pediatric mental health specialist Stefanie Weiss. "For the little ones, oldies like Annie or Mary Poppins are always great," she adds. "For bigger kids, my personal fave is Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
Get Crafty
Choose a craft that can be made in a comfortable position, preferably one that allows your child to lie on the couch or in bed.
"Art projects are always perfect for kids. Mak[ing] Fruit Loop necklaces, decorat[ing] a picture frame, and painting can all be relaxing and take your kid's mind off how they are feeling," says Weiss.
Fun With Clay
There is a certain serenity that comes from working with clay. The finished product doesn't have to be perfect, and you can build and rebuild to your heart's content. Being sick can be stressful, so letting your child work out some of those feelings through the kneading process can be calming—and the possibilities are endless.
Fresh Air
As long as your child is well enough, you might want to take him out for a brief walk. If he can't handle the walk, a brief stint on the porch can do wonders. Fresh air helps clear the lungs and can give kids a much-needed burst of vitamin D from the sun. Fresh air is also an instant mood booster. Being cooped up in the house all day can be stressful for some children—and parents.
Listen and Learn
Too young or too sick to read? Let your little one listen to a book on tape. Many are available at your local library and can be found in a variety of age-appropriate genres.
Too antsy for a whole book? It's never too early to introduce meditation. Try a 10-minute exercise with your child. It should help keep her mind off sore throats and other irksome symptoms.
Toys and Board Games
You don't have to spend money on a new toy to keep your child entertained. Pull out a long-forgotten toy or activity from the back of the closet. Your child might just rediscover an old favorite.
Fort for the Day
Getting sick of being in bed or on the couch? Move your child to a makeshift fort under the dining room table. A little change in scenery can make all the difference for a sick child. Have a picnic with him, or bring in a few books to read. You might end up staying awhile.
Journaling
What country would you most like to visit? If you could be any animal, what would you be? Give your child a prompt, and let him go crazy. For older children, it can be written prose. For younger children, they can draw what they're feeling. This is a great activity that will keep the body at rest but the mind entertained and active.
Video Chats
Sometimes it's impossible to have visitors on such short notice. And sometimes you really miss someone who lives halfway across the country. Now is a great time to reap the benefits of Skype and get in some quality video-chat time. The familiar face of a loved one or close friend will be enough of a distraction to help make time fly.
Write a Letter
In a world where text messages and emails are the norm, why not have your child perfect the art of the handwritten letter? Imagine the surprise on grandma's face when she receives one of these well-thought-out beauties. If your child needs to write a few thank-you cards for birthday or holiday gifts, this would be a good time for that as well.
Pretend Play
Have a tea party with a stuffed animal guest list. Pretend to be a nurse for your sick patient.
"Whatever you choose, your child will appreciate a little TLC while they are under the weather," says Weiss. "Help them keep their mind off of feeling sick and focusing on relaxing and having some fun at home."
Moms, how do you entertain a sick child?
