Sick days don’t have to be boring! It can be hard to fill time when your child is too sick to go to school, but not so sick that they need to stay in bed all day. Here are 10 fun things you can do with your child other than watch TV!
Board Games + Puzzles
Puzzles and board games are a fun way to spend time together. Break out some of your childhood favorites! Just be sure to be patient with your child. Kids who aren’t feeling well may get frustrated more easily.
Color!
There are so many ways for kids to be creative with just colored pencils or markers and paper. To kick start the creativity, try one of our downloadable coloring pages like this one from The Jungle Book: A Coloring Book, or this one from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: A Coloring Book.
Create
Find as many random items around the house as possible and set them out for your child. Dried macaroni, string, leaves, twigs, toilet paper rolls and more can all create a beautiful masterpiece.
Camp Under the “Stars”
Forts are a comfy way for kids to pretend they are camping in the wilderness. Build a fort or tent with sheets, blankets and kitchen chairs and fill it with pillows and their favorite stuffed animals. Turn off the lights in the house and read their favorite book by flashlight.
Science Rules!
Create your own science fair! With a few household items your child can create gooey globs (just cornstarch and water!), color changing milk, homemade Play-Doh, and more! Check out our ‘Science at Home’ Pinterest board for ideas.
Play Chef
Open up a restaurant in your kitchen. Give your child tasks that are important yet simple, like adding ingredients and mixing. Set the table with your finest linens and pour juice into wine glasses. For dessert, make popsicles out of Gatorade or Pedialite! Bon appétit!
Go Snorkeling
Bring goggles and a snorkel into the bath. Fill it with your child’s favorite beach and pool toys. Bring in some plastic animals or action figures and let their imagination do the rest!
Search Party
Hide a few of your child’s stuffed animals around the house and have a scavenger hunt. Create hints that will slowly lead them to each toy.
Fresh Air
Go outside for a bit and draw with chalk. Lay in the grass and look at all of the different shapes of the clouds. Create a story with your child!
Read!
Reading is a great way to escape to another world without turning on the TV. Cozy up and laugh along with Dig, Dig, Digger!, sing and play with our interactive sound storybook edition of The Itsy Bitsy Spider, or take to the high seas with the wiliest of pirates in Trailblazers: Treasure Hunters!