If your kids are off from school due to the coronavirus outbreak, the flu or another illness, their spirit is undoubtedly quite low. This is the perfect time for a pick-me-up in the form of a fun activity. Instead of letting your kids spend hour-after-hour in front of the TV playing video games, the better approach is to have them play a fun game. Give one of the games/activities detailed below a shot and your sick little one will find the day goes by that much quicker.
Build an In-home Fort
Every child, tween and teen loves forts. Unfortunately, urban sprawl has decimated much of our outdoor green space so it might not be possible to build a traditional outdoor fort with trees, branches, leaves and other natural components. Instead, build a fort inside the home. Gather your extra blankets, pillows, towels and stuffed toys to assemble a cozy fort for you and your little one to hang out in for the remainder of the day. Building a fort won’t require too much effort so don’t worry about potentially overstraining your youngster.
Have Fun With Window Markers
Markers built for window use or even the washable variety you used as a kid are the perfect artistic tool for your sick youngster. Position your little one by the window, give him or her a couple markers and have a blast drawing and designing whatever comes to mind. Be sure to pick out some bright colors from the store so your little one can express him or herself with light hues that lift the spirit and promote positivity. You can pick up nontoxic, completely washable markers on Amazon or local stores for about $10 so don’t’ fret about potential expense or danger.
Netflix With Mom or Dad
Though kids certainly have enough screen time when healthy, there is nothing wrong with sitting down for an hour or two of Netflix with your sick child. Take a look at Netflix’s seemingly never-ending content geared toward children, tweens and teens and you are sure to find something the two of you find entertaining.
Make Paper Dolls
If you have a little girl who loves dolls or a boy with a strong sense of fashion, making paper dolls will certainly help pass the time during a sick day. Cut out paper dolls from your choice of paper, decorate them with markers, colored pencils or paint and put the resulting creations on the walls for the entire family (and visitors) to see. Be sure to take a look at Pinterest for a wide variety of uber-cute paper dolls you can print in mere seconds.
Dust off the Puzzle Books
If your household is like most others, you have a pile of crossword puzzles, word-find books and other puzzle books collecting dust in the attic or basement. Your child’s sick day is the perfect time to dust off those puzzle books and put your little one’s mind to work. If you do not have such puzzle books at home, you can easily snag some from the dollar store. Encourage your youngster to work on a puzzle book and he or she just might insist on taking it to the doctor’s office while waiting for treatment. If you would like to get in on the fun, consider picking up a Mad Libs book from the local supermarket so you and your son or daughter can complete funny stories with your chosen words, ultimately making them your own special memories to cherish for years to come.
