A sick child can sometimes be restless as they struggle to have fun and keep themselves entertained. This can lead to more stress since gadgets and electronics aren’t ideal for them, so finding non-technological ways to engage them is essential.
If you struggle to keep your child entertained, especially when they are sick, looking for creative ways is important. The good thing about specific solutions is that they don’t have to be expensive and can be done with things around the house.
These entertainment alternatives can also be a great bonding for parents and their children, especially when they are sick and unwell. When they are sick, looking for low-level activities that aren’t too physically hectic is essential.
Read this article to learn some of the most creative ways to entertain your child, especially when sick, without technology. Find out which things at home could be used to provide a unique bonding experience.
7 ways to entertain sick children
1. Reading
The first thing to try for a child who isn’t feeling well and has low energy is to read them stories. Ideally, you’d want to have books around the house with pictures you can show them while reading.
Children are more likely to pay attention when sick, but this might not always apply. Before reading, get some books and let them choose to give them the impression that they still have a say on what to do.
2. Pillow fort and camping area
Another thing you can do with your child is to make rest time more entertaining by building a makeshift pillow castle or fort for them to camp in. This is a great way to get them to rest when they aren’t feeling well since it’s also considered part of playtime.
Allowing them to have a personal fort lets them feel safe and makes rest part of playtime, which is more incentivizing for them. Ensure they get enough circulation, the correct temperature, and clean the pillows and sheets.
3. Playtime with toys
You can try playtime in bed by introducing low-energy approaches like roleplaying and simple building toys. Children can do this while lying down or resting if the toys aren’t too high-energy.
Allowing your child to play with toys even if they’re sick will enable them to feel like they’re still okay and can still enjoy the things they love. By allowing them to play with toys, you’re still giving them the power over playtime while enabling them to make decisions.
4. Looking at old photos
Playing the memory game is another fun activity with children lying in bed. By showing them photos of different memories, you can ask them if they remember and try to relive those memories with them.
You can ask them about their favorite parts of specific memories, what they remember, and what they would like to do again. This allows the child to have fun and use their imagination without being physically active.
5. A bubble bath
Keeping a child clean, especially when sick, is very important. A warm bubble bath could be a good activity for them, even if they are sick.
The critical component of making this fun is the bubbles; of course, ensuring the right temperature for them is important, which mainly depends on where you live.
6. Arts and crafts
You can do simple arts and crafts with many things you might find at home. Get some paint, coloring materials, glue, paper, paper towel rolls, and anything you might find at home that’s clean, recyclable, and usable in arts and crafts.
You can work on an art project with your child, allowing them to give their key inputs and ideas regarding what they want to make. This can be a key bonding experience for them. Remember to complement and display their artwork — never throw it away.
7. Indoor picnic
When children are sick, they’re less likely to eat, so it’s important to make eating fun by planning an indoor picnic. You can take turns deciding which foods they can choose from, but it’s better to avoid artificial sweets or other foods that could harm their health.
Instead, encourage them to make the picnic colorful by choosing suitable fruits to blend to make the picnic a fun experience. You can also use this as a fun way to get your child to drink vitamins along with their juice.
In short
When your child is sick, you can take this as an opportunity to bond while ensuring they get enough rest, remain clean, and eat healthy foods. When they are sick, the most important thing to remember is to give them the attention they need.
When a child feels weak, they need the parent to remain strong and remind them that it’s okay and things will get better.
