Sick day activities for kids

Cold and Flu season is here!

Mama Nurse gives you some tried and true ideas for sick days, snow days and quarantine days to keep your child entertained for hours! Read on for sick day activities for kids (and their parents!)

However, if your child is not feeling well and doesn’t want to do activities, that is ok! Their bodies need rest to help them get better. And don’t worry about extra screen time when they are sick!

But, when they are feeling up for it, here are some activities to give screens a break out of the boredom.

Activities for kids ages 4 years and younger

Cuddle! Some snuggles can go a long way when your child is feeling ill.
Play with toys – this can be a great time to engage with your kids and play with their toys together. It may also be a great time to dig out those toys they never use and enjoy those as well!
Color or paint — You can download and print almost anything from the internet. These Crayola paints are great too. They last forever and are washable. That is what matters most when you are dealing with little kids and paint! (#affiliate)

Additionally, while we are on the topic of paint – if you are painting with a toddler you MUST get some of these spill-proof cups (#affiliate).

I even use one for water so if they want to clean their brushes so it doesn’t spill all over the place!

Here are some more ideas

Play ball pass with a soft, lightweight ball.
Name that noise — practice your child’s animal knowledge by making an animal sound and letting them guess it.
Play charades
Do puzzles
Play I spy — describe objects around you home and have your child guess what they are.
Listen to kid-friendly podcasts or audio books — this can be a great way to entertain your child if they need to lay down and rest. This link has super charming stories narrated by actors reading popular and kid-friendly books: https://storylineonline.net/
Obstacle course – If your child is up for an obstacle course, make one with soft pillows to get their little bodies moving a little bit.
Have fun with cardboard boxes — With cardboard boxes you can:
- Build forts
- Paint or color on them
- Decorate boxes to look cars and have your kids sit in them for a “drive-in” or make them in to train cars and choo-choo around the house
Plan an activity to do after your child gets better — talk to your child about a fun, out-of-the-house activity that they can do once they are well.
Create an at-home scavenger hunt — leave clues around your home to encourage your child to get up and stretch their legs.
Play hide the toy – find a bunch of toys and hide them around the room (or house) and take turns finding them.
Build a fort!
Seek a Boo!

Activities for kids ages 5 to 11 years

Do any of the activities mentioned above that your kids ages 5 to 11 years may enjoy, plus:

Cook together — get in the kitchen to make some nutritious snacks.
Send happy mail — draw pictures and write letters to mail to your loved ones.
Build a fort — whether it be boxes or bedding, build a fort that your child can read or rest in.
Look at photo albums — your child may enjoy seeing their baby photos and other family memories.
Garden, picnic or collect and paint rocks outside — this can be a great opportunity for your child to get some sun and fresh air.
Utilize online offerings — since the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies started offering fun, educational and free online resources. Here is a list to browse: https://www.onlineeducation.com/features/guide-to-online-learning-resources-for-kids
Write down 10 things you’re grateful for — this can be a helpful way to embrace some positivity if your child is bummed out about being sick.
Have a homemade spa day – your kids can soak their feet in a large bowl or bathtub, do some nail care, wash their faces or do a face mask.
Learn origami — all you need is some paper and a free, online tutorial. Try this one here: https://origami.me/
Set up a call or zoom with out-of-town relatives — your child can receive some extra comfort from family when they’re sick.

Activities for Kids 12 years and up

Do puzzles and play board games.
Adult coloring books.
Set up a zoom to watch a movie or play an online game with friends.
Paint or do crafts — you can find hundreds of craft ideas online.
Talk and tell stories – this might be a rare opportunity to spend uninterrupted time with your teen!
Create funny presentations or slideshows — have your teen pick a funny topic of their choice to give a persuasive presentation about. For example, their presentation could be about why their favorite musical artist is superior to your family’s, what fictional characters best represent your friends or family or the top ten cutest animal pictures they can find.
Learn a dance — use all the different choreographies available on social media to learn a fun dance together.
Plan a trip — whether it’s an upcoming trip or imaginary vacation, looking at hotels and activities in exotic locations can be a fun way to pass the time.
Help them create a Pinterest board – decide on something to look up such as recipes, room decorations our trips

Hang in there parents! Entertaining and caring for a sick child can be exhausting, so make sure you also get your rest and eat well. They will get better soon!

Cold and Flu season is here!

Activities for kids ages 4 years and younger

Here are some more ideas

Activities for kids ages 5 to 11 years

Activities for Kids 12 years and up

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