From November to February there are many sick days. Your child is too unwell to go to school or nursery, but too awake to just lie and look at the ceiling. Here are 12 calm activities for children aged 3 to 9 that can be done from the sofa or bed, and some advice for you, who also need to get something done.
This post is about getting the day to pass, not about illness. If you are unsure about your child's health, contact your doctor or an out-of-hours service.
How to keep the day calm
Make the sofa or bed the base for the day. Put out duvets, cushions and a tray or board, so your child has a flat place to play. Keep everything within reach from the start, so you do not have to get up every five minutes.
Choose short activities, so there is something new to move on to when your child is done with the first. It is easier to switch between three small things than to hold on to one long one. Follow your child's energy. Some days your child will want to build, other days only to listen to a story.
And be kind to yourself. Screens are part of many sick days, and that is perfectly fine. The ideas below are for the breaks in between.
6 ideas for lying down and listening
- Listen to an audio story. Crateit has three original Danish audio stories, free to download. They suit both bedtime and quiet afternoons.
- Read aloud, and let your child choose. Take a pile of books into bed. Let your child decide the order.
- Make a den on the sofa. A blanket over the back of the sofa and a torch are enough.
- Tell a story together. You say one sentence, your child says the next. See where it ends up.
- Listen to music and draw along. Draw what the music reminds you of.
- Play a quiet game. Cards, a memory game or a jigsaw puzzle on the tray all work well.
6 ideas with the hands
- Build on a tray. Put a tray on the duvet and build a little world on it. Crateit Town is made up of roads, houses and vehicles in wood that click together without glue and tools, so they can be built and taken down again in bed.
- Draw a comic strip. Fold a sheet into six boxes and let your child fill them in.
- Make a collage. Cut pictures out of old magazines and stick them on a piece of paper.
- Make little figures from modelling clay. It can be done on a tray, and it is easy to tidy up.
- Sort and count. Buttons, beads or coins can be sorted by colour and size.
- Do something for others. Make a card for a grandparent or a friend, to be sent or handed over when your child is well.
When your child is a bit better, but not ready
Many children feel better before they are ready to go out. Here it is a good idea to take on something that can last a little longer. Build a town together, where your child decides where the house goes. Or start a small project that can continue when your child is completely well. Read more about building in building play: what children practise when they build a town.
If your child gets restless, take a break. Sometimes it helps just to change place, change activity or have a snack.
When you have to work yourself
Many parents have to work while their child is sick. It is rarely easy. Here are some things that can help:
- Put your child somewhere you can hear them, for instance on the sofa next to your desk.
- Agree small goals: "When I have written this email, we read a book."
- Make a small box of things that may only be used on sick days. Then they are new when they are needed.
- Listen to an audio story while you take a call, if you can.
If you need more ideas for quiet days at home, read what children can do when they are bored and our indoor activities for children.
If more than one child is at home
If a sibling is also home, you can choose something they can do together on either side of a tray. Build a road where one child builds the houses and the other decides who lives in them. If that does not work, split the ideas up, so each child has their own activity and their own corner of the sofa. Then there are fewer arguments, and you get a little peace for a cup of coffee.
Toys for sick days
The best toys for a sick day are often those that can be played with lying or sitting down, and that do not require you to be well enough to run around. They should be able to sit on a tray or board, and be easy to pick up when your child falls asleep. Crateit is wooden toys with no screen and no batteries, so you can read more on the page about screen free toys.
Frequently asked questions
What can you do with a sick child?
Listen to audio stories, read aloud, draw, make a collage or build on a tray in bed. Choose short activities, and switch often.
How do I keep a sick child occupied while I work?
Put your child somewhere you can hear them, and give them something that works on its own, like an audio story, drawing or building on a tray. Agree small goals.
Is it all right for my child to watch a screen on a sick day?
Many parents choose that, and it is all right. Use the ideas here for the breaks in between.
When should I contact a doctor?
If you are unsure about your child's health, contact your doctor or an out-of-hours service.
Crateit is wooden toys with no screen and no batteries. See more here.
