What to Do When Your Kids are Sick: 11 great ideas!
It all started when I dropped the kids off at the gym daycare for a Zumba class, and then it hit… My two year-old got a croup-y cough, followed by a bad cough for my four year-old. Then, regardless of my efforts to save the baby from the sickness, she eventually developed symptoms which led to an ear infection. Three trips to the pediatrician later, we finally hit the lovely lingering stage 🙂 For three social girls and one social momma- ten days is LONG!
Since we wanted to avoid the spread of germs, here's what we did to keep from going loco!
1) Borrowed a bunch of games from a family member.
The Frozen Spot It game was fun enough that I ended up ordering our own on Amazon. I'd compete with Josh at the same time the girls raced each other. Amazon says it's discontinued (crazy?!) , but it's still in stock now!
Blokus was actually really fun for a date night in! That wins the prize for the most fun for mom and dad. *Don't tell my husband I bought it for us Christmas… and I wish we could open it already!!!
Mighty Mind was totally great for my four-year-old. It kept her busy for a long stretch. Good, classic brain game.
Feed the Kitty was cute to see my girls easily catch on. It's a simple game you can play as long as you like.
***Fibber and Yahtzee Jr. we never got around to trying, but Fibber is like B.S. for kids and my nieces and nephews think it's super fun 🙂 I hear Yahtzee is a fave!
I loved this as a kid! A Marble Tower is a great toy to keep for special occasions, or a quiet time closet. Toy rotation comes in especially handy when kids are sick: keep a few "batches" of toys. Some are in the toy box, and some are tucked away. Bring out new batches as needed!
4) Fed the ducks at our local pond.
It felt so good to get out of the house, and there was no one else around to poison with our contagious germs!
Once you're done cooking, turn the facet on just enough to trickle and let them stand at the sink "washing" the dishes along with tupperware, cups, large utensils and etc. Giving baby dolls or cars a bath can be fun when kids are sick too!
6) Origami: great low key activity for older kids.
Check out her paper crane tutorial to get started, and google "origami" for more ideas.
7) Reading books: Novelty is your friend here.
Once the kids are in bed and your spouse is home, head to the library and stock up on some new-to-them reads. Stories about being sick may especially help little ones feel better. Llama, Llama Home with Mama is one of my favorites.
Sit (or better, lay) on the couch together and take turns making a collaborative drawing. Begin by drawing a shape, then pass the paper and crayon to one of your children to make their contribution. Keep passing and drawing in a circle until your creation is complete. This is also fun to follow the same idea, but just telling a story! Cuddle up by the fire, (draw one if you don't have a fireplace!) and take turns adding to the story.
If you have a child that gets ear infections often, I can't recommend this enough! My doctor recommended this oil to help soothe and fight infections in the ear and it seriously works! I was hesitant to buy something that I'd have to drop in my baby's ear- that just seemed like it could make things worse. But seriously, my daughter loves it- she will calm right down and hold still so I can put it in for her. She often shows the telltale signs of ear infection- irritable when she lies down, swatting at her ears, etc; but I put a drop in each ear once or twice a day if I'm suspecting an infection and it's ALWAYS cleared up on it's own since I've learned how to use it!
I usually like our bodies to build up immunity to germs. But, when we're really trying to get rid of a bug we have, I keep a bottle of sanitizer out: made pretti-er with scrapbook paper and packing tape! I also will pullout those oh-so-convenient disposable disinfecting wipes, and these babyganics wipes are way better alternative to the main-stream brnads. No toxins in them! They get an A on the EWG rating, when Clorox and Lysol both earned a D. I found out about how cool they are from the One Hollistic Home Facebook Group and they have some added tips on disinfecting that I thought were great!
On-Guard is a blend of essential oils that is targeted to fight infections, and it smells like a fresh, fall day! I have loved this diffuser so much!
Mommy Convos is actually going to host a Facebook Live video this Thursday, Oct 6 at 8pm with some friends at The Daily Essential Co, and they are going to talk more about how essential oils can help with better health! We hope you can join us!