THE LOW-ENERGY SICK DAY PLAY GUIDE (WITHOUT TURNING TO SCREENS ALL DAY)
Having sick kids is difficult - it’s hard to see your kids not feeling well, and it throws off schedules, school and work, and just forces everything to slow down. There’s an awkward “in between” phase of a sick day, when kids aren’t needing to sleep constantly any more, but still shouldn’t run around and play, but they’re bored and ready to do something. High-energy play can lead to a meltdown and exhaustion, where too much screen time can lead to crankiness.
The best solution is having some “horizontal play” ideas that can be done while kids are still lying in bed or on the couch. The activities are restful, low-energy, and low-mess and can help kids get some fun and engagement while keeping them from burning out. Think gentle and calm setups that are designed to keep hands busy while tired bodies get the rest they still desperately need.
Tips for Restful Play
I understand that a calm, restful activity can quickly turn into a high-energy game if the kids are wanting more play time. Setting some clear boundaries can help ensure that the activity can actually serve the purpose it’s supposed to. For example, keeping the sensory items on the sheet you’ve laid out, committing to staying on the couch, and keeping volume levels down. Set the rules for what’s best for your little ones.
Another tip is how to keep the activities less- or low-mess. The set up is key - laying out a sheet or towel is a great way to quickly clean up any pieces or sensory base that fell out of the container. Use trays, even just a baking sheet, plastic bins, or a TV dinner tray to help keep all of the items contained and accessible when a kid is sitting or laying down.
4 Gentle, Low-Energy Play Ideas
Let’s get into some restful play ideas that can help your little ones on a sick day:
Dry Sensory Trays: If your kid is stuck in bed, doing any sort of wet or goopy play activity (like slime or water sensory bins) is a mess waiting to happen. Opt for dry sensory bases, like dyed rice or pasta or multiple sizes of pompoms. Pour the sensory base into a shallow plastic bin or baking tray. Add some play tools, like cups and spoons. You can also add some figurines or small toys that can be buried in the sensory base. The rhythmic act of scooping, pouring, and running their fingers through dry materials is incredibly soothing. Set something like this up with a towel or sheet underneath for quick clean-up!
Shadow Puppet Stories: This is such a fun activity that requires minimal set up and the whole family can get involved. All you need is a flashlight and a blank wall, or you can hang up a sheet. Shine the light at the wall and use your hands to make hand puppets. Tell stories and do a puppet show for each other! You can also cut shapes and characters out of paper to use for the shadow stories. (Click here for a free printable download of some fun cut-out puppets!)
Calming Bottles: I love this activity because it’s easy to put together and has such a beautiful result. It’s great for kids of all ages! You just need a bottle with a lid, hot water, clear glue, food coloring, glitter, and a hot glue gun. (Click here for the full tutorial!) You’ll create these beautiful calming bottles that are so fun to just sit and watch. For more play time, you could even hide a few charms or trinkets inside for your kids to search for as they spin the bottle around!
Printable Activity Packs: Having some activity packs already printed and ready to go in case of sickness or boredom is the ultimate parenting hack. Before giving it to your child, it’s important to scan the pack and make sure that they’ll have all of the supplies they need. (Otherwise you’ll have to hear them call for you every time they turn the page and see that they now need scissors or some dot markers!) There are activity packs out there for all ages and themes, so choose some that your kid will love!
We have some amazing activity packs ready to go in our online resource, Mothercould In Your Pocket. We have packs for all of the seasons, holidays, different themes, and even some more advanced ones for older ages. Check them out at Mothercould In Your Pocket! (Or if you’d just like to purchase a few packs, check them out here.)
Mothercould In Your Pocket is like having 60+ play recipes ready to go with just a few taps - no more scrolling through different websites trying to find the right one. All of our tried-and-true recipes are available in one, convenient place, with video tutorials and printable recipe cards in English and Spanish. No need to scramble to find the perfect homemade play dough recipe, just head to Mothercould In Your Pocket and have all of the best recipes and tips at your fingertips! It takes the guesswork out of choosing a sensory play recipe and lets you get right to play and connection.
Remember - sick days are about rest and connection, not perfection. You don’t have to be super mom or dad and have countless restful activities ready to go. The goal is creating a space for your little one to heal - sometimes have a fun activity or two can help with that! Encourage your kids to remain resting and let them explore the activities from the couch or in their bed. Utilizing the set up and clean up tips can help reduce your stress as well when implementing activities - don’t be afraid of a little mess, but remember that clean up can be simple when you’re well-prepped and have some clear boundaries in place.