Entertaining Kids When Mom is Sick

It’s germ season! But then again, when is it not? When you are parenting little ones, it seems like sickness is in the air almost constantly. It’s exhausting, but rest assured that we all understand how hard it is to care for and entertain kids when mom is sick.

One of the reasons illnesses linger is because we – the moms – can’t get enough rest to really heal our bodies. When we get sick, we need to slow down and relax, and we need our families to continue functioning while we operate at less than 100 percent. Is that even possible?

That is a loaded question, of course. Moms do it all and are irreplaceable in their homes. We handle everything from basic needs to daily entertainment and learning. Can we really simplify our daily activities to prioritize our own rest when needed?

Fun Activities for Independent Play When Mom is Sick

While we may not be able to get a break from feeding our families and keeping everyone and everything overall clean and safe, we can simplify the playtime and extra activities so that mamas can get a little more rest than usual. Here are some low-energy, simple ideas for entertaining kids is while mom is sick.

Keep in mind that all of these ideas do require some level of interaction, prep work, or supervision, but they all foster more independent play to give you a few minutes to take care of yourself.

Stations

With a little creativity and a few minutes of prep time, you can set up stations around your house (or just in your main living space) that your kids will enjoy.

You might have water mats in one area, Legos in another, and Play-Doh in another. You can do this with any toy sets you can imagine – Barbies, action figures, Magna tiles, blocks, baby dolls, coloring books and crayons, finger paints or watercolors, etc. As long as the activities are age-appropriate for your kiddos, it will work.

The idea is that kids can go from station to station without much help, maximizing their independent playtime and your much-needed rest time. While you will have to handle set up and clean up, you can hopefully have a decent chunk of time to relax.

Read-Aloud Videos

Many of us have to turn on cartoons for our kids to give us time to rest, and then we feel guilty that they get so much screen time. What if we could make the most of that screen time with educational, interactive options?

The trick is read-aloud videos! There are thousands of these available for free on Youtube. You can easily find videos reading books from big authors like Eric Carle and Dr. Seuss, as well as popular series like the Pout-Pout Fish and Little Blue Truck. Just search for the title of your child’s favorite story and add “read aloud” to the search bar. You’ll be surprised how many are available!

You can elevate this activity by having your child flip through his or her copy of the book as the video goes along. This makes it more interactive and captivating, while also saving your voice (a perfect way to get in a fun, educational storytime even if you have a sore throat). As long as you have the energy to search for the videos, this is a wonderfully worthwhile activity for both mom and child!

Charcuterie Snacks

If mealtime seems like an extra-big hurdle when you’re sick, we understand. Try simplifying lunchtime by deconstructing a well-balanced meal to the very basics. All you need is a muffin tin!

You’re basically making a charcuterie board – or snack tray – for the kids. Incorporate apple slices, cheese cubes, crackers, carrots, dry cereal, berries, and maybe even chocolate chips for a little something sweet! Kids will get a kick out of the idea, and the muffin tins make serving, portioning, and cleaning a little easier. This idea works so well because children still get a balanced meal, but in an entertaining way that involves much less prep work or cleanup than other more complicated dishes.

Yoga

Have you ever tried yoga? Have your kids? This can be a great way to move your body and play with your kids without strenuous activity.

If you have young children, try searching for “kids yoga” on Youtube. There are tons of themed videos that will keep your kids’ attention while also helping them exercise. Nickelodeon has a great option! If you have the energy to participate, you can join in, too! Yoga is a healthy way to exercise at home that is also calm and relaxing.

Book Fort

Here’s another bookish idea for all bookworm families! Books are great tools to make sure your kids’ day is full of learning and imagination without the need to expend excess energy on your part.

For this idea, all you need are some blankets, chairs (or other furniture), and some clothespins or hair ties. That’s right, we’re making a fort – a BOOK FORT! Fill the fort with pillows, flashlights, and books, and then let your kids take charge. They may read for a while (and maybe you can join them!), and they may decide to start more imaginative play with stuffed animals and other toys. Either way, the fort comes in handy.

While this activity does involve some setup and cleanup, it can create hours of fun for your kids, which would allow you to step away and rest.

Quiet Toys

If you want to avoid screen time, consider purchasing some quiet toys to let your kids enjoy while you rest. Here are some options.

The best part is that you can use these items for other situations, such as church or meetings, when the little ones need to be calm and still. These toys are great investments!

The Weary Need Rest

You’ve heard the saying that there is no rest for the weary, right? It’s true, but it’s not helpful. Make sure to claim the rest your body needs, especially when you are sick.

These activities will hopefully keep your kiddos entertained while you take a nap, eat a snack, take a shower, read a book, or watch a show – whatever you need to feel better. But don’t forget to also ask for help from a spouse, family member, or friend, so that you can see a doctor, get deep sleep, and disinfect any areas of your home that need it. You deserve to be well!