10 Things Kids Can Do on a Sick Day Besides Watch TV

Are you looking for non-electronic things your kids can do when they are home sick from school? Here are 10 things kids can do on a sick day BESIDES watch t.v..

Ginger ale, Lipton soup, and peanut butter saltines. The Price is Right, Arthur, and maybe a little Reading Rainbow (or a sneaky peek at Maury). My bedroom pillow, stuffed Moose MaryAnne, and a cozy blanket set up on the couch. That’s what my childhood sick days were made of. What do you think of when you recall staying home sick from school?

I think we can safely say we all remember the t.v. shows. However, there was a lot of downtime in my house when I couldn’t find anything to watch on t.v.. During those moments my Mom made me sleep, color, or read. I never complained about the lack of screen time because it was normal to only watch a few hours a day. Today… things are very different for our children. They have the gift of streaming services and can binge watch anything they like for hours and hours while they’re home sick.

The only problem with binge watching t.v. is that it can make you cranky. Or is it just my children?

10 Things Kids Can Do on a Sick Day Besides Watch TV

After the 8th sick day of the school year spent in front of the television, I have had enough. My girls have been extra cranky despite me fulfilling their every want and need. My theory is that countless hours of screen time makes them impatient, sassy, and sleepy.

Truth be told, if my girls are dozing in and out of sleep while sick on the couch, I don’t mind a show on in the background. But when my kids are almost back to being 100% but still home “sick” – they have to do more than veg out. So, we sat down and talked about things they can do on a sick day besides watch television! Here are ten fun non-electronic things kids can do while home sick.

1. Puzzles – Puzzles are a great activity to keep kids entertained while they are home sick. There are so many different kinds too: floor puzzles, lap puzzles, bath puzzles, puzzle activity books, etc. We have a whole stack of Highlights Puzzle Books just waiting to be completed.
2. Play-doh or Clay – Want to keep your child busy while sitting in one spot? Set up a space to use play-doh or clay. Worried about a mess? There are a variety of mess-free or easy to clean up options out there – like modeling foam or floam.
3. Coloring – We stock up on Dollar Store coloring books and always keep a supply of crayons/markers/colored pencils in the craft cabinet. Don’t have a coloring book? There are countless free printable coloring sheets online! Does your child like to draw freely but you’re out of blank paper? Get creative – use a brown paper bag or the white side of wrapping paper. Worried about a mess? Paint by Sticker, Color with Water, or MagicColor Books are the best.
4. Make Bracelets – This rubber band bracelet kit is for the older kids, but it’s such a great thing to do on a sick day. My girls can sit for hours making bracelets, rings, and necklaces for everyone they know. If you want to make bracelets with younger children, try this pop bead kit.
5. Take a Bubble Bath – Not only is a lukewarm bath good for regulating your kids’ body temperature when they have a fever, but bubble baths are also FUN. Sprinkle in a little Epsom Salt for sore muscles or its detoxifying properties. Let your child play with shaving cream or bring in their favorite water-proof toys. You can even turn bath time into spa time for the older ones with relaxing music, cucumbers for their eyes, and fluffy bath bubbles.
6. Build an indoor pillow fort – I like to let my girls build a pillow fort with the couch cushions and tell them to take one of their non-electronic activities inside. Or maybe just drag in a blanket and take a nap.
7. Pull out the old photo albums (if you have them). My daughters love looking at our photo albums and photo boxes! If you don’t have any printed photos in your home, here is a reminder to take a few moments to send some of your best memories to the local printer.
8. Play Pretend _________ – Some of my daughters’ favorite games are actually when they play Make Believe: store, library, school, fashion designer, etc. Sometimes they love to get out old dance or Halloween costumes to really get into character.
9. Read a book. It’s fun I promise. Or write your own story!
10. Get creative with a cardboard box. My girls have built so many different things with cardboard boxes: a dollhouse, a television set (hah!), a fairy house and even an airplane.

Sick at Home Survival Kit for Kids

Before you run out and buy everything I’ve linked in this post – consider these as future gift ideas! For every birthday and Christmas we ask family and friends to gift our daughters activity kits or crafting sets. It’s impossible to complete all of the kits in one sitting, so I set aside a few for each child in the basement. Then I pull out a seemingly new fun thing to do when the girls are home sick or schools are closed.

Click the image below to see my daughter’s picks for a Sick at Home Survival Kit for Kids:

Want more posts about sick days and germs? Check out the archives.