Prevent and Treat Illness

Activities for Children Sick at Home

Beyond TV, Video Games, Apps and the Internet

A sick child lies in bed When you have a child who is sick at home, it can be tough to find things for them to do. Of course there’s always TV, video games, apps and the Internet, but it’s better to fill most of the day with other activities. We hope you find some ideas here. But first, there are a few things to remember:

Avoid choosing activities that might frustrate your child. Choose things they can do with ease when feeling well. Familiar toys and play items give a child comfort and security. When choosing new projects or toys, select ones that are geared to a slightly younger age.
Know that your child’s attention span will be shorter than normal. Plan activities that can be finished in short periods of time or can be stopped and started again easily. If your child needs to stay in bed, place a table by the bedside. Provide a large, firm surface to work on. A lid from a large cardboard box can help keep track of pieces or supplies.
Try to set regular times throughout the day to spend with your child so you can still go about your daily tasks. If your child is young, they will need your attention more often, but for shorter periods of time. If your child is older, they can manage being with you less often, but will enjoy having you stay long enough to play a game or do something together.
Help your child get started on an activity, check on progress and help with clean up. This kind of structure encourages a child to continue on their own.
Try not to insist on neatness. For messy activities, an old vinyl tablecloth can help protect your child’s bed or play area. (Do not use thin plastic bags or sheets with children under three years due to suffocation hazard.)

Activity Suggestions

Under 3 years

Cuddling and tender loving care
Reading or looking at books
Coloring
Sorting or matching toys and activities
Music
Playdough
Stacking or nesting toys and activities
Easy-to-handle building sets (Duplo)
Dolls or stuffed toys
Activity sets or centers (such as Fisher Price Farm or Garage)

3 to 5 years

All of the activities listed above, plus:
Puzzles (5–25 large pieces)
Simple matching games (Memory, Lotto, Picture Dominoes)
Puppets (make your own out of paper lunch sacks!)
Painting
Cutting and pasting
Dramatic or imaginative play ( “Let’s pretend…”)
Bubbles

5 to 7 years

Simple games (Candyland, Chutes & Ladders, checkers, cards)
Puzzles (up to 60 large pieces)
Simple crafts, using: safety scissors, glue, crayons, non-toxic felt markers, tape, scrap material or yarn, paper or cardboard, egg cartons, paper towel tubes, ribbon, wrapping paper, etc.
Construction or put-together sets with more pieces (Lego)
Sorting, matching or counting activities (pictures, colors, objects)
Reading or stories
Music
Playdough
“Practice” academic skills
Collections

7 to 9 years

Paper and pencil games (word search, mazes, matching, crosswords)
Board games
Puzzles (100 pieces)
Crafts (can add more steps, materials)
Beginning sewing activities
Magnets and science-like activities
Reading
“Helping” activities
Collections
Music

9 to 11 years

Activities from above group, but make them harder or more complex. Your child has more defined interests at this age.

11 years and up

Already developed interests will guide choices.
Competitive games
Hobbies or collections
Music
Reading
Talking
Daydreaming, planning, organizing

Virtual Art and Music Therapy Activities

Seattle Children’s art and music therapists and volunteers have created several videos of activities that can be done in patient rooms, at home, or anywhere else that works for you.