It can be hard to see your kids in pain and not feeling well. This winter we’ve caught the bug a couple different times. And although it’s easy to put them on the couch to relax and watch a movie I didn’t want them spending the whole day there. So here’s some simple yet surprising ways you can make them feel a little more comfortable when they’re stuck at home not feeling well.

• Play Hospital – the younger kids especially love this. We’ll pull out their doctor kit and help our stuffed animals feel better after a fall or when their stomach is hurting.
• Memory Books – it’s fun for kids to look through pictures of when they were a baby. We also love watching old videos but what they really love is listening to me talk about my own childhood and look through pictures of when I was little. We’ll talk about ways we’re the same and what features they got from and which ones came from their dad.
• Puzzles – we love puzzles in our house (even when we’re not sick). We’ll pull them out onto the coffee table and put them together. The Dollar store has lots to choose from. You can also find them at the thrift store (although you won’t know if all the pieces are there). We’ve also borrowed new puzzles from neighbors and friends.
• Spa Time – A warm bath is a favorite of mine when I’m not feeling well. I’ll even throw in a bath bomb but even my kids love just relaxing in the tub. The warm air will help if they have a cough or cold symptoms. Or paint their nails for a fun spa time.
• Make Popsicles – These are awesome for keeping liquid in when they’re not keeping food down but also great on sore throats. There’s lots of favor ideas on Pinterest.
• Books on Tape – If they’re not feeling well enough to sit up a great option is some books on tape. Our library has tons of kids books on tape but you could also subscribe to Audible through Amazon (free 30 day trial) or search for free kids books on tape on Google.
• Blanket fort – This is fun even when the kids aren’t sick but mine will curl up inside a blanket fort when they’re sick and relax or even take a nap. It’s also a great place to grab a book and read.
• Coloring/Drawing – I’m not a big drawer myself but I do love to color when I’m trying to relax. Again the dollar store has some fun coloring books you could have on hand for the next time you’re kids stay home from school.

What other things have you done to keep your kids happy while on the road to recovery?