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Only a parent knows how difficult it can be to care for a sick child. The trick is to not only be an understanding nursemaid and comforter but be a constant entertainer finding creative ways to keep the child occupied in bed to speed up their recovery. If they are busy they are more likely not to whine and complain about their aches and pains and the time will pass faster for you and the child both.
ACTIVITIES
If your child is young, this would be an excellent time to play doctor. Providing bandaids, dolls for patients, empty pill bottles, play syringes, etc. Kids can be entertained for hours with a roll of ace bandages!
Hellium balloons work wonders on hospital patients: why not surprise your sick child at home with one?
Kids love to open presents and the anticipation is often more fun that the gift. Wrap several small toys in brightly colored paper and bows. You can buy new toys or even choose items your child already owns but may not have played with in a long time. Put all the gifts in a big basket and let them choose one when they take the medicine or finish their lunch.
COMMUNICATION
Even when a child is sick, parents need to be able to continue their dailey routine sometimes. Using a baby monitor can help you be able to leave the room and still hear your child if they need anything.
Write secret notes back and forth with lemon juice and a toothpick. Take the shade off their bedside lamp so that they can use their warm lighbulb to decifer the message.
Secret messages can also be fun if you write the words backwards and give the child a mirror to read the words with. Your child might have fun writing letter like this to their friends or gandparents too.
TAKING MEDICINE
If your child is having a hard time taking their pills hide them in pudding or applesauce. For liquid medicines try adding it to juice and freezing into a popsycle. Another creative idea, fill a squirt gun with their medicine and shoot it into their mouths!
EATING TIPS
Without a healthy appetite getting kids to eat can be tough. Try serving a variety of finger foods or feed them with unique kitchen utinsels like a pie server or salad tongs. Write a menu for your child and pretend to be the waitress and take their order.
Make eating a game and set the timer for 5 minutes, see if they can beat their time of record each meal. Egg timers or an hour glass would be the best so that kids can see how much longer they have.
At dinner time if your child can't join your family at the table, set up a card table in the childs room or use TV trays so the family can eat together.
GET WELL CARDS
If it looks like your child will be ill for more than a day, make a get well poster and let your childs friends sign it from school or church classes. If you are a member of online e-mail groups that you trust, send out a request for cards to be sent by other children from around the world. Give your child a map so that they can mark the different geographical area's they get cards from.
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