You’re feeling poorly from a bad cold, and all you want to do is lie down on the sofa and put a nice movie on. But the kids are home too, and there’s no one to look after them but you! When we could really do with a parent of our own to come and bring us soup and run us a nice hot bath, we have to be parents ourselves and try to keep our kids entertained and fed. How on earth do we do it?

First of all, don’t hesitate to order a pizza; it won’t do them any harm once in a while, and it gets rid of the burden of cooking, not to mention how excited they’ll be! If you don’t fancy ordering a pizza, make something quick and easy. A sandwich or can of soup will do very nicely.

But what can be done to entertain them?

We recommend organising an activity the kids can engage in while you sit and watch. This will keep them busy for a while and you can have a bit of a rest on the comfiest spot on the sofa, a hot cup of tea in your hand.

So, to make things easier, we’ve put together a short list of activities they’ll love to play and you’ll love to watch (or pretend to watch as you daydream of hot bubble baths).

How can I keep my little one entertained while I’m ill?

Of the following six activities, use as few or as many as you like next time you’re feeling a little unwell..

Pillow-covered floor

What you’ll need: Lots of cushions, pillows, and blankets.

How to play: With your little one’s help, cover the living room floor with as many blankets, cushions, and pillows as you can find, and then encourage them to play in the soft, comfortable playroom. They’ll love jumping about and playing make-believe games as you relax on the sofa.

Why it’s good: This activity is great for teaching your child to balance as they make their way through uneven terrain.

Hunt and find

What you’ll need: A few sheets of paper, a pen, and some painter’s tape.

How to play: On the various sheets of paper, draw a few numbers, letters, or symbols and then stick them about the living room. From your position on the sofa, call out different numbers and have your little one rush about and find them. You could tell them to “Hop to the number 4!” or “Crawl to the letter M!” and so on.

Why it’s good: This activity will get your kids moving, tiring them out so they might even take a nap afterwards.

Bath with bricks

What you’ll need: Plastic building bricks and a bathtub full of water.

How to play: Fill your bathtub as you usually would to bathe your little one and add a bunch of plastic building bricks they can play with while you sit nearby. They’ll love pushing the pieces together and pulling them apart again over and over, and they’ll get a wash in the meantime. Just make sure never to leave your child alone in the bath.

Why it’s good: Your child will really enjoy the sensory experience of being in a bathtub full of water and bricks.

Ice lolly bath

What you’ll need: A bathtub full of water and an ice lolly.

How to play: This is a similar idea to the bath with bricks. While your little one is distracted by the ice lolly, loving the sweet and delicious taste, you can sit nearby with a good book.

Why it’s good: With the juxtaposition of a freezing ice lolly and the hot bathwater, it’ll be a very interesting sensory experience for your little one. And they’ll be over the moon to get such a yummy treat!

Toy push drop

What you’ll need: An old plastic or cardboard container of some kind, as well as some small toys.

How to play: Make a small hole in the container lid, just big enough for a small toy to be pushed through. Demonstrate how to push a toy through and how to take the lid off once they’re done, and your toddler’s ready to go.

Why it’s good: This activity is especially good for teaching cause and effect thinking and improving fine motor skills. You can also change the items that are pushed inside the container, creating an almost entirely new game for your little one.

Tape toy rescue

What you’ll need: Some tape, a few small toys, and a flat surface.

How to play: Set the small toys on a flat surface and loosely tape them down. Your toddler must work their way across the surface, tugging all the toys free.

Why it’s good: This activity will improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and if your child frees up all the toys, they’ll feel a wonderful sense of accomplishment.

Watch a bit of TV.

Yes, we don’t want our kids to be watching screens all day every day, but when you’re feeling unwell, don’t feel guilty about putting a couple of episodes of your toddler’s favourite show on and sitting down to watch together.

How to parent my toddler when I'm having a sick day