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7 Ways to Make the Most of a Sick Day
- Gabrielle Fischer Posted On Jan 16, 2017 | Social-Emotional Learning
Missing a day of school doesn’t have to mean missing out entirely on learning and fun. Rest is important, but if your child is only a bit under the weather, a day at home may leave him or her feeling restless. So, pick two or three activities from this list for a healthy dose of entertainment and a little education, too!
Dramatic reading
An afternoon tucked in bed reading could be bliss to some kids. But many will need a little extra enticement to make books a part of their sick day. That’s where you come in! Crack open a book, clear your throat, and start reading! The more over-the-top you are with the voices, the better. “The Book with No Pictures” by B.J. Novak was specifically written to be read aloud, and it’s funny, too. The Lemony Snicket books, “A Series of Unfortunate Events” beg to be read in a dramatic fashion. Or try one of the Harry Potter books. Your own voice will add a bit of magic to the comfortingly familiar stories.
Family photos/videos
Children today spend their lives smiling for our phone cameras. But how often do they get to sit back and enjoy all those images and videos? Here’s a great opportunity for them to flip through family albums, photo books, or the photo files and videos on your laptop or tablet. Kids especially enjoy hearing the funny stories behind photos you’ve taken.
An easy win
Board games are a natural for sick days, but choose wisely. Something with complex rules or lots of random “go back to the start” moments could only serve to send a cranky child over the edge.
Sick day smoothie
Whip up a healthy, easy-to-sip, nutritious smoothie. Combine a cup each of yogurt, orange juice, frozen fruit, ice, and a full banana in your blender. (Smoothies are very forgiving, so feel free to adjust and improvise!) Give your child half in the morning, then freeze the rest in an ice pop mold for a super cool, throat-soothing afternoon treat!
Music to their ears
If you’re like most busy parents, your own hobbies have gone by the wayside a while ago. A sick day is the perfect time to break out your dusty guitar, ukulele, or other long-forgotten instrument. Even some simple strumming will likely impress your child, and if you can sing along, they’ll be doubly pleased! No instrument? No worries. Just sing. Even a child who is normally too old to be sung to often enjoys it as they drift into a nap on a sick day.
Get crafty
A little creativity can help pass the time beautifully. Think small scale for sick day crafts, especially if your child is working from their bed. One simple project is to let your child use an inkpad to put a single finger- or thumbprint on a series of sticky notes. Then they can use colored pencils or markers to add eyes, ears, feet, tails, beaks, etc. Kids can display their creatures on the wall, bedposts, and dresser to keep them company!
Animal hospital
Round up the stuffed animals and bring them to your child for check-ups. Especially for younger kids, playing the role of doctor will also make them feel more at ease and in control if you do end up having to visit the pediatrician.Sick days don’t have to be all about sneezes and coughs. With a few well-chosen activities, they can be filled with smiles, learning opportunities and a few giggles!
Learning is Where We Play:
Fine Motor Skills for Preschoolers
Fine motor skills are critical to a preschooler’s development. Like any skill, such as playing the piano or dribbling a basketball, practice is essential to success.
When preschool teachers mention fine motor skills, they are referring to the muscles in the hand that are used to manipulate small objects. Fine motor and hand eye coordination are typically parallel skills; most fine motor tasks require refined hand eye coordination. Hand eye coordination refers to the communication that happens between the hands and the eyes in order to accomplish a task.
We use fine motor skills in our everyday lives. Examples include: tying shoes (looping shoelaces through each other), getting dressed (buttons and zippers), eating dinner (using a fork or knife), and brushing teeth (squeezing toothpaste and brushing). In addition, kids will undoubtedly use fine motor skills at school as they write, color, cut, glue, and paint.
Not only is it important to develop fine motor skills for physical growth, but also to build confidence. The more children practice these skills, the more confident they will become. Mastering the coordination of putting on a winter coat, zipping, and buttoning it will make kids excited to go outside. Delaying practicing fine motor skills may have an adverse effect - a student who hasn’t learned to hold and move a pencil properly may make them frustrated during a writing lesson, or could lead to avoiding the task altogether.
While there are plenty of ways to practice fine motor skills around the house, children can also learn through playing with any of these Learning Resources products:
Sand and Water Fine Motor Tool Set
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