Anonymous wrote:Blow up a balloon and tell the toddler not to let it touch the floor.

+1 for the play dough idea.

Also definitely +1 for screens. Now is the time for it.

Kids adore balloons, but make sure to keep latex balloons from any kid who might put them in their mouth. They are a terrible choking hazard. If they pop, pieces can go down the throat, and unlike other things that can be cleared by a modified, pediatric version of the Heimlich forcing air to push the object out of the way, a latex balloon may stretch rather than getting pushed out.

Blow up a balloon and tell the toddler not to let it touch the floor.

+1 for the play dough idea.

Also definitely +1 for screens. Now is the time for it.

Cardboard boxes, cut a hole out and it can become a car/store/rocket ship etc. Borrow one of those little trampolines that have a handle. Fill up the tub and throw kitchen tools in there like colanders and measuring cups, bath crayons and allow kid to have an hour long bath. Bring in a comfy chair for yourself to supervise. Once it gets dark, let them play with shining a flashlight out the window or in the bedroom. If they are past the age of putting beans in their orifices, let them play with dried bean and dump trucks etc.

Screens - Even if you generally avoid them, you’re in survival mode. Focus all your energy on getting better as fast as possible. Save your strength for the things that absolutely have to be done, but make things as easy on yourselves as possible. If PBS Kids are Dismey+ can help, let them. Once you’re back on your feet you can reassert household rules.

A fort - let your kid pile cushions, or stuffed animals up, or give them a large box, or put a sheet over a card table. Having a fort/cave/nest is irresistible to kids. Even regular toys are more fun in a cave.

Raid the kitchen to give them something different to play with. If it isn’t sharp and doesn’t have small pieces that could be a choking hazard, it can make a great toy. A plastic colander and plastic potato masher were big hits when my kids were little, as was an empty oatmeal canister.

Here’s a search with sites that might offer more ideas:
https://www.google.com/search?q=entertaining+toddler+when+parents+sick&client=safari&hl=en-us&ei=WBRnY9e9Arii5NoPmdKoqAI&oq=entertaining+toddler+when+parents+sick&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwuAED-AEBMggQIRjDBBigAcICChAAGEcY1gQYsAPCAgUQABiiBMICChAhGMMEGAoYoAGQBghIwyJQ3hNY8R5wAXgAyAEAkAEAmAHRAaABvwOqAQUzLjAuMeIDBCBBGACIBgE&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp

Good luck! I hope everybody feels better soon.

Make salt and flour play dough. Then gave them “make you meals” out of the dough. They will stay busy making you what you “order”.

Do you have one of those easel paper rolls? Roll out a super long piece and let them decorate with crayons, stickers, etc.

Do you have a yard? If so, ball for toddler with one parent on the porch. If not, take the ball or bubbles to a nearby park if the adult is feeling up to it. Monkey in the middle where toddler is always in the middle and make them run and chase the ball as needed.

Find an empty enclosed playground (much harder on the weekend unfortunately) and let the toddler free. Is toddler still contagious? If not, it doesn't have to be totally empty but parent should wear a mask/not socialize.

Does toddler have a bike/scooter? Take them somewhere they can go in circles/make patterns safely and the supervising adult can sit still.

Indoors: take the cushions off your couch and have the toddler build a pillow fort and/or jump between them in the floor is lava adventures.

Read every book in your house and give up on cleaning for a week.

(We all had RSV last month. It sucked. I hope you all feel better soon!)

Toddler was sick but is now recovered and bouncing off the walls with energy. Baby has the flu (test confirmed) and is miserable. Husband and I are only mildly sick - but it's probably also the flu.

Ideas for low-effort indoor activities, or low-effort outdoor activities that are socially distanced, that we can use to entertain toddler while baby & husband & I recover?