How do I Keep a Child From Being Bored While on the Couch With a Broken Leg?

Having time with your child is a blessing.

Having a child means that you are a parent all of the time come injury, illness or disability. Finding ways to amuse a child, particularly if he is couch-bound, can be difficult, and it is easy to let a child just sit and watch the TV or play a computer game. Alternative activities that you and your child can play together, even when he is immobilized, can be fun and very rewarding. This time together should help you to build an even better relationship with your child.

Things You'll Need

• Books
• String
• Beads
• Dried Pasta
• Board Games
• Pencil
• Paper
• Eraser
• Colored pens or pencils

Instructions

1. Do some stretching exercises. Settle your child in a comfortable position and then do some arm stretches. Raise your arms high in the air and stretch. Circle your arms and get the child to copy "doing a windmill." Exercise will keep your child's body in tip-top form while she is incapacitated.

2. 

   Choose something your child will enjoy.

   Set up a board game that you both might enjoy. Check that the game is age-appropriate. If you haven't got many board games at home, ask your friends and family to borrow some.

3. 

   Reading is pleasurable and educational.

   Find a book that is age-appropriate. If your child is very young pick "The Hungry Caterpillar" or "The Gruffalo." or for older children try "Harry Potter" or the "Twilight" series. If your child is young, you will read to them, but older children or children that are learning to read could read to you. With older children, you could take turns reading.

4. 

   Bead necklaces and bracelets are easy to make with a child.

   Make a craft such as a bead necklace that you can complete from a sitting position. Show your child how to do the craft activity. Give her the string and help her to string the beads onto the necklace or bracelet. Use things that you have in the house. If you don't have beads, you could always use dried pasta. Make a necklace yourself as well, or just help your child.

5. Draw a picture. Give your child a pencil, paper, eraser and colored pencils or pens. Place a board, book or lap tray over the child's legs for him to lean on. For an older child, set up objects that the child can copy. Make it something he will enjoy such as a clown with a ball or his favorite action figures. Get the child to draw the "still life" that you have set up.

6. Invite family and friends over to see your child. Your child may be missing seeing friends from school, so get in touch with people and ask them to come over. Conversation and activity with different people will make a difference to your child and will give you a break.

1. 

Tips & Warnings

• Think of this time as a blessing.

• Ask for help from friends and family.

• Use items that you already have in the house.

• Encourage and praise your child .

• Some board game suggestions; Chutes and Ladders, Monopoly, Uno, Hungry Hippos,Jenga, Chess or Junior Trivial Pursuit.

• Alternative crafts could be to make a robot out of boxes and tin foil, a dinosaur out of paper and cardboard or to build a castle out of toilet rolls.

References

• Parents Matter: Parenting Tips

Resources

• Enchanted Learning: Macaroni Bead Necklace Craft
• Enchanted Learning: Make a Robot
• Enchanted Learning: Box Castle