A sick, preschool-aged child will need plenty of rest and downtime in order to feel better. But rest and downtime don't always involve sleep, and there's only so much TV-watching a child can do before they look for more engaging ways to pass the time. To keep your child entertained while they're home sick from preschool, consider these four fun activities.

How to Keep a Sick Child Entertained

1. Hit the Coloring Books

Coloring is a naturally calming activity that can captivate kids for long periods. Also, they probably won't feel much like doing any in-depth arts and crafts, so coloring books are an easy and mess-free way to be creative. Once they've tired of coloring, move on to a puzzle book or a sticker book.

2. Read Stories

Most kids love to have a story read to them, and this can be especially comforting when they're sick. Read a new story or reread an old favorite aloud to them. Or, download an audiobook and let your child hear a whole different voice reading them a story.

3. Look at Old Pictures

Kids enjoy seeing how much they've grown and revisiting fun experiences from the past. Take out the photo albums and go for a trip down memory lane together. If they're particularly curious, show them pictures from your own childhood and share fun stories with them; a young child may be particularly interested in seeing your own preschool pictures.

4. Camp Out in the Living Room

No mosquito spray, emergency rain gear, or cookstoves required. Drape a large blanket over a couple of chairs in the living room, spread out a few sleeping bags underneath, and go for an in-home campout. Tell ghost stories, sing camp songs, and bring along flashlights to do shadow puppets.

Let your creativity guide you in planning sick-day activities for your preschool-aged child. When you need childcare assistance in the Rosedale and Queens, NY, area, trust the team at Lov-In Hands Daycare. With more than two decades of experience, they provide preschool and pre-kindergarten little ones with a safe, fun, and dynamic learning environment to grow and thrive; they also offer after-school programs for older kids. To enroll, call them today at (718) 723-0324 or visit their website.