Sick Day Menu {Fun Sick Day Hack for Kids}

Here’s a fun idea to cheer up a kid on a sick day! Make a sick day menu.

I randomly thought of this idea one day last year when Janie was sick. Janie seems to catch a lot of viruses (although this has gotten better as she has gotten older). She is not always the best patient, and I am not always the most patient mother. Ahem.

But here we were, with a sick day, and I was trying to make things more positive for all of us. She loves having a little bell to ring when she’s sick and needs something. I decided to add a sick day menu to go with it, and it was a huge hit.

Your sick day menu can be as simple as a folded piece of paper. Then just grab some markers or whatever you have on hand.

Make a list of things that your sick child can order! Special drinks or snacks are always nice. If we had popsicles on hand, I would have added those to the menu. But then think of things that might entertain or cheer up the sick person. Maybe a story read by mom (or a sibling) or a chance to FaceTime a grandparent or friend.

Janie absolutely loved this. She ordered the jokes, and thankfully her brother came through with some great ones.

The bell really adds a nice touch, too. Here’s a picture of our bell. This little bell belonged to my great aunt, and it was given to me when she passed away (when I was 5 or 6 years old). So it’s a one-of-a-kind!

This past August, I was sick for a full week right before we moved. It was super bizarre – a week of fever, and no one else caught it. Janie put the bell in my room and brought me things whenever I asked! It was so sweet, and so nice for her to be at the age where she can be so helpful.

Ideas for your Sick Day Menu:

• A popsicle
• A special drink
• Time on a tablet or gaming device
• A warm blanket (maybe heat it up in the dryer!)
• A story read by a parent or a sibling
• Applesauce
• Crackers
• Soup
• Listening to music
• FaceTime with Grandma
• Markers and paper
• Looking at photos on mom’s phone
• A puzzle

More Sick Day Activities:

Here’s a collection of 200+ free printable coloring pages!

Then you can also print this list of 125 Hilarious Jokes for Kids. Or just read them from your phone or tablet!