With cold and flu season upon us, you will probably find yourself spending an unexpected day or even a week at home with a sick child. Try to resist the urge to catch up on work or housework and take the day to spend time with your child. If you have multiple children and don’t feel like you get to spend one-on-one time regularly, sick days can be great opportunity to spend time together. Child Specialist, Debbie Mancini-Wilson says that when parents spend sick days bonding with their child “the child gets one-on-one time with you while getting to feel better and building memories that will last a lifetime.”

Cuddle up with Your Kid

When your child is sick enough to lay on the couch or bed all day, take the opportunity to snuggle up with them. While limiting television is a good habit, consider bending the rules on sick days and watch movies or television shows with them. If you are home several days, consider borrowing some DVD’s or video games from a friend so that your child has some “new-to-them” entertainment.

A fun way to pass the time, especially when you will be home together for several days, is to read your child a chapter book aloud. Pick up a book that you enjoyed as a child and would like to share with your own child. If you are both sick, have your spouse or a friend pick up an audio book from the library and listen to the book together.

Create Sick Day Rituals

Some families have certain routines to help make sick days a little more special. One idea is to let the sick child eat their meals in bed or on the couch off a special TV tray. You can also have a “feel better” blanket you only use for sick kids to snuggle under.

When Jen Goode’s kids are sick she creates a “camp out” area in the living room for the sick kids. She finds that her sick child can see what is going on in the house while staying calm and resting. Make the area comfortable with plenty of blankets, sleeping bags and pillows. You can use an indoor tent or make your own with a sheet over a chair.

Feast on Fun Sick Day Foods and Drinks

One of the important things to do when your child is sick is to encourage them to keep drinking fluids. Dr. Heather Orman-Lubell , pediatrician and mom of two kids, tells parents not to worry about their child eating a balanced meal and recommends encouraging them to drink a lot of fluids instead. She suggests to parents to offer their children juices, gelatin, frozen juices, popsicles and sorbet if their child is resisting drinking.

When Dr. Orman-Lubell is home with her sick kids and their appetite is beginning to return, she has them help her make soup or cookies for them to eat since kids are often more interested in foods that they help prepare. She also reminds parents that when their children are sick that it is OK to let them eat what they are hungry for, even if it isn’t a food that they would typically be allowed to eat. Once your child is feeling better, you can have them return to their healthy eating patterns.

Make a Sick Day Box

Once your child begins feeling better but has not been symptom-free long enough to return to school or daycare, your child will probably be off the couch and be looking for ways to be entertained. A great way to help ward off the boredom is to create a special box toys and craft items to be used only on sick days. When the child is well, put the items back into the box and hide it in a secret place. Be sure to replenish and update items in the box on a regular basis.

Before your child gets sick, shop the dollar stores and sales for coloring books, sticker books, Lego sets and books. You can even stash away a present from birthdays or holidays to put in the box. “Magna Doodles are especially great because there are no crayons or markers to hunt down and the kids can color in bed or on the couch rather than just at the table,” say Good. Another idea is to find a fun craft to do together from a website such as FamilyFun.com or dltk-kids.com. Collect all supplies necessary for the craft and put them in a sick box so that you are not looking for supplies while your child is sick.

Pamper Yourself

Taking care of a sick child can be very draining on the parents and to be able to nurture your child, you need to be sure that you are taking care of yourself. Keep yourself hydrated and remember to fix healthy meals for yourself even if your child does not feel like eating. If possible, take some time for yourself when your spouse is home and can be on sick-kid duty.

If you are up with your child during the night, you need to catch up on your sleep when you can. Consider going to bed when your child goes to bed and try to take a nap if your child falls asleep during the day. If possible, try to share night duties with your spouse. “When your child is sick and not sleeping well, try to follow the advice given to parents of newborns and sleep when your child sleeps,” says Dr. Orman-Lubell.

Before you know it, your child will be feeling better and back to normal. By having some fun and spending time together, you will help reduce the stress of having a sick child and hopefully even make some memories.

Jennifer Gregory is a freelance writer and mom of two kids.