Stuck Indoors in Wintertime

I always give my children lots of fruits. This seems to help me. Washing hands all the time as well.

This is a good question, and I read some of the suggestions, because I could use them too! Just a few things that have worked for me...I bought elderberry syrup at the health food store. I give my son 1 tsp everyday (sometimes even put it in his sippy cup then add water, to make a juice, and he doesn't know the difference--it tastes great). My family takes that, and since we've been taking it, we haven't gotten sick. I've felt something coming on several times, but after taking that and drinking plenty of water, it kicks the cold! It's a little expensive, but is worth it to me if we aren't getting sick. As for my son being stuck inside, the most successful things for me are ones that allow him to get messy and really get lost in the process. I have a summer type tablecloth (you know the vinyl kind) that I put on my kitchen floor. I have given him little containers of water, and we've added food coloring, and I've allowed him to just pour and play. I also took a paper plate and some of dad's shaving cream--added different colors and allowed my son to paint with it. That kept him busy for an hour and a half, which is a huge record!!! He does sometimes help me bake--this week we are going to make those cupcakes you bake in ice cream cones. Also, he got a whole bucket of playdoh from a friend for his birthday--that gets messy, but it keeps him busy. Now I just have to teach him to help me clean up, haha. One more thing, at this age they seem to love to "help." He helps me take out the recycs, empty the bathroom garbage can, etc. And oh--I bought some birdseed--we haven't yet made our own bird food cakes, but plan to. For now, we throw that and bread, and watch the birds come eat. You can get feeders too that suction to your window so he can see them up close. In your case, I guess it will be the pigeons! Good luck.

We have had the same issue - this year not as bad as last year, but I completely understand where you're coming from. We do a few things:
1. Take Elderberry syrup. It really seems to help with the immune system.
2. arts and crafts - drawing, etc.
3. build forts
4. Cook together - this is a recent favorite for my two year old. I just let him help with whatever I need to do - pour rice into a pot, open a lid, get something from the refrigerator, stir (not on the flame, obviously). I've come to realise there are 101 little things they love to do that we take for granted. It doesn't always have to be baking cookies or cakes.
5. bundle up big time, and just go outside
6. we resort to videos or movies if it gets really bad.

You should focus on building his immune system. I give my 2 year old chlorella and vitamin D during the winter months and he does not get sick. He has gotten a slight cold, but nothing major. With the cold, I gave him lithy tree for his lungs and bronchial tubes and I gave him Briar Rose for his cough. You can give these herbs even if they are not sick-for maintenance. I only use the chlorella and vitamin D on a daily basis for maintenance and the herbs if he gets sick. We go on play dates all of the time and never have an issue. We have had two issues, one last November and one this month, b/c I stopped giving him everything because he never go sick. I erroneously thought that I he had enough of everything stored in his body, but was wrong. You have to continue to give these supplements throughout cold and flu season. For his chronic ear infection that he when he was one, I put garlic ear drops in his ear and it cleared it in one day. I will give you the links for your review. I am a holistic health counselor and I also see a holistic pediatrician, who prescribed the Briar Rose and the Lithy Tree. The chlorella and vitamin D is my prescription so that you are clear that it is not coming from a doctor. My pediatrician is a conventional doctor who integrates holistic medicine and it works beautifully. Her office is never full in the winter because of these herbs.

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-17146-Dallas-Womens-He...

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-17146-Dallas-Womens-He...

http://www.healthykidspediatrics.com/html/Newsletter.htm

We got an indoor trampoline from One Step Ahead

(http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...)

that helps my 3-year-olds get some energy out when it's too cold or messy to go outside.

Good luck!

Go outside and take a walk. Just get some fresh air.

Get some great toys from Discovery Toys www.toysofdiscovery.com like Zingo or Marbleworks that will keep him entertained for 1/2 hour to an hour at a time. He'll be learning valuable skills such as word recognition, visual discrimination, logic, balance ...all through playing. Make sure he's getting lots of sleep, lots of fluids and proper nutrition to ward off the many germs sure to come his way in our big city.

same story here. first of all i am loaded with purrell. everywhere we go i rinse their hands with purrell. i don't organize playdates because i can't rely on moms telling me if their child is sick. i usually hear someone was sick after having played with my children. so we do a lot of arts and crafts at home, reading, in weather such as today we go outside for a bit, bike ride, run etc. when it's really cold we go to a bookstore. but that's about it. yes, we've moved to NY a year ago and we're all unhappy with the 8 month winter that that we have to deal with. your son will start kindergarten eventually and that will take care most of the day
good luck

Hi There,
Little kids get sick... it's part of life. That is how they build their immune system. Keep going out and doing what you are doing... just have hand wipes/hand sanitizers and use them whenever you leave a playdate or a store and before he eats. As far as when he is sick and can't be around others, being cooped up in the house can be hard. I let my kids build forts out of couch pillows and blankets. Also, my kids have Sit'N'Spins and other indoor toys that require physical activity. Play Hide'N'Seek or Simon Says... doing baking activities or crafts.... Another activity my little ones like is a home made sensory bin. I took a large, shallow plastic bin, filled it with fun shapes of dry pasta (about 8-10 boxes) and put shovels and cups/bowls in it so they can use it like an indoor sandbox. Also, bundle up and go outside for fresh air!

I know from that-it seemed to be my 2 girls would both get sick for a week or 2-as soon as they recovered-they went out and got sick from some other germy little kid!Made me kind of a germ phobe . Anyway my solution was just to go with it- Cuddling up with them in bed and watching movies-reading lots of books. Your son seems to need to be occupied alot-sticker books and painting or coloring might give you some time.When I had a few minutes I would then take the time to clean or cook-I know its hard but try to make the best of it-also my kids always loved tents-out of couch pillows or blankets-then when you both finally get out it makes you really appreciate it! Good luck-R.

Dress him up w/ proper layers & coverage and take him outside if only for a walk to the neighborhood store or park for about 30 minutes during the warmest part of the day usually 2:30 or 3:00 in the afternoon. The fresh air will do him good as will the sunshine- now that his fever is gone. WHen you come back indoors give him a nice cup of chamomile tea w/ honey or soup.