Have you ever wanted to explode or run and hide from all the noises your kids make?
You love ’em to death, but sometimes the yada-yada and their loud-ass toys overstimulate you, especially when you’re going through a Fibromyalgia flare.
But even with a full-fledged flare, you can keep your kids entertained and happy while you rest.
What you need are indoor quiet games.
Read on to learn 5 simple and relatively silent games your kids can play while you rest and recoup from your flare.
Best of all, these games use household items and require little to no setup to get started.
Perfect for fatigue-fledged days!
Why are indoor activities important for parents with chronic pain?
Indoor activities are essential for parents with chronic pain such as Fibromyalgia (FM) because other toys, like electronic ones, often overstimulate an already-overstimulated parent.
So the last thing they want to hear or feel is loud, obnoxious noise.
Indoor quiet games provide low-noise entertainment for your kids that won’t set your body into sensory overdrive and worsen your flare.
It’s wise to have a few games at the ready.
Doubly because flares can come on without any warning.
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5 indoor quiet games your kids can play
The best part about these indoor quiet games is that your kid can play them by themself (you go nap, they’ll be okay) and quickly assemble themselves without your help.
You’ll have to teach them how to play the first time, but they’ll pick it up quick. 🙂
That way, you don’t have to put together a single thing when you’re already dead as a doorknob.
No extra materials to gather and crap to do when you only want to rest!
Here are 5 indoor quiet games to keep your child quietly occupied so you can focus on surviving your FM flare:
1. Stuffed animal toss
A stuffed animal toss is super fun, and you 99% already have the things needed for this game: stuffed animals and a laundry basket!
Your child tries to throw as many plush toys into the basket as possible. Then, try timing them and see if they can beat their score and time.
They could also use a stopwatch (for iPhone users, there’s one on your phone in the clock app).
If you want you can switch out stuffed animals for pillows, balls, and boxes.
You can also cushion the box with a towel or blanket if tossing balls in to make the game quieter.
They’ll make some noise hitting the bottom of the basket if it’s plastic.
2. Matching card game
A matching game is good to have on hand because they’re quiet for you and good for your kid’s brain.
Matching card games help children improve their visual recognition, short-term memory, ability to identify patterns, and attention to detail.
In addition, flipping over the cards with their fingers increases your kid’s fine motor skills.
Matching card games can also be played by only your kid if you’re not feeling up for it.
Endless ways to lay out the matching cards ensure your child won’t play the same game twice.
3. Draw a face
My dad and I used to play this game on trips, and I loved it as a kid. We drew an oval and then took turns adding a feature to the paper, creating a bizarre and always funny face.
You can use construction paper, lined paper, or whatever you have. Ditto for writing utensils, though kids tend to like the more, the merrier. These are great items to stock up at Dollar Tree, Walmart, or Target.
When playing, try adding a tophat, swirly mustache, or elf ear to your face.
Go for a wild hairdo or the bushiest brows they’ve ever seen.
Your kid will howl with laughter at the final product, guaranteed.
4. Letter hunt
Younger children love a letter hunt, though older kids may appreciate a more challenging version.
If you have a toddler or preschooler, ask them to find an object that begins with a particular letter.
Then, they can collect as many things as they can see with that letter to elongate the game.
For example, they could find a pot in the kitchen for P or a stuffed animal penguin. Is a pair of socks fair game?
Another option is to ask your child to spot something with the chosen letter literally on it, like a DVD with the letter K in the title for K.
Most older kids appreciate more of a challenge, so ask them to find objects starting with 2 consonants that make 1 sound instead (a digraph if you want to get fancy).
For instance, br, pl, and st are digraphs. Maybe your child hunts down a hairbrush, plastic toy, stamp, stool, or stencil!
5. Color match
Color match is another fun indoor quiet game. It works the same as a letter hunt, albeit it’s a bit easier and geared toward toddlers.
Have your child locate objects with a color you give them (like a yellow ball for yellow).
You can also create flashcards with the word and color, and they can flip through them and play the game themself if you’re really feeling your flare.
You know those days when you want to be left alone…or at least have some silence.
Your takeaway
Having a few indoor quiet games in your arsenal that your kids can play will help you better survive a painful and tiring FM flare.
Games like a stuffed animal toss, color/letter hunt, matching card game, and ‘draw a face’ are very simple indoor quiet games that your child will love and won’t overstimulate you.
In addition, these games require little to no setup on your part, so you can save what little stamina you have left until bedtime.
What indoor quiet games does your child enjoy playing? And how do you tell your child you’d rather them play quietly while surviving a flare?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
2 replies on “Surviving A Flare? Here Are 5 Simple Indoor Quiet Games Your Kids Can Play”
Good luck!
Thanks!