Distract Kids from Morning Sickness Suffering SIL

If you have the money or find them cheap Magnatiles will keep them busy for a long time. A basic set runs about $100- they are worht it.

Color wonders are great- they kept my 4 and 1 year old busy at my prenatal appointments.

If she is able to keep the kids and the supplies at the table then give them tissue paper, glue stick, tape and a piece of cardboard and let them create what they can.
Magnets on a cookie sheet- they can create their own game, practice letters/numbers.

If she is up to hanging out in the bathroom (she might be needing a toliet) then put the kids in the tub with some shaving cream to play with, blowing bubbles.

Even something as simple as a blown up balloon can keep them busy (**if it pops it needs to be removed ASAP esp with a 1 year old!!!) blowing it up in the air, batting at it etc.. Draw a face on it, talk about the parts of the face, the color of the balloon.......

Their is a book of 3 mintue games to play with a toddler that has endless things to do that require no prep work.

I have a line of flannel board stories that kids enjoy! Even the one year old would love the songs. Check out my website... www.risingmoonadventures.blogspot.com
Let me know if I can help!

Hi L.,

You could send your SIL some Body Balance! It's got tons of nutrients which are great for pregnancy, and it's also 80% Aloe juice (the best you can get... made from the inner filet of the Aloe plant so it's not a laxative) which is EXTREMELY soothing and does wonders for morning sickness. I used it through both of my (extremely healthy) pregnancies.

You can get it here: http://lifeforce.net/body-balance.php

or call/email me for more info. ###-###-#### ____@____.com this helps...

-A

My friend gave me a book full of ideas. They often require a lot of preparation by a parent, so I have adapted some of them. My kids were a little younger, but I think they'd like them.

1. Strip 'em down and put them in the bathtub with a dish tub (or similar) full of warm water. I sat one on each side of the tub. Give them scooping things, like measuring cups, plastic stuff from the recycling bin, etc. and other fun things that are different from their usual bath toys (my MIL used to give the kids a spatula with holes in it and a plastic whisk). Oh, I left my little one in a diaper to prevent potential grossness.
For a little extra fun, you can get bath fizzies that change the color of the water. My kids LOVED playing in blue or yellow or green water.
When they water's gone, you can fill it up again or say it's all done and get them out.

2. Cut up shapes out of colored paper. Wrapping paper is fun. Give the kids a piece of blank paper and a glue stick and let them glue the shapes on. The 1 yr old might need help, but this is still a sitting-down activity! After a few tries, kids can make pictures out of the shapes. My son made a tree and a train once.

3. Drawing in cornmeal. Get a rectangular cake pan and spread a layer of cornmeal in the bottom. The 4 yr old will like drawing in it with his finger, then wiping it away again. It an get a little messy, but nothing a vacuum can't handle.

4. Ask the 4 yr old if he can build a MegaBlocks tower as tall as himself, or taller.

5. Get an empty laundry basket and have the kids toss stuffed animals into it as "basketball." This game comes in handy later, when you're cleaning up. They can play "basketball" with Megablocks into the big bin they come in, or into the toybox, or whatever..

My friend sent me this link for ideas to build with Legos. They might not have Legos in the house because of the toddler, though:
http://creative.lego.com/en-us/FamilyTime/buildinginstruc...

My personal addition is to sit the kids in front of PBSKids.org for a while. They have great educational games on there that the 4 yr old can do, and the 1 yr old will probably love watching.

I have absolutey no advice to offer. I just wanted to say, as a mother who has struggled with severe morning sickness through 4 pregnancies now, your sil is lucky to have someone as thoughtful and caring as you to look out for her!

http://www.doverpublishing.com/c.html?
Dover publishing offers free coloring pages and activiy pages once a week. You can subscribe and recieve them weekly. I have been printing up the appropriate ones and sending them to my grandchildren. They love them.This would work for the 4 year old, at least.Maybe even the 1 year olds would like coloring.

I haven't read the other responses yet, but even if this has been mentioned it's a good idea. Crayola Wonder Colors! The are markers and paints that only color on the Crayola Color Wonder paper - so no drawn on walls, carpet, etc. We started giving these to my son before we left him alone to color with Crayons. We even take them in the car for long trips. Most every "box" store I've been to has them, usually in the toy area as well as the paper product areas. The only concern would be having enough magnets to hold up the works of art on the fridge! :)

Great idea! Here's a few ideas: movies, coloring books w/ crayons, paint with water books, crayola "Magic" line where the paints etc only appear on their special paper, dollar store toys (stretchy frogs, lizards, etc), stickers and little pads of paper, a doctor's set to play with together, lift the flap books.