Sometimes, foot and ankle issues develop in kids. There are many potential injuries and conditions, and each young patient presents a unique case. Now, children are usually quite energetic, and it can be difficult to try and keep them from expending their seemingly boundless energy by moving around when they need to sit still. When your child needs to spend time resting while their injury is healing, it can be helpful to keep them occupied. So, our Centerville foot doctors at Sunshein Podiatry offer these 5 suggestions to help keep your kid busy (and off their feet!) after an injury.
Tip #1: Pick Up Some Books
One of the great things about living in our current time is the sheer volume of literary choices. Parents benefit from being able to recommend both timeless classics and modern works from children’s and young adult (YA) genres. With so many options, you can definitely find books your child will be excited to actually read—even if they think they don’t like reading.
A particularly nice element to this activity is the fact that it doesn’t actually have to cost anything. Sure, you can purchase books—and if you do, consider a locally-owned or secondhand book store as possibilities—but you can also pick some up for free from the Washington-Centerville Public Libraries.
Even better, you can use this as an opportunity to spend some quality time with your child by forming your own little book club with just the two of you. Read the same book, come up with some questions, and have discussions about it! Your child will love the attention, and you can feel good about the fact you’re helping them develop reading and critical thinking skills.
Check out these great reading lists to expand your and your little one’s horizons:
- Newbury Medal Winners and Honor Books. This award is “to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children” and is a surefire way to find awesome books!
- The Ohioana Book Awards. State pride shines in this list that honors books that have been “written or edited by a person born in Ohio or who has lived in Ohio for at least five years.”
- Children’s Book Council. Check out these diverse children’s and YA books that will help your kid expand their worldview!
Tip #2: Encourage Self-Expression Through Artistic Endeavors
One of the great things about the arts is that there are many options—any of which might hold particular appeal for your kid on foot rest. While drawing and painting are artistic endeavors that probably spring right to mind first, or perhaps even sculpting, the list doesn’t end there. Crafts, music, and writing are also potential interests, depending on what your child enjoys.
Regardless of which avenue for self-expression your child chooses, you're allowing them to explore their creativity. As with the previous option, you can also use this as an opportunity for quality time. No matter your particular artistic talents—or lack thereof—you can start a project with your kid. And if your abilities are, at best, not good, a little self-deprecating humor about the situation can make them laugh and hopefully understand the importance of being able to laugh at ourselves.
Here are some of our favorite resources for creative ideas:
- Origami. A fun paper craft that jumps!
- No-Sew a Blanket. Many different charities cherish handmade blankets like this – or get a start on gifts for Christmas!
- Knit for Charity. Our favorite non-profit, Shoes 4 the Shoeless, distributes hand-knit scarves and hats during the winter to children in our community who need shoes. This would be a great local organization that would appreciate hand-knit scarves!
Tip #3: Give Your Child’s Left Brain a Workout After a Foot Injury
Crossword puzzles, sudoku, word searches, logic games, and other such activities require children to use the analytical and logical skills commonly associated with the left brain. When you do this, make sure to pick ones that are appropriate for your child. Both “too hard” and “too easy” can be problematic in different ways, so choose puzzles that provide just enough of a challenge to keep interest, without being so difficult that they get frustrated and give up.
You might also want to see if your child would be interested in attempting to piece together a traditional jigsaw puzzle. This is a great way to develop visual and spatial processing skills, while also making the process enjoyable and providing a sense of accomplishment. You may even want to offer to glue the completed puzzle together and frame it for their bedroom, and then grab another one for them to solve!
Need some resources? Try these:
- Learning Express Toys. Visit this store in Dayton for story time, tot art programs, and more!
- Print Your Own Worksheets. This site lets you choose the type of puzzle and even the general age range!
- Get creative. Grab some graph paper and let your child create their own wordsearch, crossword, and more!
- Build a model. Cars, plains, ships, and more!
- Legos. Little kids and big kids alike love a good Lego build!
Tip #5: Let Them Play (Some!) Video Games
We fully understand if you have any initial resistance to this idea—there are instances where kids play video games way too much—but hear us out on this one. Yes, there’s no denying the fact that excessive video game playing can be a problem. However, the key to that is the word “excessive.” The way to avoid that is by establishing concrete time limits with your child. Naturally, the odds are pretty decent they might try to push the limits—“Just five more minutes!”—but stick to your guns!
One way to add value to the video game experience is to find ones that you can play with your child. As with the aforementioned suggestions to help keep kids busy after a foot injury, this is an opportunity to spend time with them and possibly even show that you’re willing to laugh at yourself. (Let’s be honest—your child is likely going to be way better than you at video games, so you might as well have a good time with it!)
Here are some kid-safe options you both might enjoy:
Tip #5: Homework (Yes, Really!)
No, homework isn’t a favorite for most children. But it's absolutely necessary. As a consideration in this matter, you may want to think about possibly using any of the previous options as an incentive for completing scholastic assignments. (“Once you’ve finished your math homework, we can play the video game for 30 minutes,” etc.)
Check out these free websites to help your child explore the world without even leaving the house!
- GeoGuessr. Challenge your kid to an educational game!
- Mavis Beacon. Not all computers are touch-screen. Help your child learn typing skills with good old Mavis Beacon!
Sunshein Podiatry: Your Partner in Family Foot Health
Whether your child needs a period of rest to recover from a foot or ankle issue depends on several factors, including the type and severity of the condition and how their body responds to treatment. When rest is recommended as part of their care plan, we understand that keeping an active child off their feet can feel challenging—for both kids and parents alike.
The good news is that rest doesn’t have to mean boredom or frustration. With a little planning, using these engaging, age-appropriate activities can help keep your child entertained, comfortable, and positive while giving their feet the time they need to heal properly.