Boredom isn’t the first thing parents think about after a cancer diagnosis—but as treatment continues, it often becomes a real challenge for kids and families. During the winter months, that feeling can be amplified by time spent indoors and limited social opportunities.
Below are a few ideas to help your child stay active, engaged, and connected at home or during long hospital stays.
ARTS & CRAFTS
Arts and crafts are a great way for kids to express creativity. Use coloring books or pages for something simple, browse Pinterest for easy projects, or pick up craft kits from your local store. Not only does crafting pass the time, but it also builds fine motor skills and dexterity.
GAME NIGHT
Bring back family game night! Board games, card games, and puzzles help everyone connect and laugh together. There are plenty of age-appropriate games for all skill levels, and online platforms like PlayingCards.io even allow families to play virtually with friends and relatives.
GET ACTIVE
Movement can make a big difference, even in small doses. Gentle yoga or stretching can help kids feel better physically and emotionally. For extra energy, try building a fort, organizing a scavenger hunt (flashlights optional!), or finding guided dance and sing-along videos on YouTube.
READING
Books open new worlds! Public libraries often offer reading programs with fun incentives. Try starting a family book club and take turns picking what to read together.
TAKE A VIRTUAL TRIP
From museum tours to virtual escape rooms, there are endless online adventures that make exploring from your hospital room or living room possible. You can even go on virtual field trips, too!
UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY
Some parents find it helpful to utilize technology such as TV, YouTube, gaming consoles, or tablets to help their children pass the time. A tablet or device can help children stay connected with their friends and family using video calls like Facetime, Skype, or Zoom. This can aid in helping combat loneliness.
Meet William!
William was 4 years old when he was diagnosed with Wilm’s tumor in June of 2024. He completed treatment in December of 2024 but relapsed again in February 2025. Jennifer, William’s mom, says, “We’ve been going through this journey for almost a year and a half now. He is one cycle away from finishing this treatment, which are now all inpatient stays at the hospital.”
Jennifer says that she has joined many online support groups, including ones specific to William’s diagnosis. Jennifer notes that the family has great support in their home hospital, “We have a child life specialist that can bring him toys, games, arts and crafts, etc. They also have volunteers that come a few days a week. They dance with him, do arts and crafts, play music, and provide different types of therapies for the kids. They have a TV in the room that shows a bunch of different movies for kids, and they have an Xbox. We bring our Nintendo Switch when we go and sometimes his PS5…. He’s getting a little over it now, but I also like to do stuff with him at the hospital to pass the time. I dance with him, we walk around, we tell each other stories, draw, color, or I make little animal balloons from the nurses’ gloves. At home…he has a lot of toys, and he has a sister to play with,” Jennifer recalls. “There are definitely very boring days that we don’t do anything and then other days that we can go out to the park, library, or just walk around the neighborhood and get some fresh air.”
Isolation and boredom are temporary, but there are a lot of ways to combat this for yourself and your child, especially with the winter months approaching. The NCCS offers our Family Support Program to help ease the emotional strain a childhood cancer diagnosis takes on families by providing a case manager who is trained in giving emotional and practical support to parents and caregivers. We also host a private Childhood Cancer Support Group on Facebook that provides a compassionate and supportive environment for childhood cancer survivors and their parents/guardians. The group is a safe place to connect with peers, share tips/resources, and provide or receive encouragement. For children with cancer, the NCCS Mentoring Program pairs children ages 10-17 in treatment with a Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship recipient who becomes a trusted and caring role model. This special relationship offers children a friend who genuinely understands their experience and is uniquely able to offer support and advice.
