The energy level of children is wildly disproportionate to the energy level of adults. You try your best to keep up, but there are times when you just can’t—maybe you're sick, injured, on bedrest, or just dog-tired. Whatever the reason, sometimes you need to keep your kids entertained while you lie down. Fortunately, if you have some clever games and activities in your arsenal, you can entice your kids to play with you as you lie down on the sofa or floor. Seasoned parents call it “horizontal parenting.”

Beginner: Activities that require just the tiniest bit of brain power and effort.

• Read books. Basic, but you really can’t go wrong.
• Play the Quiet Game. Who can be quiet the longest? You know a parent, babysitter or teacher has played this  with you.
• “Walk on my back.” Perfect if you have little kids. They get some balancing practice, and you get a back massage.
• “Guess the letter on my back.” Take turns writing letters or words with your finger on each other’s backs, and guessing what it is.

Intermediate: Requires a bit more thought, but in return, you usually get more down time.

• “Camping.” Do the same things as above (and other activities), but do it all in a tent in the living room or backyard so it feels like you’re camping. 
• Play doctor/restaurant/hotel/baby. You’re the patient, the restaurant customer, the hotel guest and the baby, of course.
• Play salon/barbershop. Get out the nail polish, makeup, hair brushes, hair ties/clips, pretend razors and warm wet towels, and let your kids make you beautiful. Don’t get out the real scissors.

Expert: This is master level, folks.

• Sofa games. Move your sofa so that there’s some space behind it, and have your kids run around it in circles. You lie down or sit on the sofa and be the “monster,” catching and tickling one kid at random intervals.
• “Go find me a ____.” A mom named Julie told me this one. “I used to ask my son to bring me something from his room: “Bring me something blue,” “Bring me something that looks like a unicorn pooped it out,” etc. He always came back with something. Part two: I’d tell him to put it back where he found it, exactly how he found it, because I would be able to tell.” Freakin’ genius.
• Ninja training. Here’s another one from Julie. (“I had so many of these ‘games,’” she says.) Close your eyes and have your kids try to walk past you as quietly as possible. If you hear them make a sound, send them back to the starting line.
• “Mommy/ Daddy’s back is a map.” Let kids roll their toy trucks on your body. It’s kind of relaxing as a massage, depending on the size and type of truck.

Photo credits: Google images