Toys for 4 year old in hospital?

[Liziz]

My friend's 4 year old son is in the hospital indefinitely. Can you please suggest some unique activities/toys that can help him through the days? He's unfortunately been in the hospital for awhile so he's already received and is getting bored with a lot of the "obvious" things I could send (coloring, play doh, stickers, books, etc.). He's confined to his bed often so activities that can be done from a bedside table/in bed are best. Bonus points for suggestions of a few things to send to mom and dad (one of them is constantly there with him) -- again, they've received a lot of the most obvious things already, and they keep the challenges focused so much on their little boy, but I know that the stress on them is obviously enormous, too.

Thank you!

[bisous]

What about something like LEGO or Duplo sets to put together?

[KpbS]

My DD has loved the Water Wow reusable color with water sets from Melissa and Doug and their reusable stickers!
https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-...dDbGljaz10cnVl

https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

These are awesome toys and they make quite a few sets.

[lisa928]

What about an Alexa dot, if they are permitted in his hospital? My kids play games with it, listen to music, ask it silly questions.

Another thought is room decorations, maybe something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/Marsway-Remov.../dp/B074T8DPPK

[KpbS]

My DD has loved the Water Wow reusable color with water sets from Melissa and Doug and their reusable stickers!
https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-...dDbGljaz10cnVl

https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

These are awesome toys and they make quite a few sets.

Also, they sell these in store at some Targets if you are wanting them sooner.

[lizzywednesday]

My friend's 4 year old son is in the hospital indefinitely. Can you please suggest some unique activities/toys that can help him through the days? He's unfortunately been in the hospital for awhile so he's already received and is getting bored with a lot of the "obvious" things I could send (coloring, play doh, stickers, books, etc.). He's confined to his bed often so activities that can be done from a bedside table/in bed are best. Bonus points for suggestions of a few things to send to mom and dad (one of them is constantly there with him) -- again, they've received a lot of the most obvious things already, and they keep the challenges focused so much on their little boy, but I know that the stress on them is obviously enormous, too.

Thank you!

Is there a child life department that can bring things in? They sometimes have tablets, video game systems, small games, stories, etc., as well as other ideas on keeping a small child from getting bored.

As for the parents, gift cards for food (look at options through DoorDash, UberEats, and so on, so if they're not inclined to leave his room, they can get delivery), gas, ask about what they're paying for parking (even discounted, it adds up!), whether they have toiletries or other basic comforts (jammies, iTunes cards, hand lotion/lip balm, etc.), if there are parents' lounges they could use to take a break from all the medical stuff, even briefly (there were amazing parents' lounges with food, coffee, tea, fridges, etc. at the hospital where DD was born/treated; the activities and food was brought in by the local Ronald McDonald House)

Do they have other children at home and are you close enough, geographically, to offer to drive carpool or drop off a meal or treat?

Is it burdensome for them to update their friends & relations individually? Would it be easier on them to push info out to one or two highly trusted close friends who could then broadcast the info to the selected groups? Have they had a chance to meet with the hospital chaplain? Social workers? Other resources? (It's so hard, and I didn't take advantage of any of the services when DD was born, but I was extremely reassured that they existed!)

[doberbrat]

toy dinosaurs? subscription to prime so he can watch movies on a tablet? watercolor paintbrush pens?

[California]

Hits my heart hard that your friend's four year old is stuck in the hospital indefinitely.

Is he in a children's hospital? If yes, there probably is a resource room where the parents can check out movies, craft projects, books, and some toys. My DD was only in the hospital for a week and I remember she got plenty of coloring supplies, plus the resource room had seasonal craft items. She was gracious about it but we donated quite a few of the supplies since every visitor seemed to bring them!

Some high interest, play-with-it-again toys that could work with a hospital tray: duplos, magnatiles, foam building blocks, playmobil, and Mr. Potato Head.

A friend of mine who's son is in and out of the hospital due to a genetic disease shared once that his favorite toy gift was a fart machine. :-)

[Liziz]

Thank you for all these great suggestions!

Yes, he is in a children's hospital, and they definitely are connected with the resources at the hospital. They do have child life specialists there (those are truly amazing people!) and they're working with them, but trying to occupy him for full days, every day is just a monumental task. The poor baby's body is so weak, but his mind is still the active 4 year old that he used to be! And California, it totally hits my heart too that he's so sick.

[moosemama]

My DC loved sticker mosaics at that age:
https://www.amazon.com/Orb-Factory-L.../dp/B007BEP5BC

Etch a Sketch?
https://www.amazon.com/Etch-Sketch-C.../dp/B01MTS465O

They liked this game:
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Orange-P.../dp/B0014BDYDE

We didn't have either of these, but I've heard good things about them:
https://www.amazon.com/Educational-I.../dp/B00FNK6P6U

https://www.amazon.com/Peaceable-Kin.../dp/B004HVKAAI

They also loved mystery blind bag toys and Lego minifigures.

ETA - what about a hexbug set (with extra batteries and bugs)? This set may be too big, but it looks fun:
https://www.amazon.com/Hexbug-Nano-Nitro-Habitat-Set/dp/B01BX4EMKK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=hexbug+nano+nitro+habitat+ set&qid=1570071111&sprefix=hexbug+nano+nitr&sr=8-1

There are Hexbug Aquabots as well that "swim":
https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-First-Labs-Inc-Aquabot/dp/B01JNWQA2C/ref=mp_s_a_1_16?keywords=hexbug+fish&qid=157007160 8&s=gateway&sr=