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Concussion Recovery and Coping with Boredom

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Concussion Recovery - Relieving Boredom With "Easy On The Brain" Activities

Concussion and children, not a great combination, but it happens. This page talks about avoiding the boredom that comes with the rest while in concussion recovery.

Any family dealing with concussion in children knows that concussed, bored children are not a good situation. Managing concussion boredom and symptoms without driving the family insane, can be accomplished. Here you will find our suggested activities, most which would also be useful activities for adults recovering from a concussion.

Photo used with permission. Licensed under creative commons by Joost J. Bakker

Have You or Your Children Had A Concussion?

How common is it?

(If you have multiple concussions in your family, please answer for the most severe injury.)

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Disclaimer

We are not medical professionals, this is just our story and activities which worked for us. If you have a concussion, or any brain injury, be sure to clear any activities with your medical team before giving it a try.

Our Story

The very abridged version

Concussion RecoverBack in Sept 2009 our daughter took a hard fall while snowboarding, knocking herself out. She was wearing a helmet. It was less than two weeks after a prior fall which they have now decided left her mildly concussed. This second concussion in less than two weeks left her with a need for a slow, restful recovery. So, for a while she was cut off of sport, screen time, new learning (no schooling), and even reading.

**Update (Aug 2010) - It is now 11 months since the accident, and while she has returned to most activity, the doctors are still keeping her out of competitive sport for a bit longer.

**Update (2011): Fully recovered.

So what does one do when they need to rest their brain?

There Was Nothing To Do To Get Better Quicker

**But plenty of things which needed to be avoided as they would slow recovery

The Things She Was Told To Avoid:

bordem
  • Any sport which one might wear a helmet including skiing, snowboarding, bicycling, rock climbing, horse riding or skateboarding.

  • Any sport/activity with sudden acceleration or deceleration including: swinging on a swing, bouncing on a trampoline or amusement park rides.

  • Any sport/activity which could involve collision with others or falling including wakeboarding, windsurfing, running games with friends, laser force, or sailing.

  • Any activity with multi stimuli - movies, going shopping malls or public events.

  • Any activity which involves new learning or concentration including education, reading of new materials or difficult puzzles.

  • Screen time (this was limited for us to 30 minutes per day) including television, computers, Nintendo or Wii.

So, What Does One Do While Resting Their Brain?

After we stopped feeling sorry for ourselves - we were able to come up with quite a long list of activities to avoid boredom and not impede recovery.
Some we tried, some we didn't, but they are all here to help you.

Outdoor Activities - Repetitive Tasks

Sunlight, fresh air - I love the outdoors!

  • Plant flowers or trees
  • Gardening
  • Beach/Sand play
  • Picnic
  • Fly a kite
  • Collect shells, autumn leaves, interesting stones, or anything
  • Wash the car
  • Fishing
  • Clam picking

Indoor Activities - More Repetitive Tasks

Some days outdoors just isn't a great option

  • Take a nap - (very useful in recovery, low on the my daughter's popularity scale)
  • Baking (see more below)
  • Crafts (see more below)
  • Re-reading familiar books
  • Watching fish in a tank or aquarium
  • Play with gentle animals
  • Doll play
  • Talk with friends
  • Make a movie (watch out for too much screen time)
  • Photography
  • Relax in a bubble bath
  • Listening to books on cd or stories on the internet
  • Painting a room

The Brain Needs Rest

Just like you wouldn't run on a broken leg and expect it to heal - If you have a brain injury, you need to rest your brain if you want it to heal.

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Some Craft Ideas with Repetitive Motion

Here are are few of the ones we discovered:

  • Quilting, patchwork or appliqué
  • Braid friendship bracelets
  • Palm leaf or other natural substance basket weaving
  • Drawing, sketching or tracing
  • Coloring in - get coloring books or download pictures from the web
  • Paint pictures - vary your medium: acrylics, watercolor, tempra, oil pastel, chalk pastel, felt tip markers, gel pens, crayons,
  • Painting on various surfaces: jars, wood, ceramics, terracotta planters
  • Making candles
  • Soap carving
  • Origami and Paper boats
  • Poster making
  • Shell Crafts
  • Pencil holders
  • Make rope
  • Paper making
  • Paper flowers
  • Molding and creating with clay
  • Latch hook rugs
  • Pot holders
  • Beading necklaces, bracelets, headbands

Some of Our Favorite Baking Recipes

She made all of these while recovering

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Need More Craft Ideas

This book has over 200 ideas!



This was our favorite craft book long before we had the concussion. At 328 pages, this is a really big book of crafts. Loaded with over 200 ideas, there is something for everyone. Aimed for ages 4 to 12 (but I have had fun doing a few of the crafts)

Really Big Book of Cool Crafts for Kids with CD-ROM

A Few Other Craft and Kids Recipe Books That We Like

Just click on any book to learn more about it at Amazon.com

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Gentle Physical Activities

Remember to get medical clearance before undertaking anything physical

When her acute concussion symptoms (headaches, dizziness, confusion, exhaustion) were gone, they began getting her fitness level back. We started out slow and are still only on this list.
  • Walking
  • Swimming Laps
  • Calm water (low wind, minimal to no waves) ocean swimming
  • Hiking
  • Stationary bicycle, cross trainer or tred mill
  • Kayaking or rowing

A Few Credits and Thank Yous

Many of the ideas on this list were gathered from:

Estelle Borer of Kidz Therapy, Silverdale, New Zealand
Dr. Cynthia Sharpe of Concussion Specialists, Auckland, New Zealand
Friends at the Homeschool Lounge

Photo Credits:
Ambulance and ski patrol: Used with permission, Licensed by commons.wikimedia.org

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(Guestbook banner designed by Melissa Albom, at age 12)
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  • Laura May 8, 2012 @ 11:11 am | delete
    Thanks for all the great information. My 16 year old is down with a head injury from Lacrosse. This information was excellent and well put together. Cudos to Melissa Albom, the 12 year old who designed the guest book banner. This whole site is put together very clear and concise.
  • Laura May 8, 2012 @ 11:11 am | delete
    Thanks for all the great information. My 16 year old is down with a head injury from Lacrosse. This information was excellent and well put together. Cudos to Melissa Albom, the 12 year old who designed the guest book banner. This whole site is put together very clear and concise.
  • Ninette Apr 21, 2012 @ 3:02 pm | delete
    My very busy 12 year old son is driving me crazy and it's only been 4 days since the fall...hopefully some of these ideas will help! Thanks!
  • Laurie Apr 13, 2012 @ 9:27 pm | delete
    Thanks. I sent it to my niece. Same story....waiting anxiously to heal. (Soccer player)

    Laurie
  • talks Jan 30, 2012 @ 1:31 pm | delete
    I have a concussion now, and have spent my minimal screen time looking for something like this!! I thought i would have to be bored and do nothing! thanks!
  • ngio64 Jan 18, 2012 @ 6:54 am | delete
    My daughter had 2 concussions in 3 years, one from falling and one from running into a big branch with her head and getting knocked down. After the second one we were told about resting her brain. At least for her it was only 1 week. You have some great ideas that I hope to never have to use. Glad to see your updates that she is fully recovered. Blessed by a SquidAngel.
  • Noreen Bechard Sep 10, 2011 @ 12:35 pm | delete
    Great ideas! My nephew has to "do nothing" for a year! Thanks for the help.
  • ---Chazz Aug 23, 2011 @ 8:14 am | delete
    Excellent lens and greatly appreciated. When my wife suffered a TBI six years ago her vision was one of the things affected by it. Since she is a scholar, not being able to read for over 2 years was the worst for her. Books on tape were, I think, literally a life saver for her and friends and family reading some of the more esoteric ones or recording them for her, despite being unable to pronounce many of the terms they encountered let alone understand them, was a blessing. Wishing the best life has to offer to both you and your daughter.
  • John Jun 2, 2011 @ 2:24 am | delete
    Head injury as long as not serious can promote massive bouts of boredom thanks for the list maybe it will help should I ever have another case of concussion.
  • Susie May 6, 2011 @ 4:11 pm | delete
    Thanks for the help! It helps us from going stir crazy. hehe.
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