I've smiled at many of the creative things you moms and dads have come up with to pass the time, quiet a fussy (or downright misbehaving) kid or just to use your mind before you lose it! Here's a list (inspired by one of the entries in the "You Know You're the Parent of a Kids with Cancer list:

• We sometimes play "Heads or Tails" with a penny. The loser has to perform some pre-agreed upon embarassing act--quack like a duck, hop backwards on 1 foot,sing a silly song, you get the idea. All you need is a penny and a child to giggle away the time with.
• My mother used to blow up a glove and tie it off. Then she'd draw and eye on either side and make the thumb a nose or a beak and the fingers hair or a crest. Depending on whether we were going for a bird or a person.
• Silly string is the best it is cheap and the kids can attack ANY ONE who dares come in their room. you can even spray it across the door way like a spider web for a booby trap so no one can sneak in while you sleep.
  K
• We had cotton ball races with siblings and other friends. We started on the table and eventually moved the contest to the floor. The winner had to get all the way down the hall first.
  Karen R
• Crumple up a piece of paper and pretend it's a football. My son loves football and he always wanted to play— he kicks it and passes it then tackles his mom or any nurse who would play along.
• Use the covers from 60cc syringes to make sand art or hold tiny treasures
• Paper airplanes can be made from any size or scrap of paper and you can have great contests aiming for the sink, the garbage, the TV. Decorate them, make design modifications, keep score or not.
• Write things your child dislikes (L.P.'s, bloodwork, prednisone, etc) on pieces of paper and play garbage can basketball with them—"Take that prednisone!"
• Cut eyeholes in an isolation mask (the fan-fold kind), decorate it, and watch the staff try to guess who you are!
• Isolation masks make great turtles
• Spinal fluid tubes filled with glitter and baby oil make great key chains
• Tongue depressers make great stick puppets and book marks
• Surgical gloves filled up with water and tied at the wrist make great fun toys - but keep an eye out for leaks!
• Empty 10cc syringes (from saline flushes for Broviac)can be filled with pancake syrup so you can transport it for breakfast on the run!