It's always terrible when it happens, but eventually a friend, family member, or even a co-worker is going to get sick or end up in the hospital. Whether your niece breaks a leg, or a good friend is stuck at home to recuperate from major surgery, these unfortunate times are part of life. So when these kinds of events transpire, we want to be there for the person and let them know that they are in our thoughts. That's why the "get-well" gift is such an important part of social interaction. So what do you get someone who needs cheering up? Here are three great ideas to brighten someone's day.

Flowers

It's a cliche for a reason. Flowers engage the senses with sight and smell and, it may sound sappy, but they remind us that there are beautiful things in this world. When bringing flowers to someone who's recuperating, it's usually best to get bright colors (yellow or orange is a particularly popular choice) so that you can brighten the space that they are in. Because let's face it, they're probably stuck indoors. And when giving flowers, make sure to include a card or note to let them know that you are thinking about them!

Stuffed Animals

They're cute and cuddly, and remind us of happier times. And when it comes to plush toys, you have many choices. You could get them a teddy bear, a stuffed tiger or even a plush lizard. If you know they have a favorite animal, than get them the plush version so they have something to keep them company.

There are actually all sorts of things you can do with stuffed animals to make the gift more personal. There are even plush toys that are made specifically as a get well gift, like a teddy bear with a cast on its leg and a pair of toy crutches. That would be the perfect present for that niece that broke her own leg! Or you could make your own by buying a teddy bear and some gauze and wrapping the gauze around the injured limb to make it look like it's wearing a cast. Or, use the plush toy in tandem with another gift. For example, have a stuffed lion hold a box of chocolates, or a bright yellow rose, or a nice get-well card. There are lots of things you can do to get your gift to stand out from the crowd and be more personalized!

Entertainment Package

Let's face it; recuperating from an injury is boring. If the person you want to cheer up has limited mobility, a package of things to entertain them would be most welcome. This can be simple or more complicated depending on how much you want to spend. For a simple present, put a book and a deck of cards into a nice gift bag. If they're not much of a reader, substitute the book for the DVD of a movie you'd think they'd enjoy. Or get a bigger gift bag and include all kinds of things to pass the time. Besides books and movies you could include other games (of course, if they're games that require more than one player, you'd have to also volunteer some of your time), magazines, or even a subscription to Netflix so they don't run out of entertainment! If the injured person is a child, you can also include toys (like the plush animals mentioned above) or coloring books. Think about what kind of things your recuperating friend or family member would enjoy.

So there you have it, three great ideas to brighten someone's day with a great get-well present. All of these ideas can be personalized to your recuperating friend or family member's taste. They'll appreciate your thoughtfulness on the long road to recovery that stretches in front of them! For them, a little thoughtfulness will go a long way!