It is nearly inevitable that one or all of your children will end up with some type of injury, most likely related to sports. It may not be a serious injury, such as a broken bone, but at the very least a sprain or hyperextension may happen while your children are playing contact sports, participating in physical education, or just rough housing with friends or siblings.
Rough and Rowdy
Everybody knows that children are often like bulls in a China shop: they are running around, jumping, rolling around, and all manner of movement on a daily basis. It’s only natural that a child will take a tumble and may temporarily hurt themselves, but it’s up to you to make sure they take care of themselves properly, depending on how they hurt themselves.
For a lot of injuries, it’s most likely going to be a smaller incident, such as a muscle sprain, cuts, scrapes, road rash, or pulling a muscle. Kids aren’t going to be prepared for a sudden injury, and may become very emotional. Make sure they know that they are okay and how to work around the injury, depending on the severity. If it does require a hospital visit, either to treat or to confirm the injury, reassure your children that they are going to be alright.
Drama Free Injuries
Most parents agree that when a younger child falls, it’s better to down play the incident to avoid any unnecessary outbursts each time they fall. Obviously, you can gauge how injured they may be and help them out that way, but not making a fuss can make it a positive experience for them. Talk to them in a calm voice, check them over for injuries, and give them a quick hug to reassure them without making a big production of the fall. If you do note any injuries, follow through with whatever they may need, such as washing any cuts or scratches, and putting on some band-aids to help keep the injury clean.
After Care
It will also be equally important to follow through with whatever treatment plan is needed for larger injuries. If it is a pulled or strained muscle, your child will need to relax and take it easy while the muscle repairs. Make sure your child is taking precaution and only doing the bare minimum so that they can heal properly and get back to doing what they love!
Katie Kyzivat