Trips, spills,
stumbles and falls are all a part of growing up. Whether you have a little one
that isn’t quite steady on her feet yet or an older child who’s part daredevil,
you’re likely to spend a fair amount of your parenting time trying to ease
owies and boo-boos. From the psychological to the physiological, here are the
top seven ways to ease the pain that comes with a minor injury.
- Bandages – Kids are fascinated with
adhesive bandages, especially if they’re decorated with a favorite
superhero, princess or cartoon character. Whipping out a box of festive,
brightly colored bandages is a surefire way to dry those tears.
- Kisses – Anyone who’s ever been a kid
knows that nothing soothes an owie like kisses. The feeling of being cared
for and comforted when they’re injured can make kids forget about the
sting of a skinned knee or bruised elbow. A kiss or two and a little bit
of fussing will make boo-boos all better in no time.
- Anesthetic
Spray – For slightly more
serious owies that might be relatively painful, an anesthetic spray or
antibacterial ointment with pain reliever is your best bet. Using this
method in addition to the kisses and colorful bandages will have your
child back up and at ‘em in the blink of an eye.
- Aloe
Vera – For owies of the
burn variety, the juice of this miracle plant is a lifesaver. It’s most
effective straight from the plant, so parents with a green thumb might
want to cultivate a specimen or two. Effective for sunburns and stove-burns
alike, you’re sure to find plenty of uses for an Aloe plant.
- Ice
Packs – Covering an
ice-pack with a fabric sleeve featuring favorite characters or
kid-friendly colors are great for distracting from injuries that could
swell or bruise. Often, children are more panicked at the sight of an
injury than suffering actual pain, so covering an owie from sight and
applying ice to reduce swelling can help to keep anxiety at bay.
- A
Sense of Humor – Laughter
is infectious, and few are as susceptible to a fit of giggles as a small
child. Making silly faces and joking as you patch your little one up can
turn tears into chuckles, especially if you’re laughing along with them.
Singing a favorite silly song is another good method of distraction; with
a little luck and a bit of persistence, they’ll sing along with you as you
treat and bandage their battle wounds.
- A
Special Treat – An extra
few minutes of playtime, a favorite snack that you don’t serve often or a
day of watching videos are all good ways of dealing with injuries that are
slightly more serious than your average bumps and bruises. Though most
parents limit screen time, it’s probably okay to make an exception if your
youngster had to visit the doctor or get stitched up as a result of their
owie.
Every child is
different, so it may take some trial and error to find the method that works
best for your family when dealing with owies, bumps, bruises and boo-boos.
You’re sure to have plenty of practice; from the moment they start walking
until they leave for college, you’ll be treating one injury or another.
Roxanne Porter
No comments:
Post a Comment