6 Tips for Helping Your Child Recover After Being Injured

Kids get hurt when you least expect it, and often in some interesting ways. Injuries to your child will require them to have some added support while they go through the process of recovery, both in body and mind.

As their parent, you will play a very important role in their healing process, and here is how you can help your child recover from an injury and limit related emotional trauma.

1. Take care of your own stress

Just like advice when getting on a plane to put the oxygen mask on first before you place one on your child, you need to take hold right away of managing your own stress because it’s not fun being someone with the child all injured but you can’t let it get to you.

Next to worrying about your child, the biggest source of stress for you will be paying their medical bills. Even with insurance, there’s no guarantee everything will be covered. If your child was injured by someone else’s negligence, like in a car accident, consider filing a lawsuit to recover financial compensation.

2. Reassure your child that they’re safe

Younger children will need to be comforted that they are safe, that nothing bad is going to happen to them, again. Most children, after an injury, will believe themselves at risk, and if they have obsessive tendencies, it will take some work to help them feel safe. It’s also possible your child could develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from the experience.

Since it’s the nervous system that controls feelings of anxiety and stress, do things that will alleviate stress and bring them out of fight or flight mode. For example, give your child extra hugs even if they’re a teen. If your child is very young, give them extra cuddle time and attention.

3. Encourage your child to share their feelings

Some children need to verbalize their frustration, but perhaps they do not realize that it is acceptable to speak. Let them know that in those moments of fear, anger, worry, or confusion it is okay. Reassure your child they can share their thoughts and feelings with you without punishment. Sometimes they do not wish to talk, but then writing a story or creating a drawing can help them tell you their feelings.

4. Spend more time with your child

Children who have friends and family to support them get well much faster after the traumatic situation, physical or psychologically damaging incident. This time, however, a physical trauma might be accompanied by psychological trauma as well, so the child has to deal with both.

Spend more time with your child and include members of your family in your activities as much as possible. Invite your child’s friends to come over and hang out so that everybody can spend time together, too. There will be so many people to love and support your child while they are recovering from their illness, and if they are feeling down, it will uplift their spirits up. And positive emotions can help heal faster.

5. Encourage and enforce sleep

One of the most important components of recovery involves getting adequate sleep because the human body heals itself while sleeping. Be sure to encourage your child to turn in a little early if possible, even if all they do is lie in bed and read a book until they fall asleep. If they don’t want to go in early, don’t force them, but do enforce their regular bedtime; it will be for their highest good.

6. Consider massage therapy

For most people, massage therapy is just something you get when you want your body to feel good. It relieves stress and can be extremely relaxing. However, it can also speed up the recovery of damaged muscles.

If your child suffered an injury to their muscles or if they’ve been feeling sore, consider getting them massage therapy to help them heal. First of all, consult with your child’s doctor before scheduling a massage for them so you can be sure it’s not going to cause even more harm. If they clear them, massage your child at least once if not every week for a month. Even though your child may not have any sore muscles, a massage will help their nervous system ease and heal.

Get your child back into their routine as soon as possible

Something will happen to disrupt your child’s routine so get them back social as soon as possible. Ask the doctor what they can do safely and when. Always listen to what their doctor says, but don’t wait too long getting them back into some kind of normal life-even if all you can do is invite their friends over to watch movies. The more support you give your child, the faster they will heal from their injury.