I always have a packet of elastoplast handy. As a parent, you know that bumps and scrapes happen, and sometimes there is nothing you can do to stop that. But of course, no matter how it happens, your children look to you to make it all better! A walk to the park can mean a skinned knee, a game of football after school can result in a bumped elbow, a game in the garden could end up with a scratch or a scrape.
Having been a nanny, then a nurse and now a mum, also working with small children and families, I have dealt with my fair share of administering TLC to little people and I like to think I’ve mostly got it sussed.
Distraction is the key…
Getting them to think about something else, whilst you administer first aid, wipe up and bandage up little wounds, is the way I’ve found works.
Talking calmly, trying to make them smile, reassuring them and trying to make them laugh or smile helps a lot.
Silly voices, singing songs, if it works, do it. Help those tears dry up fast.
If it’s really sore, we play a game in our house, where you squeeze my hand to make you think about how hard you can squeeze, to help you concentrate on that and not the pain from your bump or scrape.
One trick up my sleeve is Elastoplast and having brightly colored and fun plasters to apply to small wounds, cuts and grazes. Pull out something that looks fun, and you pretty much are onto a win.
We definitely didn’t have plasters like this when I was a child, I wish we had! I am old!
Elastoplast is a famillair name and a very well known brand in many homes
Getting our kids out and about playing outside and having fun is a huge and important part of childhood, and helping them to enjoy themselves despite the occasional scrape or cut, with a tried, tested and reliable brand, really does help turn tears into smiles and helps them carry on playing and keep going…