How Parents’ Reactions Can Affect Kids’ Pain

You can parent your kids however you like. When your child falls, it can be a shock and a horrifying experience, but it may also be less serious than it appears. Children often look to their parents to understand how they should feel in certain circumstances, and it’s important to know the best way to act.

Steps to Respond to Minor Falls

Here’s how I would deal with it:

1. Recognise: Acknowledge that something has happened. “Ouch, that hurt. Are you okay?”
2. Reassure: They’re okay if you’re okay. “Oh yes, that must have hurt. Let me have a look. It looks like you’ll be fine.”
3. Treat: Kiss it better, use anything you like to help them feel like it’s been sorted and can be forgotten about.
4. Distract: Get them back into the next activity or jump back on the playground.

Note: We’re talking about minor falls (boo boos, if you will). Be careful that the child isn’t genuinely hurt. Limping or favouring one side may be indicative, as can the child holding the area in a protective manner. If that’s the case, it’s best to get some further advice!

The Impact of Parental Reactions

As a health practitioner, we need to be aware that parental anxiety and family traits may greatly impact the situation when a child is in pain. Reassurance is more important than you might believe, and sometimes that might be more for the parent than the child in pain.

Research has shown that parental responses can significantly influence their child’s pain perception. For instance, a systematic review and meta-analysis found that parent responses to their child’s pain are associated with the child’s pain intensity and functional disability. Specifically, cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses from parents can impact how children experience and report pain (academic.oup.com).

For more insights on health management, you might find our article on Is Conservative Health Care Worth the Investment? helpful. It discusses the benefits of conservative health care approaches, including lifestyle changes and manual therapy, which may be helpful in managing various health conditions.

Practical Takeaways

• Stay Calm: Your child will look to you for cues on how to react.
• Offer Reassurance: Simple words of comfort may go a long way.
• Use Distraction: Redirecting attention may help alleviate pain perception.
• Seek Professional Advice: If the injury seems serious, consult a healthcare professional.

Booking an Osteopathic Consultation

If you’re unsure about how to manage your child’s pain or need guidance on reassurance strategies, consider booking an appointment with an osteopath. Osteopathic care can provide personalized advice and techniques to support both you and your child during such situations.

References

Kraljevic, S., Banozic, A., Maric, A., Cosic, A., Sapunar, D., & Puljak, L.  (2012).  Parents’ pain catastrophizing is related to pain catastrophizing of their adult children.  International Journal of Behavioural Medicine, 19(1), 115-119.

Chambers, C., Taddio, A., Uman, L., McMurtry, C., HELPinKDS Team. (2009).  Psychological interventions for reducing pain and distress during routine childhood immunizations: a systematic review. Clinical Therapy, 31, Suppl 2, S77-S103.

Goodman, J., & McGrath, P. (2003). Mother’s modeling influences children’s pain during a cold pressor task. Pain, 104(3), 559-565.

Logan, D., Simons, L., & Carpino, E. (2012).  Too sick for school? Parent influences on school functioning among children with chronic pain.  Pain, 153(2), 437-443.