Accidents are an unfortunate yet common part of our society. Every day thousands of people become a part of car accidents – even kids. While all accidents are not fatal, there is a significant possibility for an individual to get fractures. Children are more prone to getting fractures because their bones are soft and not fully developed.
Why Do Car Accidents Occur?
There are different reasons why people suffer from car accidents. Kids can be injured in car accidents due to various reasons. Either way, it’s not their fault. Some of the most quintessential reasons why cars suffer from an accident are:
- Over speeding can be pretty dangerous as you are losing control over the car.
- Making your kids sit in the first seat can be more dangerous and prone to fractures if your vehicle meets an accident.
- Distracted driving involves you eating, drinking, and texting while driving. Always avoid doing other things that end up in an accident.
You must remain careful when driving. It’s never your child’s fault. It can be challenging for them to recover. Right after the accident, make sure that you and your child are taken to the emergency room. In case of any fractures, your doctor will apply a cast on the affected region of your child.
How to Help Your Child Recover Better After an Accident?
It takes a while to recover from an accident. The process is prolonged, and it takes time to get out of the cast. Your bones need to rest 100% to heal from the cracks. Since this is a prolonged process, getting bored and irritated with your routine is common, especially in children. It will help you pass the time and boost your recovery process.
Here are a few things that you can do to boost the recovery process:
Focus On Nutrition
The most important thing you need to focus on is your nutrition. Your diet plays a significant role in recovery. Adding healthy meals to your kids’ diet is crucial as it will help the bones to heal. Here are a few things you need to include in your child’s diet:
- Add protein to your diet if you want your bruises and lacerations to recover. Your body needs a lot of protein naturally. Fish, eggs, chicken, and red meat are excellent sources of protein. It will also give your body sufficient energy to move around.
- Another thing that an injured body needs for complete recovery are antioxidants. Eliminating free radicals from your body will reduce inflammation.
- Foods that are rich in Vitamin-C and omega 3 fatty acids act as anti-inflammatories. Make sure that you are adding plenty of citrus juices to your child’s diet. If you are suffering from car wreck injuries other than fractures, even then it is recommended.
- 70% of your bones are made from minerals like calcium and zinc. If you have fractures, your bones will need plenty of minerals to heal. Add milk, dairy, or recommended minerals to your kids’ diet.
As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that your little one is well-fed and on the road to recovery. They are obviously going to get very fussy and irritated with a cast hanging on a body part. Whether supplements or fresh foods, make sure that your kids are getting enough nutrition to recover appropriately.
Add Activities to Their Routine
Kids have short attention spans. This means that they do need some extra attention to get through the day. Usually, your child would remain distracted by games and other regular activities. However, if they are bed-bound or not fully mobile, it will result in frustration and irritation. Fortunately, we have smartphones and tons of activities to keep our children engaged after fractures.
Make a list of all the movies and shows you wanted to watch with them but never had the chance. Think of educational yet entertaining activities that they would love to do on their bed, such as
- Sudoku
- Bingo
Other than this there are plenty of activities such as:
- Simon says
- Stationary bikes
- Juggling
Bond with Your Kids
Modern-day parents are pretty busy in their career and making a good living for their children. If your kid is suffering different injuries from a car accident, they will crave more attention. Instead of leaving them with a nurse or babysitter, take some time off from your vacation days to spend with your little one. This is actually an excellent opportunity for you to bond with them on a personal level. You can consider doing the following activities with your little one:
- Create a list of short-term goals they can accomplish after their injury is recovered. Ask them about the different things they would like to do over the holidays. This will help them streamline and prepare a schedule.
- Look for ways to educate them. Many kids develop habits of book reading if they see their parents doing it. Buy books of genres that your kids like to read.
- You can also take them out for some stationary activities like fishing or a nice picnic.
- Baking and cooking sessions can also help you bond with your kids without putting a lot of pressure on their fractures.
Meditate with Children
Meditation is excellent for both body and mind healing. It is vital to maintain a calm state during recovery to prevent depression and anger. Since these symptoms are pretty common among kids when they are bed-bound or primarily immobile. Meditation is a great way to handle such emotions. You can start your meditation with kids in the simplest of ways.
- Start with simple exercises like breathing to improve your blood circulation.
- If you are into yoga, easy postures can be introduced depending upon the intensity of the injury. If their doctor is also treating whiplash, mediation promotes muscular strength.
Learn A New Skill
Since your little one is partially immobile, they can actually spend some time learning a new skill instead of just laying down and wasting your time. With fragile bones, more than one month is required to fix the bones. Learning a new skill during this stressful time will help reduce pressure from your mind and body. It will also eliminate any fears or stress that your child has regarding fractured bones. Here are a few things you can do:
- Make them start a journal. Allow your child to express their thoughts in a diary. They can pen down their opinions regarding the surgery.
- Get your child to learn a musical instrument. Ask them which one they like best and enroll them in virtual music lessons.
- This is a world of digital technology. Your children can actually take lessons for video editing, Photoshop, social media, etc. Learning such skills can help your kids progress and actually make a career out of it.
Keep them motivated, and this way, they can keep track of their progress. These activities can turn into a hobby for a lifetime.
Conclusion
Car accidents are pretty common and can happen to anyone. Your kids might suffer from fractures. In this scenario, you must take them to a car accident clinic immediately. After that, focus on activities that help them recover without being useless.