1st Day Back at School & a Broken Arm - Ideas Please

[acomasdiaz]

So, my (4 year old) DD went back to school today and got pushed off the top of the slide by another student. She broke her arm and will be getting her cast tomorrow.

I would love some ideas to cheer her up during the next couple of days/weeks. Just little small things I can do for her.

We ordered an Edible Arrangements for her since she has always seen the vans and has wanted to get one. So, that's our expensive get well gift. We'll also be going to Disney in two weeks which should also make her feel better.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

When I was younger I always thought it was a treat to lay a blanket on the ground and watch a movie while I ate and have a "picnic" with my family. Maybe watch the disney planning dvd we watched that alot.

Decorating casts is always fun maybe find some stickers etc to decorate it or get some nice colour markers for people to sign it?

 

[brymolmom]

Been there, done that. As a child I broke a bunch of bones (didn't drink milk - another story entirely). Anyway - broke a leg at about that age...and an arm a handful of years later. And I can tell you one thing for certain - no cheering up will be necessary after a day or two. Being in a cast actually makes your hurt go away because it is kept stationary and you get TONS of attention due to your cast...kids can sign it, etc. And mom/dad have to help you out more to wash/dress. The extra attention is worth it alone!

I mean, maybe bring her for an ice cream after the cast goes on and when it comes off (those parts can be unpleasant). But other than that - I'm sure she'll be happy as can be shortly....

 

[clh2]

Sorry to hear about your DD. I agree with a previous poster...she'll get tons of attention! She is going to Disney in a couple of weeks - how can you top that???

Just a thought, and it may cost you a little bit more - see if the doc will put on a "water-proof cast." Make sure they know that you are going to Disney, and it would be a bummer if your DD can't go swimming.

Or - if they can't do a waterproof cast, have the doc recommend the "thingy" that can go over a cast and keep it dry. Sorry - I just do not know what they are called.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

In my experience, she won't need cheering up. Both as a kid and as a mom the kids gets pleanty of attention and the cast becomes fun. You get everyon wanting to sign it, she can even get the characters to sign it. I still remember getting mine as a kid and loved it. All I'd gt her is some pretty colored Sharpies to have people sign it.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

In addition, you might want to talk to the person who will be removing the cast. Have a line drawn on the cast where it will be cut for removal. Then bring along some "Sharpies" and have the characters autograph the cast, asking them to make sure their signature does not directly cross the line.

Once the cast is removed and fully dried out, you will then have a very unusual souvenir of the trip.

 

[tommya60]

I'd second the waterproof cast...my nephew had one and it made a HUGE difference in his outlook. And it was a lot healthier for his skin.
Picnic on the blanket, small stickers for being a trouper. Hope she's on the mend in a hurry!

 

[Cupcake2008]

Broken bones can be pretty traumatic at first, but kids are usually very resilient. A trip to Disney will probably cheer her up right away. Tell her that her cast is much cooler than an ordinary autograph book and see how many characters' autographs she can collect. I broke my collar bone at school at that age, and my aunt got me a dozen balloons. I was really excited when they were delivered. They came with a little stuffed rabbit weight. The rabbit went to graduate school with me!

 

[tinatark]

My older son broke his arm last year - one thing I didn't think about until we lived it - while the cast is repairing the break, the arm is still broken - healing, for the first few weeks - he had to really take it easy with that arm (using it at all) at the beginning.

 

[debster812]

I'd second the waterproof cast...my nephew had one and it made a HUGE difference in his outlook. And it was a lot healthier for his skin.
Picnic on the blanket, small stickers for being a trouper. Hope she's on the mend in a hurry!

I THIRD the waterproof cast if the break lends itself to one. Talk to the ortho and see what they say. When DS broke his, we had to pay out of pocket for the waterproof cast (I think it was $25 4 years ago) and I would have gladly paid 4x that. No issues with bathing/showering, swimming was not a problem, and it seemed nice and light. Plus they come in some super cool colors. DS had a royal blue one, and a Silver sharpie worked great for friends who wanted to sign it.

 

[rubato]

I agree with everyone. Once she sees all the attention that cast gets, she'll be loving it. Make sure she picks out a fun color (maybe red for Mickey or pink or purple if she's a princess girl). Then, get fun colored sharpies and stickers, and she'll be set! My son has been through 4 casts already and he's only 10. It's just part of life.

 

[Shmily1]

Two comments--give her a pretty pen. She can have all her friends "write" on it and that is FUN! Also, ask the person putting the cast on if she gets a choice of collors. DS19 broke his arm when he was 4 and he had a blue cast with a pretty pen

The second thing--When DS19 broke his arm, he was invincible. "You know, if you hit it really hard on the table, it doesn't even hurt!!" It didn't hurt then, but a week after he got the first cast, he got the second one--from the hospital where we had to take him to re-break the arm and have it reset! Just a hint, but you might want to warn her gently about that one

Good luck!!!

 

[Leajess99]

So, my (4 year old) DD went back to school today and got pushed off the top of the slide by another student. She broke her arm and will be getting her cast tomorrow.

I would love some ideas to cheer her up during the next couple of days/weeks. Just little small things I can do for her.

We ordered an Edible Arrangements for her since she has always seen the vans and has wanted to get one. So, that's our expensive get well gift. We'll also be going to Disney in two weeks which should also make her feel better.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

I hope it heals quickly for your DD. My youngest broke her wrist at 4 and had a purple cast beyond her elbow. She actually was not bothered by it and loved the extra attention. The day before Thanksgiving she broke her ponky closest to the hand so she ended up getting a pink cast that Monday after. She hated that cast because it was so difficult to do and it was on her right hand rather than the left like her first cast. Thankfully the pink one was only on for 2 weeks as the bone healed quickly.

Both times I had cool sharpies for her (silver for the purple cast) to have her friends, and some minor leahue baseball players on the first cast, sign. We did not keep the cast as they can get quite stinky especially if the child was active.

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

My dd broke her arm when she was 8, you feel so bad for them. Now her break was pretty bad (in two places), she had swelling so a temp cast for 3 weeks and then a real one for 3 weeks. Here are some things that worked for us:

* I made her a decorated sling. I "blinged" it up, used glitter fabric paint, printed ribbon, and a cool crystal fringe thing on the bottom. She loved it! You could make a regular one and a Disney one. I just decorated ones that you bought at a drugstore, I didn't make them from scratch. I got the idea when I realized there were no pink slings in our area.

* at school she was suppose to keep her arm elevated and a pillow was kind of clunky, so we bought a microbead pillow (you know they come in really cool shapes and fabrics) at our local drugstore. It cradled her arm and didn't want to slip. Since your daughter is younger she might not need it at school but it was nice at the dinner table, etc.

* the sharpie I got her for signing was on a carobiner clip so she could clip it to her sling and didn't loose it.

* at school she was not allowed to be on the playground or go to gym. I would show up at lunch and sit with her on a bench outside so she would get some sun.

* this one isn't for her- but a tip for you! If you aren't able to get her a waterproof cast, Glad Press and Seal is great for bathing time. Just start wrapping it around her cast area and you will be in much better shape than cling wrap. I wouldn't submurge it under water, but it was pretty waterproof.

Good luck to you and your daughter! Have a great time in Disney!

 

[micki7337]

I would recommend the waterproof cast and sharpies for characters to sign it.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

We're going through this right now with DS3. He fell off the bunkbed ladder and shattered the growth plate in his right arm. Right before Christmas, they took the pins out, and he's now in a removable splint until next week.

The good news is, it's less of a big deal to the child than it is to the mom. Believe me, he survived his surgery MUCH better than I did! Pin removal, too. They gave him a cool cast, green with a glow-in-the-dark stripe. Sharpies are perfect for writing on it. It slows him down a bit, but he can still do most everything. Dressing himself is a bit difficult. He wore a sling for the first few days, but it became more trouble than it was worth. And fiberglass casts are so light--not like the plaster casts of years ago.

What's been funny here is, my DD6 is more affected by the cast than DS3 is--she keeps talking about it, telling her friends about his progress, having various classmates send reams of get well cards.

BTW, you should probably mention to her doctor about the Disney trip. I doubt there would be any impact, but you will feel better for having asked if there are any limitations.

Oh, if your DD is sensitive to noise, consider bringing earplugs to cast removal day. This made a world of difference to my son. They were great about explaining how the saw worked and how there was no chance he would be cut by it, too.

 

[Tandyc]

I have not read all the other entries but I wanted to add that a waterproof cast is a lifesaver. As a mom who has had kids with several casts on arms in the last few years, a waterproof cast is wonderful. You can wash and shower in it. Water rides in Disney are fine and they look no different than other fiberglass casts. We got the first one just by chance. The doctor suggested it due to the time of year. When this ds broke the same arm 2 weeks after he got the first cast off we asked for waterproor the second time around. You can't believe the number of kids who came up to my ds in the pool and said how luck he was to be able to swim. They all had to sit on the side and watch. It was heartbreaking.

I have heard some doctors don't have this type of cast but I would find someone who does. The bathing alone is so much better. Tradidtional casts get so stinky and are such a pain to "bag up" to wash around.

Hope this helps!

Tandyc

 

[englishteacha]

Oooh! Characters to sign the cast! Awesome!

 

[WantToGoNow]

Absolutely get the waterproof cast for swimming and bathing purposes. My ds8 is in a leg cast right now and we were unable to get waterproof - I'm so glad we already had our trip. The Orthopedist that we saw said you have to be really careful with waterproof casts and he will not put one on a leg. He said if you don't drain the water out, it can pool down in the joint (elbow/heel) and cause an infection - he said it was not uncommon for kids in casts to end up with MRSA from this. Since we have snow on the ground, we had to get a silicone cover to put over his cast when he goes outside. My dd6 (was 5 at the time) had a removable cast on for 6 weeks for a broken finger. It was on her right hand and she learned to use her left hand within a couple of weeks.

 

[blanq]

I hope this does not sound harsh, because it is not meant to be, but really, do you need to do anything for her at all? I mean, you are her mother, so I assume you make her meals, buy her things, clean up after her, and do all of the other doting things us mothers spend our lives doing. I am sure you will help her adjust to her cast, and help her with bathing, or any other adjustments she needs to make because of her injury. She is getting a trip to WDW very soon, and you got her the edible arrangement. My child has had plenty of stitches, surgeries and other boy injuries over the years...he gets a kiss, a hug, some tylenol and is sent on his way. I would have never considered getting him an edible arrangement or any special thing, or special treatment. Stitches and casts are part of many kids childhood, IMHO. Maybe I am a mean mom?