My 6-yr. old niece broke her left arm and has to have a cast (over her elbow) for 6-12 weeks. (She is left-handed.)
What can I do for her or get her to let her know I'm thinking about her? My brother's family only lives a few miles away, so distance isn't a problem. She has an older and younger sister.
Thanks!
When my son broke his arm he got so many care packages & it really lifted his spirits!! Books, movies, board games and some treats just for him. I know it's kind of hard because she can't use her left hand for a while, but a special coloring books and crayons is always nice. After a week or two she will be able to function a bit better with that broken arm.
Poor thing! I'm right handed, broke my right arm when I was 6 (stupid monkey bars), and has a cast over the elbow. I had to keep my arm straight out (not against my chest, like in a sling). At night, I had to wrap blankets around it to prop it, and it was summer... I was miserable. Couldn't go swimming either!
Since you're in IL and it's still cold, I would grab some age appropriate board games, books (ispy books ROCK), movies and popcorn, etc... just 'little happys' to keep her occupied. Paint fingernails, do hair and makeup, have a tea party... or just send her a card and let her know you love her and you hope she feels better soon!!
I totally know how miserable she feels!! I hope she has a fast rececovery :)
Maybe go to an arts and crafts store and pick up a bunch of decorations that she and her sisters can use to decorate the cast with. Or you could take her (just her) for a special niece/aunt day. Go shopping, out for ice cream, to see a movie, stuff like that.
What if you got her something like a nice new pair of shoes that she can use now and would take the focus off of her arm and more on her feet?
Well I hope you get to sign her cast with the coolest CastSigning Message EVER!
:)
Poor baby!
Maybe a couple new movies? I think 'Tangled' is coming out soon, if its not already? Something to occupy her, she is gonna get SO bored! Since she is left-handed this is gonna be SO difficult for her, so I would think toys would be out...I would go with movies and maybe a new soft throw blanket? So she can get as comfy-cozy as possible? Maybe even a cool cup with a straw kind of thing, spill proof too!
~I broke my elbow in Jan. and it SUCKS! Still sucks! I needed and LOVED a lil rectangular pillow hubby bought me to prop up my arm, especially for when we had to go in the car...car rides are so bumpy and any movement like that can really hurt! I know they sell them at Walmart, it was the kind with what felt like little beads inside? It would shape/conform around your arm so I always felt supported.
Also, take a look at her sling she is wearing if she is wearing one, the one the hospital gave me didn't have any padding on the strap that goes around your neck and that can rub and really hurt, after awhile. I bought a softer mesh one that had a movable piece of soft padding so you could adjust it to fit where ever it needed to be, around your neck...that was a life savor and it was like $9-$11 dollars at Rite-Aid.
Good job Auntie!
Go watch a movie with her or babysit hr one night while her folks get out. You can watch a movie together then and make her a favorite meal. Play on the computer with video. Video her, be silly, and play it back.
I find this ? fascinating....& I actually called my Mom to check the accuracy of my memories!
I had broken arms THREE times over the course of 5 summers. No special activities, no special books, no special outings, no special ANYTHING! & I still had to do chores! Isn't it fascinating the differences btwn the generations? When I was a child, this was just a part of life!
I still spent time outside with my friends, I still rode my bike....couldn't swim & that was my only restriction....as per the dr's orders. Life went on...just as normally & as naturally as before the injury.
Soooo, go sign her cast & let her lead a normal life! Wow, this was an eye-opener ? for me!! Thanks.....
Whooops, more thoughts: when our sons had surgery (5 btwn them, over the last 17 years), we did "make it special" for them. The rest of the family did a variety of things....but mainly phone calls/wkend visits....& that was it. Hmmmm
My left-handed daughter broke her left arm last July! It was a long 12 weeks! What she (and I) appreciated the most were the little care packages with books, magazines, etc...Maybe some board games & DVD's.
