My daughter started kindergarten this year and so far she has had to have mints 3 out of the 7 days to calm her belly because that is the only thing that the school is allowed to give for an upset belly. I have talked to her teacher and she doesnt think that she is doing it just for the candy. She just says her tummy hurts. The mints seem to help so I think its just nerves, although she has complained in the past of tummy pains then runs around like nothing happened 5 minutes later. So that makes me think gas. What is the best thing to do to prevent this nervous belly?
will she use the restroom at school?? perhaps the teacher needs to make it a point to quietly remind her to go, especially if she has a regular time at home that she is used to going, but might not want to interrupt to ask to go???
Lots of liquids, and it's also possible she is coming down with something, all the new germs and all.
Dairy sensitivity?? drinking milk with the school lunches?
The mints are probably serving as a placebo affect for her. I doubt there is any 'medical' concern. Maybe buy some mints and give her one before she goes to school and tell her "this will help get you through the day". Nothing wrong with your own placebo affect.
I work at my kids' school. I deal with this ALL the time, everyday.
#1, kids this age don't know their body's cues.
Thus, they don't know "why" their tummy hurts.
So try and teach your child, about why a tummy can hurt. I taught my kids about their body's cues, from when they were toddlers.
The reasons for a tummy ache are commonly:
1) they have gas, and need to fart or burp. Gas pains do cause pain. If this is the case.
2) nerves, but this is not common
3) they have to go to the toilet for #2
4) They are hungry and don't know hunger cues
5) Or if at lunch or after lunch, it is because they eat too fast, or are too full. And they don't know their body's cues for being "full." Or were not taught about their body's cues for "hunger" or "fullness."
6) They are sick or ill. Thus this warrants a trip to the health room.
The Mints, are not a cure. She probably just wants the candy.
And as you said, she is running around like normal, and the tummy ache does not impede her, at all.
As I said, I see this everyday, per kids, especially the younger ones.
And these are the reasons, for a stomach ache.
Nerves. Constipation, gas...
If the mints are working, get her some mints.
If it isn't gas, it could be nerves.
Try to do everything you can to help calm her nerves;
-ask her questions about how things are going at school, does she have
any friends etc
-try to get her there a few mins early before everybody else does
-set up playdates so she has friends as school
If she were asking for a cookie I would say it was just a sugar attack! LOL
I used to get nerves all the time in school until I got friends. It could be nerves but nothing wrong with mints. You could call her doctor and ask if that sounds like nerves. Start documenting when she gets the belly aches. Before or after anything she eats. Is it just school? Does she get like this during the weekend? If this is only during school time and not the weekends, it sounds like it is nerves. You may want to find out from the doctor if she can take an herb or something just to calm her before she goes and I would give her a mint before she hits the classroom.
Could she be constipated? Does she eat active cultured yogurt? You can try adbominal massage, the techniques are just like infant massage. As long as you rub in a clockwise motion and use some pressure (not light and tickly) a tummy massage can do some good!
If it is really nerves, maybe get her together with another girl in the class for playdates outside of school. Once she has a friend in class, she might enjoy going to class better. Generally Kindergarten teachers are very familiar with all kinds of reactions to school, and can perhaps come up with some strategies to distract her. Could she start in the class a few minutes before everyone else gets there to "help" the teacher set something up - my daughter hated walking into a noisy crowded class room but was fine if she watched the kids trickling in. My second daughter preferred the anonymity of walking into a busy classroom so she would not get noticed. It just depends on what makes her comfortable.
