For many years, I have been studying the development of various types of childhood injuries and the consequences that they may have. While I started my education at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, I have followed a course of study that has led me to focus my attention on the development of physical and mental health in children, especially those who experience violent injuries or developmental disabilities as a result of accidents or illness. During the course of my research, I have come across many studies that show how children, whose coping skills are impaired by injury or illness, can make up for this by learning strategies and techniques to improve their resilience. It is these strategies and techniques, along with support for childhood compensatory tools such as activities, which I will now discuss.
I began studying these issues because, early in my career, a former student came to see me following a particularly traumatic sports injury. According to this person, her pediatrician had recommended she try physical therapy, but had been told that it would not help. She was particularly distressed because, according to this person, she had been told that she would be unable to play sports again and that she would be labeled a failure. She was also told that she would never be able to walk again.
The fact that this woman was able to play sports in spite of sustaining a devastating injury inspired me to examine her rehabilitation efforts and see if she needed additional support. It was clear from her medical records that her injuries were not the kind that could “wreak havoc” on her development. The fact that she could play sports for such a long time without any limitations was also encouraging. What became apparent to me was the importance of encouraging our children to pursue their full potential despite the obvious physical demands that we place on them.
This led me to research the psychology of sports and physical fitness and to discover the powerful role that emotions play in our children’s experiences of sports and fitness. For example, when a child is injured, parents are often too involved in their child’s activities and they fail to provide the emotional support that is necessary for kids to overcome obstacles and live up to their full potential. As one of my co-workers says, “You just can’t watch TV all day long.” The constant mental stimulation provided by playing sports and fitness activities provides a positive experience for kids. There are moments when you just can’t take your mind off of your child, or vice versa, when you cannot put the breaks on yourself and your kids. These mental blocks prevent kids from enjoying their full athletic potential and hinder sostegno strumenti compensativi.
I have witnessed many physical therapies that did not offer much support for childhood compensatory tools, such as massage, naturopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic visits, etc. The focus was only on the pain and discomfort. I have seen people fall asleep during these sessions. The truth is that most people are unaware that the brain has over one hundred muscles, and they do not rest. Our society seems to place more importance on safety and security, rather than mental health.
Parents need to realize that sports and recreation injuries are serious and should be treated as such. This will help them address the root cause of the problem and ensure that it does not reoccur. Children who are not treated early can suffer from chronic injuries as they get older and may have to deal with missing school or day care as a result. This can be detrimental to developing healthy motor skills and can lead to difficulty paying bills and living a normal life. If you feel as if your child is not receiving the support they need, it may be time to talk to a family counselor and see what can be done. Preventative measures can go a long way in helping them recover from sports or other injuries.
Parents also need to make sure that they are scheduling enough time for kids to be active so they can grow up healthy and physically fit. If kids are forced to sit in front of the television or computer for hours at a time, they will become bored and may begin to avoid physical therapy. Doing activities together with friends or taking a sports field trip together can help children develop social skills that can help them in later life. Too much television, in particular, has been shown to encourage destructive and unhealthy social behaviors. All parents should try to find as many activities for kids as possible and should take every precaution to ensure that their children have fun and get plenty of exercise.
It is important to remember that childhood injuries are treatable. Using sports equipment or therapeutic gloves, for instance, can help children build muscle and improve their range of motion. These and other support for childhood compensatory tools can be found online. In fact, there are numerous websites dedicated to offering support for childhood compensatory tools and programs.