Re: Advice For Explaining Helmet to Children

[Guest guest]

My daughter is 4 1/2.. and our baby, Mia is small and has some developmental delays, so I am used to explaining things. The kids in her class don't think a thing of any of it! They are all so sweet and gentle with her. I don't make things sound scary or intimidating, and I don't ignore their questions, either. I just tell it like it is, simply. I told our daughter that SOME kids have big ROUND heads like hers, and some kids don't - so they can wear a special hat to make it round like a ball instead of flat like a pancake. It's like a 'flat spot fixer'!.

 

I've become creative explaining differences to her because sometimes I have to bring her to Mia's therapy, where she sees kids in wheelchairs, with walkers, etc. If I don't make a big deal out of it, neither does she. I never want to lie or just tell her not to look, I would much rather explain that everyone does things a little differently - and other parents seem to welcome the questions openly. So if she asks why a boy has a wheelchair or what it is, I tell her that some kids need some help walking because their legs aren't strong enough.. and then I'll point out how shiny it is or how it has wheels just like her bike, or so on. And then it's not so strange and not such a big deal.

 

I just plan to focus on making the band as cute as possible and having fun changing it up. That's all ).

 

Honestly, I've had way more issues dealing with adults as far as our other issues are concerned - we don't have our band yet, so I can't say there.

 

Kim

Mom to Mia

DOC Band coming 4/8

On Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 8:33 PM, marlborosanta <levindebbie@...> wrote:

Hi everyone. My son will be getting his Hanger helmet on Thursday. I have an older daughter who is four years old. I know when I bring her to preschool all of the kids are going to ask about Jack's helmet. I'd love to know how everyone explained or explains this to small children. Thanks.

DebbieMom to Jack (5 months old) - severe brachy and plagioSophia (4 years old) - perfect!Santa , CA

[Guest guest]

I dealt with this too! I just said it's her (or his) hat. And sometimes they touched it... which I was ok with.

Sometimes if they seemed interested I would say it will make her head round. But Calling it a "hat" was usually enough.

BTW - did you end up going to in Encino?

Jen

Mom to Luli - 3 yrs old

Torticollis, Plagio, Syringomyelia

Advice For Explaining Helmet to Children

Hi everyone. My son will be getting his Hanger helmet on Thursday. I have an older daughter who is four years old. I know when I bring her to preschool all of the kids are going to ask about Jack's helmet. I'd love to know how everyone explained or explains this to small children. Thanks.

Debbie

Mom to Jack (5 months old) - severe brachy and plagio

Sophia (4 years old) - perfect!

Santa , CA

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[Guest guest]

I think that the simple explanation that it is a helmet used to help his head grow round is a sufficient explanation. I would not use any special terminology..........the word helmet shouldn't have a negative connotation to a four year old. During the 8 months my son wore his helmet I don't think I ever called it a special hat. ____________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

I love your advice Kim...Thats how we do it too...complete honesty as we dont want to mislead our children...Im lucky though because we live ina community where disabilities is common and it is nothing out of the ordinary to see people that are what we would consider different. I took My helmet baby to events at the school and never got a second look. I have had kids comment on the cute helmet and ask why and I explained that Justice needs the help in shaping his head...kids are sooo simple...its the adults at time that are so ignorant and to me sometimes isnt worth haing to explain but I always do. To help my sons class we had a little gathering and the kids helped decorate the helmet. That was soooo fun and it helped alot. and after that I would always let my own children help with the decorations and they also check his head out every night and

sometimes claim to see a difference. Its all in good fun.Just be honest!

mom to Justice 7 months old ( wow how fast was that!) removed from 2nd starband 4/24/09

From: K S <trying4two@...>Subject: Re: Advice For Explaining Helmet to ChildrenPlagiocephaly Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 4:19 AM

My daughter is 4 1/2.. and our baby, Mia is small and has some developmental delays, so I am used to explaining things. The kids in her class don't think a thing of any of it! They are all so sweet and gentle with her. I don't make things sound scary or intimidating, and I don't ignore their questions, either. I just tell it like it is, simply. I told our daughter that SOME kids have big ROUND heads like hers, and some kids don't - so they can wear a special hat to make it round like a ball instead of flat like a pancake. It's like a 'flat spot fixer'!.

I've become creative explaining differences to her because sometimes I have to bring her to Mia's therapy, where she sees kids in wheelchairs, with walkers, etc. If I don't make a big deal out of it, neither does she. I never want to lie or just tell her not to look, I would much rather explain that everyone does things a little differently - and other parents seem to welcome the questions openly. So if she asks why a boy has a wheelchair or what it is, I tell her that some kids need some help walking because their legs aren't strong enough.. and then I'll point out how shiny it is or how it has wheels just like her bike, or so on. And then it's not so strange and not such a big deal.

I just plan to focus on making the band as cute as possible and having fun changing it up. That's all ).

Honestly, I've had way more issues dealing with adults as far as our other issues are concerned - we don't have our band yet, so I can't say there.

Kim

Mom to Mia

DOC Band coming 4/8

On Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 8:33 PM, marlborosanta <levindebbie@ gmail.com> wrote:

Hi everyone. My son will be getting his Hanger helmet on Thursday. I have an older daughter who is four years old. I know when I bring her to preschool all of the kids are going to ask about Jack's helmet. I'd love to know how everyone explained or explains this to small children. Thanks.DebbieMom to Jack (5 months old) - severe brachy and plagioSophia (4 years old) - perfect!Santa , CA

[Guest guest]

Yes, we went to and like him a lot. So far so good. Jack gets his helmet

on Thursday!

>

> I dealt with this too!? I just said it's her (or his) hat. And sometimes they

touched it... which I was ok with.

> Sometimes if they seemed interested I would say it will make her head round.?

But Calling it a " hat " was usually enough.

> BTW - did you end up going to in Encino?

>

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> Jen

> Mom to Luli - 3 yrs old

> Torticollis, Plagio, Syringomyelia

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> Advice For Explaining Helmet to Children

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> Hi everyone. My son will be getting his Hanger helmet on Thursday. I have an

older daughter who is four years old. I know when I bring her to preschool all

of the kids are going to ask about Jack's helmet. I'd love to know how everyone

explained or explains this to small children. Thanks.

>

> Debbie

> Mom to Jack (5 months old) - severe brachy and plagio

> Sophia (4 years old) - perfect!

>

> Santa , CA

>

[Guest guest]

Tell him I said HI! He will probably remember Me and Luli... tell him I'm still online helping parents of babies w/ plagio!

:-)

Jen

Mom to Luli - 3 yrs old

Torticollis, Plagio, Syringomyelia

Advice For Explaining Helmet to Children

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> Hi everyone. My son will be getting his Hanger helmet on Thursday. I have an older daughter who is four years old. I know when I bring her to preschool all of the kids are going to ask about Jack's helmet. I'd love to know how everyone explained or explains this to small children. Thanks.

>

> Debbie

> Mom to Jack (5 months old) - severe brachy and plagio

> Sophia (4 years old) - perfect!

>

> Santa , CA

>

A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!

[Guest guest]

My son had a plagio shaped head. We told children that his head was a triangle and the helmet made it round or a circle. Kids seemed fine with it and clearly helped the parents feel better about their child asking questions. But honestly, most of the time the other kids didn't notice (my daughter and her friends are of the same age)

Good luck

From: marlborosanta <levindebbie@...>Plagiocephaly Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 9:33:01 PMSubject: Advice For Explaining Helmet to Children

Hi everyone. My son will be getting his Hanger helmet on Thursday. I have an older daughter who is four years old. I know when I bring her to preschool all of the kids are going to ask about Jack's helmet. I'd love to know how everyone explained or explains this to small children. Thanks.DebbieMom to Jack (5 months old) - severe brachy and plagioSophia (4 years old) - perfect!Santa , CA