DS broke arms, need help with summer plans!

[Unicornhamster]

DS5 had a freak accident this week and has broken both of his arms. We had a lot of plans for over the holidays all of which are just not feasible anymore. The casts he’s in are shoulder to wrist on both.
I am gutted for him but really don’t want him to feel he’s had a crap summer. I have had to cancel all his summer camps and now I am pulling my hair out thinking of ways to get him out of the house over the next six weeks.

I also have 3 month old twins so I need to take them into consideration when planning. Any one have any suggestions? Not just for summer plans but also any tips for making life easier for him?

Oh no that sounds like really awful timing. What kind of physical activity is he able to manage (if any)?

Yes! Terrible timing. He really can’t do much at the minute but I suspect he will get used to the casts over time. He can walk but that’s about it. He can’t walk up the stairs without help because he’s scared he will fall and can’t hold on to anything. I think anything he can do would have to be sitting or walking... 😫

Oh my goodness. Firstly huge sympathy and good luck. Secondly do you have any help? Tiny twins and a frustrated 5 year old is going to be tough going I imagine!

As for ideas? How about a steam train journey? Are there any sporting matches you could go and watch?

Stairs wise, get him to sit on his bum and go up backwards.

Oh no poor boy whatever did he do, will he be in full casts all the time. I think your going to watch a lot of tv. Can you take him to the library and get books for you to read to him I'm sure he will adapt, but goodness me your going to be busy have you any one who can come in and help you.

Ok this would be my plan:
I would try to arrange a few play dates with school friends, maybe one a week through the holidays.
Are there any museums nearby that you could visit?
Can he hold a pen? Usbourne do some great dot-to-dot and maze books that keep my son entertained for hours.
Make your own treasure hunt in the park, write a big list of things to find and tick off the list.
Loads of tv!

Poor little DS. For outings I am thinking going to visit things that are interesting to look at and accommodate disabled people (albeit he is only temporarily disabled they would have smooth walkways and limited steps etc) zoos, museums, cinema or theatre.

That’s awful, poor thing! You’ll be amazed how he adapts to it after a few days. DS broke his arm last year (granted it was only the 1!) it didn’t stop him doing anything really.

My advice is to get waterproof covers (which I suspect you’ve already done) they’re fantastic for any beach trips and general showering.

Be prepared for the smell! DS’s stank to high heaven! We used teatree oil to try and mask the stink. I’d also suggest tubey grips to cover them, you can wash those. It’ll minimise the dirt and smells.

Best of luck and wishing him a quick recovery.

I kid you not, my DN learned to use her ipad with her feet when she was in traction for 6 weeks.....

Ouch ouch ouch, poor wee soul and poor you !

Yes to bum shuffling for the stairs! Much easier .

I broke my leg badly day before summer holidays age 8, cast from ankle to thigh - and couldn’t use crutches due to dyspraxia so wheelchair/zimmer dependant . I got through a lot of books (audiobooks?) in the garden, and lots of walks/day trips to parks, museums etc that were more accessible . Lots of films in the cinema too . Even went to the beach once (although I can’t remember how exactly , with a plaster cast and no waterproof cover, that worked!) . Only thing we couldn’t do was swimming but after two weeks or so kind of forgot about that .

My mum also bought me a kitten but that might be a bit too drastic !!

Definitely second a limbo cover too , i broke my leg again aged 21 (I’m clumsy!) and a limbo helped hugely with having a bath etc !

Thank you all for your very helpful suggestions!
He fell from the top of some play equipment. He can’t hold a pen unfortunately, I think I am going to have to resign myself to lots of TV days.
He did it at school so all the parents have offered to have their DC come and visit. I think once the shock has worn off he will hopefully feel like going for a walk.
My MIL is on hand to help with the twins so I can spend some time with him on his own.
Thanks for tips re- cast cover and smell

Pokemon Go should be manageable still, at least that will get you out of the house and you could go to a new town/place a couple of times a week to catch new Pokemon if he likes that. Each new place you go to will have new stuff to do.

Our town for example has a model railway that's fun for a couple of hours. (Bekonscot)

Some park grounds have facilities for disabled children, that would be safer for him to use.

I'd see if you could get a surestart volunteer to help out and at least then you could get to the cinema.

I'd also tell parents from your school what has happened, I'm sure you'll get lots of offers for playdates over the summer too.

how about a trip to the zoo

My friend's son had this a few years ago. He was about 10. It was during term time which brought its own problems. The thing about going out and walking was that the weight of the casts was a problem in his neck. He'd wear one in a sling and try to keep the other free but it was not comfortable. So I'd imagine that things like going to the zoo might be good but he'll be far more tired and grumpy afterwards than would ordinarily happen, so factoring that in may be handy.

Cinema trips could be good.
Have movie afternoons at home with some friends over?

See how he does but things like doing the stairs on his bum will give him more independence when it's been taken away in some other significant areas.

Maybe plan a trip in the October holidays, if you can, so he has something to look forward to as well?

And my friend's DS made a good recovery and continued playing the piano afterwards and carried on competing in gymnastics. In case you wanted to hear about after!

I'm glad you have other help with baby twins too as he's going to be quite dependent on you for helping him toilet, wash, dress, eat and drink for a while!! I suspect even sleeping is going to be uncomfortable poor boy. Keep on top of the pain relief and he'll gradually find ways to do things himself. Cinema, tv, audio books, trip to zoo or museum. Nightmare for you!

My husband broke both his arms when my middle child was 6 weeks old it was a nightmare! He fell off a swing which was going really high showing off to our 3 year old, of course he put his hands down to break his fall resulting in two broken arms! He didn't have casts though, I guess it's different for children. The first week I had to help him dress, wash and do his teeth etc - great fun with a baby and toddler too...after that he found ways of doing things for himself and returned to work - the only was his commute as he wasn't in casts he had to be careful people didn't bang into him!

What a nightmare.
TV, cinema, football match?

You basically need sitting down activities where he can rest his arms. Any museums nearby that are interesting for kids and you could borrow a wheelchair? And another adult to push the twins?

Can he use both hands at the same time? If you're not going on holiday or paying for summer camp can you buy him a second hand Xbox? I know lots of people are dead against them but if it has strict time limits it might just help preserve all of your sanity.

I hope you're okay too, it must have been a really shocking fall if he fell badly enough to break both his arms. Wee soul.

My friends little girl did something similar and they rented a wheelchair to get her out and about because whilst she could walk she felt very unstable and the casts were heavy and hurt her shoulders/neck. That way they could take her on trips to the zoo, aquarium etc without it turning into an ordeal for everyone.

I'd look up lots of games like I-spy where you and he can keep his mind occupied, whilst you are physically dealing with your twins. Singing funny songs together, basic sums in his head, anything that will break up the day as lots of tv might leave him bored. I'm thinking maybe car games, I'm sure I've seen online resources like '20 ways to entertain your child on a long journey'...

If you’re worried about him getting square eyes, or even a bit down from not being able to get out much, I think it can be psychologically helpful to make whatever’s happening a “project” with a specific target or purpose. So, for example, you could plan to watch every Disney Pixar movie and plan to rank them all from worst to best with categories like best music, best animation, funniest, etc.

This could also be a good time to get DVDs of your own childhood favourites that he won’t have seen before.

Audiobooks can be nice for a change and will give his eyes a rest.

I really feel for you all, but in a year this will just be a blip, and neither he nor your babies will suffer long-term.

I second using a wheelchair and trying to go out once a week or so, maybe museum, zoo.

How about doing feet painting in the garden on a nice day? Might be fun.

Thank you all. I think my brain is malfunctioning so I didn’t think of 90% of these. He gets his lighter casts next week which the doctor said would make life easier. I think he’s upset that he’s lost so much of his independence, having me help him eat, toilet and get off the sofa is annoying him.
Great idea about renting a wheelchair for days out, London zoo and museums would be doable with these.
I am breastfeeding the twins and now I am wondering if I should start some formula so I can leave them with MIL for longer periods.
What a nightmare.

Oh that does sound really tough, poor boy.

One activity that springs to mind is singing - are there any junior choir camps or lessons near you? Or any kind of video games where you sing? Also any other academic type activities like language lessons? Engaging the brain will help him burn off some energy too.

Maybe some sort of (short-lived, low maintenance) pet? Some easy-to-care-for fish perhaps? Give him something to focus on.

That sounds awful, my DS also broke his arm last week and had to have wires inserted. But that's only one arm, it must be so much harder that it's both as he probably can't hold anything. The first few times we went out I got out his old umbrella type stroller pushchair which helped us get out and about, DS is a very small 5 year old.

The cinema, zoo and museums would be ideal.

Don't go to Legoland as I'm sure he won't be able to hold safety bars of the rides and you don't want the impact of the rides doing any more damage.

Poor thing! And poor you! I would think about hiring a wheel chair to take him out for trips, but I suppose then you will always need someone with you to push the twins around too . We covered my son's cast with a large sock with the end cut off, it was a bit brighter than the tubigrip. How much can your MIL help out?

Poor wee man, and poor you! To add to the list:
Does anyone you know like chess? Takes ages so it would be a good time to teach him.
If you can get hold of a telescope he can spend some time gazing skyward.
If you're near a theatre or concert hall there are often good kids shows on in the holidays.