Pain thresholds in children.

[Posey]

I've just been posting about my dd and her remarkable bravery at the dentist today. And it got me thinking about pain thresholds and "bravery".
In the summer we were in the park and dd fell over a wall and cried. Her leg was in a right mess, really bruised so unsurprising that she cried. Her friend said it was the first time she'd ever seen her cry so it must've been bad.
Now does she just not feel pain as much as others, or is she just brave, or is it because she doesn't like all the attention you get when you cry?
Ds is the complete opposite, cries quite easily, LOVES all the attention a fall might get him. Or does he feel the pain more?

Any thoughts?

Kids reactions seem to have an awful lot to do with parents reactions. If when a child falls over you rush in and say 'oh no...are you alright...that must've hurt' they will react very differently to if you 'whoops up you get'. do you think you were any different with your two when they were little...it's interesrting how different they are. Maybe just some are more sensitive than others..

DS has a high pain theshold

I think children whose parents are chilled about bumps are less dramatic in general. Some kids are going to squeal like pigs regardless, some kids prefer to get straight up and carry on with what they were doing because having a cut washed is boring, Mummy!

My first reaction to my children falling over has always been "get up, rub it better" .. it is only if they show obvious signs of distress that they get any attention

I think I'm right doing this .. especially when I see other parents take completely the opposite way and their children just can't cope with any kind of minor accident

spot on Twiglett - (thinks ....I don't remember leaving you on the Town Hall steps ......)

I'm sure they act differently when we are not around as well. I dropped ds off at cub camp last week and was watching him without him knowing. He was showing off in front of friends and jumping over a fence but didn't make it! He banged his leg quite badly (made me whince) but no way would he let his mates know that it hurt!

Now if his sister had accidently inflicted this pain on him - well i can just imagine what the reaction would have been!