Injuries

Most children at some time will build a tower of pillows and jump off the couch like a superhero. Even though children are super flexible, and super "healers", they are not immune from injury. A child's bones are not fully developed until the late teen years. Because their bones are so plastic, it is more likely for a child to break a bone than to tear a ligament. In other words, ankle sprains are less likely than broken bones.

Signs that a child has broken a bone include walking with a limp, not walking at all, or pain to the injured area. Children are likely not able to consistently fake a limp and should be evaluated by a doctor to rule out a broken bone. The growth plates of the bones are the most frequent area broken, and because injury can cause growth deformity, it is important to get a complete evaluation.