When my son joined his new school – we all were happy for him – but few days into the new school the enthusiasm was replaced with tantrums and his repeated requests of either to change the school or get him a sick leave. As a parent I was worried because my son, otherwise enthusiastic child, was avoiding school. However, I assured him that I will speak with his teacher and settle the matter, but for now he has to go to school. I did speak with the teacher and everything was fine until one day he came home with his upper lip swollen and his front tooth broken revealing all the roots and dried up blood.

When asked ‘how did he get injured?’ He replied that one of the kids pushed him and he felt on the cemented floor on his face. It was not just a random injury that needed first aid; it was a serious injury with implications of spoiling his permanent tooth as well! However, the school authorities were quite casual about the incident and gave a sorry card made by the kid to my son! That’s when I decided that as a parent it is my duty to keep my child safe even during and immediately after the school hours. So this is what I did do and hopefully this will help other parents as well.

Keep the communication lines open: This is the time when your kid might not want to go to school and will further try to avoid his school, so speak with him and tell him that it is a natural part of growing up. He may not understand immediately but your constant reassurance will ensure that he understands and accepts pain as a lesson in growing up.

Keep the bitterness out: Understand that the kid who hit your child is also a young child like your ward, so don’t get bitter about him. The other kid is probably more scared than your kid and feeling guilty because of the injury he has caused to your child.

Don’t let bad experience scar him for life: There are chances that your kid may start avoiding that particular kid in school who was responsible for his pain and injury and when you see that happening talk to your child and counsel him that he doesn’t have to avoid that kid just because the other kid caused him pain because then he is letting that one incident scar him for life. Instead tell him that he has to learn to be more alert in general and specifically in school.