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Creative ways to reward your child.

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Creative ways to reward your child.

For many kids, getting a daily injection can be tough at times. On those days when your son or daughter is less than excited about it, a little positive reinforcement can go a long way!


Some parents of children who take Norditropin® say that while the best reward may be the evidence of their progress on a growth chart, there are times when some extra motivation is helpful. Read on to learn about the creative ways they keep their child incentivized to keep up with the daily routine.

Setting a Goal

Just about everyone can agree that having to perform a task each and every day can be tedious. But doing that same task and being rewarded isn’t so bad! That’s why many parents use goal-setting to inspire their kids to keep up with their injections. Here are some examples you might want to try:

Two weeks of injections = choosing a family activity like a board game or a trip to the park

After a month of injections, they get extra TV or screen time

When your child is tall enough for “big kid” rides, the whole family gets a trip to an amusement park

After a full year of injections, they get to pick out a special gift, like new shoes or a long-wished-for toy, or they get a later bedtime

When your child needs new clothes, their doll gets a new outfit, too

PARENT TIP:

"I wanted to make the process fun along the way, not only for my child, but for the whole family. We learned we didn't have to be worried or scared—we could have fun!"

A Surprise a Day

When Aria started on Norditropin®, her mom, Shauna, knew the first few days of injections might be a little scary. So, she came up with the idea of a new surprise for every night of the first week—and built it up all day to get her excited about it. Thinking about the toy, treat, or trinket she might have took Aria’s mind off the injection.

PARENT TIP:

"The free charms and stickers I can order from the Norditropin® site make a great—and free—reward for my child. And she loves to personalize her pen and case with these cute designs!"

Order charms and stickers

A “Courage Party”

After completing her first full week of injections, Aria was treated to a “Courage Party” with family and friends. First came a special trip to her favorite doll store, where she got to pick out her own doll. Then, the Courage Party began. Each person at the table answered the questions, “Was there a time when you had to be courageous?” and “Why are you happy you were courageous in that situation?”. When it was Aria’s turn, she talked about being courageous with her injections and heard lots of positive feedback on how proud her family was.

Talk it Out

Amanda, who is Emmy’s mom, says that sometimes all it takes to motivate Emmy is a heart-to-heart conversation. “Emmy has days when she just doesn’t feel like having an injection. When that happens, we just talk it out. We discuss how everyone has their thing they have to do and this is hers.”

Shauna agrees that talking it out is helpful. “We chat about other kids we’ve met who are taking Norditropin®, because it helps her to know she’s not alone. And, we reminisce about all the goals she’s reached since she’s started with her injections.”

Make it Fun

If you’re looking for ideas to motivate or reward your child—or just make the process of injections more fun—these examples could be just the thing to get your creativity jump-started!

Please note that the situations, experiences, and tips described in this article are not intended as medical advice. They are unique to the families depicted and are not necessarily the typical experiences of families with children who have growth hormone–related disorders or are being treated with Norditropin®. Talk to your health care provider regarding the treatment of growth disorders or any health concerns you have.

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Finding support.


Featuring: Sara (Child) and Leslie (Mom)
Diagnosis: Turner syndrome

Selected Important Safety Information

Do not use Norditropin® if: you have a critical illness caused by certain types of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or breathing (respiratory) problems; you are a child with Prader-Willi syndrome who is severely obese or has breathing problems including sleep apnea; you have cancer or other tumors; you are allergic to somatropin or any of the ingredients in Norditropin®; your healthcare provider tells you that you have certain types of eye problems caused by diabetes (diabetic retinopathy); you are a child with closed bone growth plates (epiphyses).

Indications and Usage

What is Norditropin® (somatropin) injection?
 
Norditropin® is a prescription medicine that contains human growth hormone and is used to treat:
  • children who are not growing because of low or no growth hormone 
  • children who are short (in stature) and who have Noonan syndrome, Turner syndrome, or were born small (small for gestational age-SGA) and have not caught-up in growth by age 2 to 4 years 
  • children who have Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS) 
  • children who are not growing who have Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) 
  • adults who do not make enough growth hormone

Important Safety Information (cont’d)

Before taking Norditropin®, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have had heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory problems) 
  • have had a history of problems breathing while you sleep (sleep apnea) 
  • have or have had cancer or any tumor 
  • have diabetes 
  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Norditropin® may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Norditropin® works.

How should I use Norditropin®?

  • Use Norditropin® exactly as your health care provider tells you to 
  • Do not share your Norditropin® pens and needles with another person even if the needle has been changed. You may give another person an infection or get an infection from them.

What are the possible side effects of Norditropin®?
Norditropin® may cause serious side effects, including:

  • high risk of death in people who have critical illnesses because of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory) problems 
  • high risk of sudden death in children with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese or have breathing problems including sleep apnea 
  • increased risk of growth of cancer or a tumor that is already present and increased risk of the return of cancer or a tumor in people who were treated with radiation to the brain or head as children and who developed low growth hormone problems. Contact the healthcare provider if you or your child start to have headaches, or have changes in behavior, changes in vision, or changes in moles, birthmarks, or the color of your skin 
  • new or worsening high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or diabetes 
  • increase in pressure in the skull (intracranial hypertension). If you or your child has headaches, eye problems, nausea or vomiting, contact the healthcare provider 
  • serious allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you or your child has the following symptoms: swelling of your face, lips, mouth or tongue, trouble breathing, wheezing, severe itching, skin rashes, redness or swelling, dizziness or fainting, fast heartbeat or pounding in your chest, or sweating 
  • your body holding too much fluid (fluid retention) such as swelling in the hands and feet, pain in your joints or muscles or nerve problems that cause pain, burning, or tingling in the hands, arms, legs and feet. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these signs or symptoms of fluid retention. 
  • decrease in a hormone called cortisol. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has darkening of the skin, severe fatigue, dizziness, weakness or weight loss 
  • decrease in thyroid hormone levels 
  • hip and knee pain or a limp in children (slipped capital femoral epiphysis) 
  • worsening of pre-existing curvature of the spine (scoliosis) 
  • severe and constant abdominal pain can be a sign of pancreatitis. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has any new abdominal pain. 
  • loss of fat and tissue weakness in the area of skin you inject 
  • increase in phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone levels in your blood

The most common side effects of Norditropin® include:

  • injection site reactions and rashes, and headaches

Please click here for Norditropin® Prescribing Information.

Norditropin® is a prescription medication.

Novo Nordisk provides patient assistance for those who qualify. Please call 1-866-310-7549 to learn more about Novo Nordisk assistance programs.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800- FDA-1088.

Talk to your health care provider and find out if Norditropin® is right for you or your child.