How to deal with overly dramatic booboos?

Alex is a total clutz. Sadly, she inherited it from mommy. So she is CONSTANTLY banging into things and getting tiny little booboo's here and there.

The booboos themselves aren't so bad, but it's her reaction that takes the cake. The crying, screaming out-of-control dramatics for every tiny little bump, bruise and scrape!

How do I toughen this kid up? Any suggestions? I don't usually feed into the dramatics, and tell her to either do the "shake it off" dance, or try to ignore the dramatics, but it seems to be getting worse.

Any ideas?

Re: How to deal with overly dramatic booboos?

It's just consistency in my own reaction that curbs the tendency to get 'dramatic' over things. When they come crying to me, I have to be really conscious about not getting that overly concerned 'Mom' look that I am prone to. I treat it as a curiousity... "Hrmm.. let me see!" I treat ALL of their injuries exactly the same - whether they are bad or minor. I stay calm, focus on what needs to be done and do it. And I joke around and smile the whole time. Even if it's a nasty cut and my stomach is rolling - I'll say "No big deal.. let's take care of this!" - and I do what I have to do. When they need to go to the doctor (Like when Robbie slammed Noah's hand in the door or when Noah ran full speed and slammed his head into the corner of a bookcase..) I tell them.. "Well.. this one I don't have the tools to fix, so let's go see if Dr. George can take care of it." I might be FREAKING out inside.. but I don't let them see it and that keeps them 10 notches cooler.

Re: How to deal with overly dramatic booboos?

When I see that it's not a "real" injury, and DD starts going into dramatics, I tell her "Then go take a nap!".... she never likes my "solution", so she stops pretty quick...