How can you help a child that wont poop because she said it hurts?

Hydrate: One of the main jobs of the colon, or large intestine, is to recover water from the things we eat and drink and our body adds(saliva, stomach acid, bile& digestive enzymes) as we swallow and digest food. If your child's stool is hard; it hurts .More water and some prune juice never hurt. There are some diseases that interfere with normal bm's and a talk with your dr may help.

Child retains stool: Assuming hirshprung's has been ruled out, her behavior may be a "control" thing. But, the longer she holds it in, the drier & harder it gets, & it hurts to pass. Have you tried using miralax/colace daily to improve laxation, a scheduled stooling program at which time each day she is expected to sit on the cammode, & have you rewarded spontaneous bowel movements on her part & disuaded her holding?