Pay real close attention to young children as they are great teachers! I have actually seen kids do something very similar on occasion when they have fallen down or 'hurt' themselves in a very minor way! Sometimes they will quickly look around to see if anyone has seen them, and if not, they will just get up and be on their way. No problem! However, on some occasions, if they see that someone is watching them, they will start balling their head off! You're right that there is a message in this for grown-ups, and when we get a lot of attention for out boo-boos, we are likely to keep whining about them just like babies!