Trauma responses in children can be complex, and they often present differently to those seen in adults. For parents and caregivers, this can sometimes make it tricky to spot the signs and know how best to offer support to a child who’s struggling. However, through a commitment to learning about trauma symptoms, we can better understand how to create safe, supportive environments for children who need them.
Types of Trauma in Children
Signs of trauma can show up differently in different children and have lots of influencing factors, such as the age of the child. They may also vary depending on the type and severity of the trauma experienced.
There are different types of trauma:
- Acute trauma is often experienced after exposure to a single traumatic event.
- Chronic trauma is often experienced after a traumatic event that occurred over a longer period of time.
- Complex trauma is often experienced after exposure to various traumatic events over a longer period of time.
It’s important to note that all kinds of events can be traumatic to children – even if they wouldn’t be seen that way by adults. For example, childhood teasing might not seem like a big deal to us, but to a child, it can be life-altering. Similarly, something as routine as a dental visit can be traumatizing for a child who can’t yet verbally consent to being touched or make sense of what is happening.
Signs of Trauma in Children
The Anna Freud charity shares some of the ways trauma may show up in children:
- Babies may cry persistently, unable to be soothed. They might become rigid or squirm to escape physical distress, struggle with feeding, sleeping, or playing, and experience physical health issues.
- Toddlers and young children may become distressed when separated from their caregiver. They might experience nightmares and wet the bed, avoid eating, and experience behavioral changes, such as getting more frustrated than usual. They may also try to avoid specific situations that have been traumatic – for example, refusing to go to school.
These signs do not make up an exhaustive list. Any significant change in a child’s behavior warrants a conversation with a qualified health professional.
How to Help a Child Who Has Experienced Trauma
If you’ve spotted signs of trauma in your child, the first step is to seek support from a qualified health professional. However, there are also steps you can take independently, such as adopting the PACE approach to parenting and focusing on creating a safe environment for your child.
Adopting the PACE Approach
The PACE model of parenting is a holistic approach that can be useful in supporting children who have experienced trauma. It focuses on the following:
- Playfulness: keeping communication fun to encourage a healthy connection between you and your child. This can make the world feel safer for your child, helping them to approach difficult experiences in a more lighthearted way.
- Acceptance: validating your child’s experiences and emotions, so they feel heard and understood, and can regulate and process their feelings.
- Curiosity: asking yourself questions that may feel challenging, but will help you to understand why your child might be feeling the way they are, without placing judgment or blame. You can also ask your child questions about their experiences to encourage open communication.
- Empathy: this encourages you to be present in the moment and to really see and feel a situation through the eyes of your child. This will help them to feel seen and understood, and less alone in what they are experiencing.
Creating Safe Environments
Depending on the type of trauma experienced, you may need to put a little extra energy into creating a stable and safe home environment. For example, a foster child who has had a disruptive home life may struggle to settle into their foster carer’s home, which will require carers to pay extra care and attention to how they run the home.
Creating a safe environment can be important in other areas of life too. For example, you may want to speak to your child’s teacher about how they can help them to feel more secure at school.
Getting the Right Professional Help
A child who has experienced trauma may have complex needs, and it’s not unusual to need additional help to be able to support them. As their caregiver, you can seek support from pediatricians, mental health professionals, human services organizations, and religious groups. They will be able to signpost you to the right services should your child need access to them to recover from their trauma.
Taking Care of Yourself as a Caregiver
Supporting a child who has experienced trauma can feel really difficult, and you may not always get it right. It’s important to recognize the importance of leaning on professional advice and services – it takes a collaborative approach. Every child who has experienced trauma deserves to have a team of people on their side, supporting them to heal every step of the way.
If you’re finding it difficult to support a child who has experienced trauma, be sure to reach out to the appropriate mental health services. Taking care of yourself often means you’re better able to take care of those around you.
About the Author: Alice is a foster carer and a mum of two. She supports children who have experienced trauma and believes a collaborative approach between caregivers and professionals is essential.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma in Children
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The opinions and views expressed in any guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of www.rtor.org or its sponsor, Laurel House, Inc. The author and www.rtor.org have no affiliations with any products or services mentioned in the article or linked to therein. Guest Authors may have affiliations to products mentioned or linked to in their author bios.
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