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When children suffer from trauma their ability to achieve their developmental potential is dramatically affected.
Trauma can be...
- Characterized as more than a simple loss
- Dependent upon an actual event
- Dependent upon a child's proximity to the trauma
- Dependent upon the number of risk factors that confronts a child
- Dependent upon a child's age
- Overcome with support and coping skills
Signs of trauma
Signs of trauma are often difficult to recognize. They include...
- Re-experiencing the trauma through nightmares or thoughts of the event
- Experiencing anxiety and fear
- Feeling on edge and easily startled or being hyper-alert
- Feeling depressed or sad
- Feeling numb or withdrawn, disconnected from others
- Trouble sleeping or low appetite
- Inability to concentrate or focus
- Feeling irritable and easily agitated
- Avoidance of situations
- Thoughts and feelings reminiscent of the trauma
Note: The best way to determine whether a child is suffering from trauma is through a formal, professional psychiatric evaluation.
From the teachers' handbook Right on Course.
From the book Understanding Children.
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In helping a child recover from trauma, it is important to:
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Understand what helped other children to recover, such as strong social support and a sense of purpose, and apply that to encourage a positive outcome in the child you are helping. |
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Provide a safe and secure environment. To recover, a child needs a safe and secure environment and support from his family, school, and community. |
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Understand that the ability to overcome obstacles and adapt under adverse circumstances depends upon personality. Character traits that are valuable in overcoming trauma include strong social skills, creative thinking, personal understanding and having a sense of purpose. |
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Offer individualized attention. Efforts should focus on enhancing a child's self-esteem, sense of hope and peer support. |
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Turn to family support. The family is the front-line resource for helping children overcome traumatic events. All family members can assist a child by offering their trust, friendship and support. |
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Ensure support at school. A safe, secure school environment gives a child an escape from trauma at home and a chance to focus on healing and developing a positive identity. |
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Consider specialized therapy. Professional therapy allows a trained, trusted individual to join a child and family in crisis and lend perspective, education and stability. |
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Seek community support. Community provides children with senses of belonging, safety and security, which are critical to overcoming trauma. |
From the teachers' handbook Right on Course.
From the book Understanding Children.
What have you done to help a traumatized child?
Your ideas could appear on our site. Send them to Civitas. |
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Creativity is a common outlet for helping a child or a group of children heal from a trauma, such as loss. The AIDS Quilt, designed by the families and friends of people who have died from AIDS and HIV, is a good example of this. Through creative projects, we help children not only to tap into complicated emotions, but also memorialize their loss.
Download our step-by-step instructions for creating a paper quilt — inspired by the concept of the AIDS Quilt — to assist a child in recovering from a trauma. |
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