After a child has been exposed to a trauma, parents begin to worry about what this will mean for their child and specifically how they will react and respond. A trauma reaction in a child is usually evident soon after the trauma occurs. There are times where a child will have a delayed response to the trauma. For example, the child seemed to have been managing fine going through the trauma and then weeks or even months later, the child's behaviour changes. Typical responses to childhood trauma reaction are quite broad. I will share with you some of the behavioural responses that I look for when assessing for childhood trauma and suggestions what you can do as parents. In saying this, what I discuss in this blog is not all inclusive, but some of the areas that I look for.
Children at this age are particularly vulnerable. They can react to changes in their routine and previously secure SAFE environment. Understanding that a child at the age lacks verbal and conceptual skills to cope with stress and they are fully dependent on their family (parents) to provide them with the emotional and nurturing supports to instill safety. On another note, children can be directly implicated by how parents reacted to trauma themselves, therefore increasing or decreasing trauma reactions in the child. Children require comforting (sensory) routines, opportunities to verbally and non-verbally express themselves and lots of encouragement and reassurance.
Trauma responses in a preschooler might present with the following symptoms:
- Resumption of bedwetting
- Fear of the dark
- Fear of animals
- Fear of monsters
- Fear of strangers
- Helplessness and passivity
- Nervousness
- Irritability
- Disobediance
- Hyperactivity
- Separation anxiety from parents
- Noticeable decrease in attention span
- Increase aggression
- Difficulty speaking - selective mutism
- Decrease change in appetite
- Overeating
- Vomitting
- Sleep difficulties (fear of going to sleep, fear of sleep, fear of being alone-especially at night
- Nightmares/terrors
- Repetitive talk
- Difficulty understanding what is bothering them
- Confusion in not understanding that the danger is over - living and reliving the trauma memory
- Increase sadness and difficulty coping with daily living
Providing your child with verbal reassurances and LOTS of physical comfort by holding and caressing them is critical. Verbal reassurances and physical comfort begin to provide security and decrease the sensory reactions of the child. Here are some things you can do to help your child through this process. If you have puppets in your house, these are a great means for the child to express themselves and what has happened in their life. Art is also another effective means to allowing your child to express themselves, and their trauma experience. They can draw pictures of what they feel and what happened in their life. This can lead to a discussion that others might share their feelings and even greater, how things can change. There are several great children's book available that can also be helpful in supporting your children through a trauma experience. As a parent you can pick an age appropriate book that you can read with your child to assist them in processing their feelings. Lastly, providing more finger food and fluids are also helpful in supporting your child needs through this stressor. Remember that children can have a regressive reaction to a trauma leading to thumb sucking. Oral stimulation needs to be introduced to support the child.
Although these are a few suggestions, there are so many other ways you can creatively support your child. In the event that your child is having difficulty in managing or being able to move forward, I would strongly recommend that you see a professional. This might include your family doctor, child psychologist, play therapist, or social worker.
