Between birth and 8 years old, children experience tremendous brain development. During this time they take in new information that is critical to the formation of active neural pathways. Therefore children who experience uncertainty and trauma in their lives can suffer in various ways.  Trauma often leads to cognitive, physical, and social-emotional problems that can impact how they learn, grow, and interact with others. Recognizing such an impact is a crucial starting point for addressing the impact of trauma on young children.

Course Details

Over the course of 4-5 hours, course participants will learn strategies to promote healthy development opportunities for young children. They will also reflect on current and ideal learning environments for children who have suffered some form of trauma. The course will cover the following topics:

• The impact of trauma on children’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development
• Holistic child development as it relates to well-being
• Changes in child brain development
• The importance of safe and secure learning environments
• Teaching strategies that address a child’s holistic well-being.

Trauma looks different for everyone.

Not all adverse events will have a long-lasting impact on a person. There are often tell-tale signs when a person’s trauma is becoming a problem.

Eve Teo, a psychotherapist at The Psychology Practice, explains, "If you find yourself not being able to get out of bed, no longer enjoying the things that you used to enjoy, not wanting to connect with people, or even when you’re surrounded by people, you are not being present, then there’s a sense of things not going well."

At the core of a child’s trauma lies the wound caused by a traumatic event or several traumatic events. 

A child may experience emotional or physical abuse, or see abuse happen to someone else. Or they may be neglected by family or orphaned, or face extreme bullying or marginalisation in his daily life. 

In order to cope with the trauma over time, their brain starts to form layers upon layers over the wound to protect themselves. 

When a child goes through a traumatic event, their brain releases certain hormones that directs the body to a fight-or-flight response. This is perfectly normal and needed for survival. 

But these signals can stay in the body long after the danger is gone.

For example, a child may experience a higher resting heart rate than normal, because they are constantly on the lookout for danger. They could also experience greater irritability, headaches, excessive sweating, bowel issues and nausea.

With a child’s sense of safety and control is threatened from living in a state of trauma, they may come to see the world as being a dangerous place from which they have to constantly protect themselves.  

Having their guard up all the time is mentally draining and could limit their potential.

Not only is their self-worth and identity affected, they may also form thoughts that are extreme and irrational.  

In time, trauma may change a child’s behaviour. They may isolate themselves or start acting out in school or at home — behaviours that are often dismissed as “disobedient” or “problematic”. 

In adulthood, they may have difficulties forming and maintaining relationships because they are constantly in fight-or-flight mode. Intimacy and trust also become an issue.