Trauma In School-Aged Children

What is Childhood Trauma?

Childhood trauma is a single or ongoing event or situation experienced by a child (aged 3-12) as physically and/or emotionally harmful or life threatening, that has lasting effects on how they think, feel, behave, and grow.

Causes & Types of Trauma

Trauma can happen from events a child experiences, witnesses, or learns about.

Abuse: emotional, physical, verbal, sexual, bullying
Neglect: physical or emotional
Household challenges: poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, divorce
Community challenges: natural disasters, community violence, religious trauma
Complex trauma: when a child is exposed to chronic traumatic circumstances

Behaviors Related to Trauma

Unseen Behaviors

Spacing out or unfocsed
Headache, stomachache, other physical symptoms
Distrust of others (parents, teachers)

Seen Behaviors

Acting out/role-playing trauma
Lack of impulse control
Persistent daytime tiredness
Returning to younger behaviors (thumb sucking, baby talk, etc.)
Guarded or defensive

Responding to Behaviors

Do

Offer choices when possible
Set clear expectations and fair consequences
Keep a consistent routine
Provide a safe space to talk
Trauma can be shown through behavior and play

Don’t

Force children to talk before they are ready
Punish trauma-related behaviors

ADHD or Trauma?

Trauma is often misdiagnosed as ADHD in children who have experienced trauma. Because trauma and ADHD can present very similar, it is important to involve a social worker to learn more about the child’s experiences and help make the right diagnosis.