Trauma Responses in Young Children
When working with families in the aftermath of trauma, many people overlook the needs of the youngest survivors. They assume that because preschoolers might not understand what happened and/or won’t remember it, these children don’t need psychological support like older children and adults do. This is far from true. The younger the child, the more vulnerable they are to trauma and the associated secondary adversities. Moreover, since young children often lack the words to describe their symptoms and reactions, they need particularly thorough assessment to ensure their well-being.
Developmental regression is one indicator that a preschooler is struggling with traumatic stress. This term refers to the loss of previously acquired skills such as language, social, or motor skills. For example, following a traumatic event, a toilet-trained child may begin experiencing enuresis (loss of bladder control). Similarly, a child who has been sleeping in their own bed may become unable to fall asleep alone.
Another common trauma reaction in young children is reenactment of the trauma in play. This is when children engage in less imaginative play and instead act out the traumatic event repetitively. Trauma reenactment can suggest a pre-occupation with the traumatic event or the possibility that the child is trying to understand or change what happened.
Other signs of traumatic stress in young children may look similar to the trauma reactions seen in older children or adults. Nightmares, irritability, aggression, or somatic complaints such as stomachaches are common signs of traumatic stress. So, too, are increased fear, anxiety, and worries. It is important to remember, though, that young children can be unable to verbalize these symptoms, which is why behavioral observations and caregiver interviews are important assessment tools.
CASGSL is excited to roll out the young child adaptation of the Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention. Now available for children ages 3 to 6, CFTSI involves a careful assessment of a child’s reactions to an acute traumatic event. CFTSI clinicians then work with child and caregiver together to facilitate communication about trauma reactions, build routines, and develop coping skills to prevent the onset of posttraumatic stress. If you know a child who has experienced trauma in the last 4-8 weeks, please call CASGSL’s clinical intake line at 314-516-7330 to schedule a CFTSI session.
For more information about the effects of trauma on young children, please check out this free e-learning course, Trauma Training for Early Childhood, available through National Child Traumatic Stress Network.