Youth & Trauma
Children and adolescents can and do experience secondary trauma. Trusted adults play a critical role in checking in with them, reassuring their safety, and helping to redirect their fears into positive actions in their community.
All children need to feel safe and supported, but they may have different needs depending on their age.
Preschool and young elementary-aged children
You may notice:
Uncertainty about whether there is continued danger
Difficulty describing their feelings in words
Regressing on skills like speech, toileting, independent sleep and play
Playtime focused on the traumatic event
Support them by:
Allowing them to guide conversations about their fears or questions
Providing reassurance that the traumatic event is over and they are safe
Verbalizing your own feelings to make them feel less alone
Providing consistency in their daily schedule
Providing comfort, rest, and play
Expecting and tolerating some regression in developmental milestones
Guiding them through healthy coping techniques. Check out some trauma-informed activities for inspiration.
Elementary-aged children
You may notice:
Persistent concern for their safety and that of others
Preoccupation with their actions during the event
Frequent retelling of the event
Sleep disturbances
Unusually aggressive behavior
Physical symptoms with no clear cause
Trouble focusing on schoolwork
Support them by:
Giving encouragement to express their difficult feelings with their family
Acknowledging their feelings are normal and common
Answering questions and correcting any misconceptions about the event
Helping separate fantasy from reality
Spending lots of time on comforting activities like playing, reading, or cuddling
Keeping in contact with their teachers about any relevant struggles they may have at school or home
Keeping a consistent daily schedule
Enlisting help in age-appropriate chores like taking out the trash or setting the table
Adolescents
You may notice:
Insecurity about their actions or responses to the event, especially if their peers seem to have reacted differently
Shame, guilt, and withdrawal
A change in how they view the world
Fantasies about revenge or retribution
Self-destructive or accident-prone behaviors
Support them by:
Encouraging discussions on the event, including what could have realistically been done in the moment
Empowering ideas for preventing or aiding crises in the future
Normalizing their feelings about the event and any changes in their relationships following the event
Discussing any thoughts of revenge and addressing realistic consequences to help seek productive solutions
Remembering that any “acting out” may be from unresolved sadness or anger about the event
Sources:
American Psychological Association - Resilience in a time of war: Tips for parents and teachers of elementary school children
Howard S. A Causal Model of Children's Vicarious Traumatization. Journal of child & adolescent trauma, 14(4), 443–454 (2021).
National Association of School Psychologists - Supporting Youth Affected by the Violence in Israel and Gaza: Tips for Families and Educators
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network - Assisting Parents/Caregivers in Coping with Collective Traumas
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network - Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
Last updated on August 2, 2024