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This information page is for anyone involved in the life of a preschooler who has experienced a violent injury or traumatic event. This includes parents, health care providers, teachers, clergy or others who are in a position to help the preschooler and his or her family adjust after the event, or refer them for help if the need arises. When a preschooler experiences a violent injury or trauma, it is not unusual for him or her to have reactions to the violent or traumatic event. Others such as those close to the child or close by when the event occurred can also react negatively to the event. These negative reactions do not always appear right after the event, but can take days or weeks to appear. Following are some tips on how you can help limit the negative impact of a violent injury or trauma on a young child. Symptoms to watch out for that might indicate that a child or others may need help in dealing with the experience are also listed on the back of this sheet. Finally, resources are presented that can be used to help deal with negative reactions to violent injury or trauma.
Things you can do to limit the negative impact:
- Help child feel safe.
- Provide child plenty of reassurance and support.
- Give child comfort at bedtime (rocking, stuffed animal, extra stories, back rubs, a night light, a favorite music tape).
- Respect, accept, acknowledge child's fears. Lower expectations of child's behavior following trauma.
- Allow child choices and oppurtunities for control.
- Give child simple, basic bits of information about trauma.
- Let child talk about trauma.
- Encourage child to express his or her feelings (drawing pictures, working with clay, and using puppets can help).
- Provide props for child's play that relate to trauma.
- Limit and monitor the play of a victimized child.
- Protect child from potential triggers of original trauma.
- Maintain normal household routine.
- Avoid big changes or new challenges for child.
- Set limits and enforce rules gently but firmly.
- Communicate with school and child care staff.
- Provide oppurtunities for physical activities.
- Be aware of possible anniversary reactions to child's trauma.
- Be aware of your own reactions to child's trauma.
- Make sure your are getting the support you need to help you cope.
- Remind child of his or her strengths and past accomplishments.
- Use mental health counseling and community resources to help child cope.
Symptoms to watch for: You may see signs and symptoms after a preschooler has experienced a traumatic event. These can be seen in his or her behavior, thinking, feelings, and physical sensations. Following are examples of these signs and symptoms:
Behaviors
- Loss of pleasure in favorite activities
- Crying
- Clinging
- Lack of emotional expression
- Angry outbursts
- Aggression toward other children
- Increased need of control
- Excessively watchful
- Accident prone/reckless
- Toileting accidents
- Eating problems
- Sleeping disturbances (recurrent nightmares/night fears)
- Repetitious play
- Retelling of the traumatic story
- Reenacting the trauma in play
- Loss of energy
- Setbacks with language skills
- Unexplained changes in behavior
- Complaints of bodily aches, pain, or illness (without medical explaination)
Feelings
- Fear of trauma recurring
- Anger
- Separation anxiety with primary caretaker
- Cannot tolerate frustration or disappointment
- Distrust of others
- Preoccupied worry about self
- Restricted range of emotions
Thoughts
- Trouble paying attention
- Trouble remembering things
- Intrusive memories or images of trauma
- Magical explanations for why trauma occurred
Bodily Sensations
- Stomach-aches
- Headaches
- Unexplained physical problems
Resources
- Community centers
- Community mental health centers
- Social service agencies dealing with youth
- Community organizations dealing with violence prevention
- School social workers, counselors, psychologists, nurses, educators
- Family physician; hospital staff
- Clergy
Reference: Children and Trauma: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, 1993, by Cynthia Monahon. (Jossey-Bass Publishers: San Fransisco, CA)
[Keywords: preschool trauma]
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