Trauma In Children: What Can Traumatize A Child?

Trauma In Children: What Can Traumatize A Child?

One in four children experiences a traumatic event by the time they are 18 years old.

Traumatic events can be life-threatening and are bigger than what your child should ever have to experience.

WHAT IS TRAUMA?

Trauma is “an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster.” However, a person may experience trauma as a response to any event they find physically or emotionally threatening or harmful.

ONE TIME TRAUMATIC EVENTS

• Natural disasters, such as a tornado, hurricane, fire, or flood
• Sexual assault
• Physical assault
• Witness shooting or stabbing of a person
• Sudden death of a parent or trusted caregiver
• Hospitalization

REPEATED TRAUMA

• Physical or emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Gang violence
• War
• Terrorist events

Never downplay how your child experiences a particular event. Especially when you feel it was not a big deal.

Seek help where necessary!