Trauma Informed Care
Over the past six years and particularly since 2020, it has become increasingly common to have kids at camp who have experienced trauma. These campers don’t know how to express their feelings or communicate what they need, as a result their trauma is expressed behaviorally. Loss of appetite, too much or too little sleep, unexplained anger or irritability, anxiety, and an inability to focus are all signs of trauma in a child.
Betsy Wright, in her article for the January/February issue of Insite Magazine, outlines three pillars of trauma informed care that can used by parents, educators, and youth professionals.
Pillar #1 – Create a Safe Environment: Fear will often push a child into bad behavior. But when they feel safe, they can move past the fear that often lurks just below the surface. Here is a list of things that will help create an atmosphere of safety in your home.
1. Proper Hydration – be sure to have your children drink water at least every two hours.
2. Maintaining Blood Sugar – Supply your child with healthy snacks every two hours. Avoid snacks high in sugar.
3. Physical and Sensory Needs – Children need physical activity or sensory experiences every couple of hours.
4. Routines – develop daily routines so your child knows what to expect
5. Transitions – talk about upcoming transitions well in advance so your child is not caught off guard.
Pillar #2 – Connection: It is important that you build and maintain trust with your child. Trust is built through the power of connection. Making eye contact, using gentle, appropriate touch like a hand on the shoulder or high five, keeping your voice light and playful, and matching your behavior with your child’s are all simple ways build trust with your child. Trust is built in bigger moments when you see and respond to your child’s need instead of reacting to their behavior. Trust is built when we act out of empathy and compassion. Finally, trust is built when you restore your relationship with your child after they have had a meltdown or angry outburst. Assuring your child of your unconditional love builds a trusting connection and reduces anxiety.
Pillar#3 – Self Regulation: When your child has a trauma response their brain shifts out of executive control and goes into fight or flight mode, releasing stress hormones into the body. This leads a child into an internal or external meltdown. Teaching your child self-regulation techniques will help them regain executive control. Simple breathing techniques that slow and control the breathing help to regulate the trauma response. Helping your child put words to what they are experiencing can help restore executive brain function. Finally, try using physical activity to regulate your child’s response. A game of “Shake It Out” can have a dramatic impact on behavior. Have your child raise their right arm and shake it to the count of 8, repeat with the left arm. Do the same with the right leg and left leg. The sequence can be repeated to the count of 4 and then 2. End by shaking the whole body.
Finally, if you see signs of trauma in your child it is important that you get your child the professional help that they need. Counseling is often an important step in helping your child work through their feeling and emotions.
