No child should have to live through and experience the effects of a traumatic event. The world isn’t always a perfect place, and despite the best efforts to protect your children, these types of situations do occur. When a child experiences something deeply upsetting like violence, abuse, death of a loved one, accidents, or illness, it can be harmful to them in their present as well as their future development.

After such an event, emotional effects can make it difficult to ever move past their trauma. Often, parents don’t know what to do or how to help their child process it either. Thankfully, children are resilient, maybe more than adults, and can heal from the trauma that has occurred.

Teach Them How To Talk

Children haven’t developed enough to understand how to communicate their feelings and needs after a traumatic event. They may not even know what exactly it is they are feeling. Your role is to encourage them and give them hope that they will start to feel better. You don’t want them to gloss over and pretend the event never happened. Instead, offer them healthy ways to talk about what happened in a safe space.

Historically, traumas are not always openly discussed, not even within the family unit. The start of the journey involves acknowledging it and discussing it whenever needed.

Teach Them How To Grieve

No one is usually taught how to grieve. Not necessarily a right or wrong way, but rather methods or tools to use to grieve properly and effectively. What people are taught, however, is to be strong, move forward, and don’t let your emotions get the best of you.

Show your child that it is ok to feel their emotions. Give them an example of how you would grieve. Try prompting them with open-ended questions to spark conversation and dig a little deeper into what they might be feeling.

Ensure that there is no time frame for them to feel back to normal. They are allowed to move through their emotions on their own schedule. Give them permission to grieve.

Give Them Patience And Love

No matter what they experienced, your child could use a little extra grace and love. They are still kids and hold some innocence. Show them praise for a job well done. Tell them you are proud of them when you can see they are trying hard at school/social activities/sports. Be patient when they are struggling or having behavioral moments. When addressing them, be mindful of your tone, smile, hug them, and make sure they feel loved. Most importantly, make sure they feel safe.

Keep A Routine In Place

Trauma can evoke a sense of chaos and change. Keeping a routine for day-to-day life can be helpful in reassuring a sense of calm. Schedule mealtimes together. Stick to a set bedtime. If routines weren’t a normal habit, or if they are no longer applicable, don’t be afraid to make new ones. Set rules and hold them to them.

Teach Them Easy Coping Skills

Incorporate things like meditation to ease any negative feelings they are having. There are many options out there for adults, but also fun and more age-appropriate ones for children.

Children can experience anxiety just like adults will. Proper breathing technique is important. Teach belly breaths. Give them a target to blow out to (i.e., a piece of cotton on a table). Provided instructions and counting guidance for deep breaths.

Seeking Professional Treatment

Sometimes interactions at home or simple techniques may not be enough to help your child through their troubles. Professional services are available to dive deeper into the issue with different treatment interventions. If your child needs healing after trauma, contact us today for a consultation for child therapy.

Helping Children Heal from Traumatic Events