Supporting a child after they have experienced something traumatic can feel overwhelming but there are some important things you can do to be trauma-informed as you navigate the weeks and months following a difficult event. Trauma-informed parenting focuses on creating a safe, predictable, and nurturing environment that helps children heal from past trauma.

Understanding what children might be experiencing inside their bodies and minds is important- they might be responding with their fight, flight or freeze response. Pay attention to things that upset or trigger them so that you can recognize patterns and begin to work with them on skills like deep breaths or squeezing a stress ball in advance, so that they are prepared for times they feel their emotions get big.

Trauma can live inside the body for a while so it is important to remember that your child’s behavior may be a response to what they have been through and not just them mis-behaving. Trauma-informed parents seek to understand what certain behaviors mean and they support their children through their difficult moments with hugs, kind words, and just being present with them.

The Children’s Bureau has this article to help you learn more about “Parenting A Child Who Has Experienced Trauma.”