Throughout life, many upsetting things can happen to us. Traumatic experiences are those that involve real or possible threats to a child’s life, safety, or well-being. These can include violence, abuse, neglect, natural disasters, or accidents. These events can happen once or many times.
What is typical?
It is normal for a learner or teenager to feel scared or upset after a frightening event. It usually takes some time for them to feel better.
Right after a trauma, learners might have tantrums, mood swings, revert to younger behaviours, have trouble sleeping, or find it hard to focus. They might avoid certain places or situations, have flashbacks or nightmares, and feel anxious, guilty, sad, angry, or ashamed.
Most learners and teenagers start to feel better over time. But some may still have a hard time one month or more after the event. They need support to help them cope. As educators, understanding these typical reactions can help us provide appropriate support.
When should I be concerned?
Signs that a learner is still struggling after a trauma include:
Re-experiencing the Trauma:
- Acting out the event during play
- Unwanted thoughts or images popping into their heads
- Nightmares related to what happened
- Feeling upset when remembering the event
- Feeling as if the experience is happening again
Avoiding Reminders of the Trauma:
- Not wanting to go to certain places, see certain people, or do certain activities related to the event
Negative Changes in Mood and Thinking:
- Tantrums, mood swings
- Feeling guilty, ashamed, angry, or sad
- Thinking the world is dangerous
- Losing interest in school or activities they once liked
Increased Anxiety and Arousal:
- Expressing more fear
- Finding it hard to focus
- Trouble sleeping
- Getting scared easily by sudden noises or movements
- Feeling physical pain, like headaches or stomach aches
What can I do to help?
Educators often notice changes in behaviour after a learner experiences a trauma. Here’s what you can do:
- Be supportive: Let the learner know that you are there for them and offer a listening ear. Validate their feelings.
- Offer to talk: Gently ask if the learner wants to talk about what happened, but do not pressure them.
- Create a safe and predictable classroom environment: A consistent routine and clear expectations can help reduce anxiety.
- Encourage enjoyable activities: Help the learner reconnect with activities they enjoy to promote a sense of normalcy.
- Validate their emotions: Let the learner know that it’s okay to feel a range of emotions after a traumatic experience.
- Teach coping skills: Introduce simple relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises to help manage anxiety.
- Inform caregivers and school support staff: Share your observations with the learner’s caregivers and the school counsellor or psychologist.
Where to find more information
For detailed information on mental health conditions, visit our guides for health professionals.