![\"Sad](\"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/adoption-assistance\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2016\/07\/photo_learn_trauma.jpg\")
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Although children\u2019s safety is a high priority in our families and communities, many children experience trauma, including sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, abandonment by or loss of caregiver(s), chronic and severe neglect, domestic violence, community violence, and life-threatening accidents, illnesses, and disasters. Traumatized children often recover with the support of adults who care for them, but they also may develop problems in relationships with their families and peers and in school.<\/p>\n
Research suggests that these types of trauma can change how children\u2019s bodies react to stress, which leads to a shift in how their brains work. Under healthy conditions, children\u2019s brains are focused on learning\u2014exploring their world, enjoying other people, developing new knowledge and abilities. Traumatized children\u2019s brains become focused on survival\u2014worrying about real or imagined dangers, staying turned on all the time, or turning off and shutting down. Traumatized children\u2019s brains are not damaged or broken. Their brains actually are very strong, strong enough to be on high alert for long periods of time. What begins as attempts to mobilize brain and bodily systems to survive trauma becomes a brain stuck in “alarm” state.<\/p>\n
The positive news is that there are therapies that can help traumatized children to recover from this state of feeling constantly stressed by teaching them practical ways to get their brains back in \u201clearning\u201d mode instead of staying stuck in the “survival” state.<\/p>\n
Julian D. Ford, Ph.D. Trauma Through a Child\u2019s Eyes: Awakening the Ordinary Miracle of Healing<\/strong> Tough Starts: Brain Development Matters<\/strong><\/a> Child Trauma Academy <\/a><\/strong> Children\u2019s Emotional Development is Built into the Architecture of their Brain<\/strong><\/a> Excessive Stress Disrupts the Architecture of the Developing Brain<\/strong><\/a> The Impact of Abuse and Neglect on the Developing Brain<\/strong><\/a> Supporting Maltreated Children: Countering the Effects of Neglect and Abuse<\/a><\/strong> Supporting Brain Development in Traumatized Children and Youth<\/strong><\/a>
\nDepartment of Psychiatry and Graduate School
\nUniversity of Connecticut Health Center<\/em><\/p>\nLearn More<\/h2>\n
Featured Reading<\/h3>\n
\n![\"Trauma](\"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/adoption-assistance\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2016\/07\/photo_book_trauma.jpg\")
Peter Levine and Maggie Kline, 2006<\/em>
\nAn essential guide for recognizing, preventing, and healing childhood trauma, from infancy through adolescence\u2014what parents, educators, and health professionals can do. Trauma can result not only from catastrophic events such as abuse, violence, or loss of loved ones, but from natural disasters and everyday incidents such as auto accidents, medical procedures, divorce, or even falling off a bicycle. At the core of this book is the understanding of how trauma is imprinted on the body, brain, and spirit, resulting in anxiety, nightmares, depression, physical illnesses, addictions, hyperactivity, and aggression. Rich with case studies and hands-on activities, Trauma Through a Child\u2019s Eyes<\/em> gives insight into children\u2019s innate ability to rebound with the appropriate support, and provides their caregivers with tools to overcome and prevent trauma.<\/p>\nOnline Learning<\/h3>\n
\nOnline course offered by StageWise Parenting<\/em>
\nBrain Development Matters thoroughly explains the impact that early trauma has on a child\u2019s brain chemistry, brain development, and sensory processing. Once parents understand how their child\u2019s brain is connected to his behaviors, these behaviors begin to make more sense. With a thorough understanding of brain development, parents are better prepared to learn how to more successfully intervene and shape their child\u2019s troubling behaviors.<\/p>\nArticles and Websites<\/h3>\n
\nOffers consultation, education and training services to assist individuals and organizations in their work with high-risk children.<\/p>\n
\nNational Scientific Council on the Developing Child, August 2011<\/em><\/p>\n
\nNational Scientific Council on the Developing Child, June 2009<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAn article by Bruce Perry, M.D., Ph.D., on scholastic.com<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAdoption Advocate No. 48, National Council for Adoption, June 2012<\/em><\/p>\n
\nChild Welfare Information Gateway, April 2021<\/em><\/p>\n