Have you noticed that your child has changed in some ways but not sure how to approach him/her? In this page you will find information on what types of signs and symptoms to watch for, recommended do's and don'ts, books & publications, links, and steps on how to help your child cope with general trauma. You will also find links to local service providers funded by State and Federal Government. For specific trauma related resources, please select from the Trauma Categories on the homepage.

Reactions to trauma may appear immediately after the traumatic event or days and even weeks later. Loss of trust in adults and fear of the event occurring again are responses seen in many children and adolescents who have been exposed to traumatic events. Other reactions vary according to age:

Children 5 years of age and younger reactions may include

• Fear of being separated from the parent,
• Crying, whimpering, screaming,
• Immobility and/or aimless motion, trembling,
• Frightened facial expressions and excessive clinging
• Returning to behaviors exhibited at earlier ages (regressive behaviors), thumb-sucking, bedwetting, fear of darkness.

Children 6 to 11 years old may experience

• Extreme withdrawal,
• Disruptive behavior, and/or inability to pay attention.
• Regressive behaviors,
• Nightmares, sleep problems,
• Irrational fears,
• Irritability,
• Refusal to attend school,
• Outbursts of anger and fighting
• Complain of stomachaches or other bodily symptoms
• Depress

Adolescents 12 to 17 years old may exhibit

• Flashbacks, nightmares,
• Emotional numbing,
• Avoidance of any reminders of the traumatic event,
• Depression,
• Substance abuse,
• Problems with peers, anti-social behavior.
• Withdrawal and isolation,
• Physical complaints,
• Suicidal thoughts,
• School avoidance, academic decline,
• Sleep disturbances, and confusion.
• Extreme guilt over his or her failure to prevent injury or loss of life
• Revenge fantasies that interfere with recovery from the trauma.

In order to protect your child you must become involved to become aware of what is happening in their lives. Whether you are in a happy and loving two parent home or you are involved in a divorce or custody situation and you are the custodial or non-custodial parent, things that you should consider doing are indicated below. Also, seeking support to learn how to encourage, talk to, and help heal your child is a very helpful and positive first step. You must realize that you might be hurting your child by the way in which you interact with them or those close to them. Changing your behavior and learning to stop inappropriate behaviors often requires support. This is not an easy process, so don't expect yourself to be perfect right away. It is important to learn how to encourage, talk to, and help heal your child. If your child does not feel safe, or thinks that you won't listen, then he may not tell you, or potentially anyone, about his fears. However, if your child feels like you are listening, she is more likely to be open with you and share her concerns. Children gain trust in themselves from being respected as human beings - by their parents (or caregivers). Respect from parents is what teaches children to give respect to their parents in turn. Examples of things you should, and should not, do include;

• Make it a priority to spend time listening to your child, communicating openly and listening fully
• Demonstrate love and respect in your words and actions, tell your child and give plenty of hugs and kisses
• Recognize, trust, and value each family member and believe the best about each other
• Teach your children through your words and deeds how to forgive, do not participate in negative comments or actions.
• Set appropriate boundaries and rules and be consistent in both rewards and punishments
• Support each other emotionally and physically and share, not just things but time and talents. Spend time together playing, laughing, reading, walking, talking, or another other shared activity that you all enjoy
• Talk to your child's teachers, physicians, day care providers, and other service providers to know what is happening in your child's life.
• If divorce or separation is involved, provide a copy of your custody agreement to each of these individuals and make sure that they are aware of whwho you and what your legal rights are
• Ask therapists, teachers, and doctors for suggestions of practical ways you can help promote healing for your child
• Take precautions before deciding to leave children with another adult, be they a friend or love interest
• Find out about this individual before you risk your child's safety by leaving them unattended with someone
• Stay in touch with these professionals; do not let your first visit or phone call be your last!