The things that happen during our youth can shape us for years to come. During our young years, our brains and psyches are still developing. As such, childhood trauma plays a crucial role in our development.
Trauma can shape how children approach their daily routines, including school. Therefore, it’s important for parents and other caregivers to fully understand how trauma can affect the learning process.
This article helps parents and caregivers understand what trauma is and how it can affect children in the classroom. It also outlines how trauma can impact children who are neurotypical or have academic, emotional, or behavioral difficulties. Finally, it explains how trauma-informed schools can help these students and their families.
What is Childhood Trauma? How Common Is it?
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines trauma as “an event or circumstance resulting in: physical harm, emotional harm, and/or life-threatening harm.” Trauma can come from one event or a series of incidents. It can also be physical or emotional.
Because trauma can take many forms, it can show up in different ways in different lives. Some common types of childhood trauma include:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Physical neglect
- Emotional neglect
- Chronic conflict in the home
- Violence (including domestic violence) in the home
- Violence in the neighborhood
- Parental substance use issues
- A parent’s incarceration
- Separation
- Divorce
- Parental abandonment
- Death of a parent or sibling
Sadly, childhood trauma is quite common. One survey of U.S. high school students found that over three-fourths had experienced at least one Adverse Childhood Event (ACEs). (These are potentially traumatic events like the ones listed above.) Nearly 20% reported 4 or more.
Conditions That Commonly Occur in Children Who Experience Trauma
Trauma can affect children in many ways. Children who have experienced traumatic events are more likely to be diagnosed with conditions such as:
- Aggression
- Anxiety
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Depression
- Emotional dysregulation
- Executive function issues
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
- PTSD
- Sleep disturbances (e.g., nightmares, insomnia)
In addition to these official diagnoses, these children may also have learning difficulties or problems getting along with peers.
How Trauma Affects Learning and School
Most of us thrive when we experience a small amount of stress. You know this if you’ve ever had “butterflies in your stomach” that pushed you to do your best before a major presentation or performance. But prolonged, intense stress is not healthy, and the effects on schoolchildren can be devastating.
The human brain continues to develop until age 25. Trauma that occurs before that time can disrupt brain functions that are necessary for school success, including working memory, attention, impulse control, and emotional regulation.
Additionally, when a child with PTSD or another issue is focused on their past trauma or preventing future trauma, it is difficult for them to focus on their schoolwork.
When trauma causes a child to experience issues, it may show up at school as one or more of the following:
- Missed work
- Sloppy work
- Inconsistent performance
- Emotional outbursts
- Difficulty transitioning from one task to another
- Trouble concentrating
- Melting down when routines change
- Repeatedly asking to leave class
- Constantly forgetting necessary materials (e.g., folders, handouts, pencils, laptop)
- Choosing social isolation
Recognizing and addressing these issues early on is crucial. Children with trauma are more likely to have attendance problems. They are also 80 percent more likely to be suspended or expelled – even in preschool.
What is a Trauma-Informed School? How Can it Help?
Any organization can adopt a trauma-informed approach. SAMHSA states that to adopt a trauma-informed approach, an organization must focus on six principles:
- Safety. Students feel physically and emotionally safe. Any unnecessary unpredictability is removed. This helps a child’s brain relax and leave “survival mode.”
- Trustworthiness and transparency. Adults clearly state the rules and consequences. They also follow and impose them fairly. Being able to trust adults gives children less incentive to worry about threats and more time to focus on school.
- Peer support. Students learn from others, which reduces stigma and creates community.
- Collaboration and mutuality. Teachers treat students as respected participants in the learning process. This helps them to trust the process more.
- Empowerment, voice, and choice. Schools value student input, which allows children to feel a bit of control. This control, in turn, reduces their stress.
- Cultural, historical, and gender responsiveness. By recognizing each child’s unique background and circumstances, schools can help children feel valued and supported for who they are.
Research shows that when implemented properly, these and other steps can help students with their mental health issues.
How Therapeutic Schools Surpass Regular Schools on Trauma-Informed Practice
Any school can adopt the SAMHSA model. However, therapeutic schools are designed to implement the SAMHSA model in a way that provides every student with individualized attention. Here are some of the key differences between standard schools and therapeutic schools.
Staffing: The current student-counselor ratio in New York is 331:1. However, therapeutic schools have more counselors and trauma-trained staff. (In fact, therapeutic schools typically train the entire staff in SAMHSA principles and other trauma responses.) More trained staff allows therapeutic schools to offer each student the focused attention they deserve.
Frequency. In a standard school, trauma education may be widespread, but actual support is rarely offered. When given, it may even be limited to students with plans under Section 504 or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. But at a therapeutic school, trauma supports are built into each class period. They can also offer clinical support and even family therapy.
Academic approach. Typical schools have to make many changes to accommodate children with trauma. However, because of their mission and design, therapeutic schools automatically incorporate practices that reduce trauma responses, such as adhering to set schedules.
Involvement. Standard schools aren’t designed to provide much support beyond their walls. Therapeutic schools, on the other hand, can communicate with parents, doctors, pharmacies, and others to ensure a child gets what they need.
Is a New York City Therapeutic School Right for Your Child?
All children can learn. Trauma may make learning more difficult for some, but with the right support, every child can reach their full potential. If you want to learn more about a therapeutic school for your child, consider Academics West. We’re a therapeutic school located on New York’s Upper West Side. We can help your child excel academically and emotionally. Click here to take our virtual tour or call 212-580-0080 to schedule an in-person visit.
