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Children between the ages of 2 and 6 experience trauma differently from older children. Due to the emotional turmoil they find themselves in fear dominates their thinking. This has a negative influence on recent learning and a child will temporarily “forget” newly acquired skills like toilet training. They may start using “baby-talk” , wet their beds or suck their thumb the way they used to when they were younger.

A pre-schooler who used to fall asleep by himself may now be unable to do so. Nightmares and night-terrors can become a frequent occurrence. They may become more afraid of the dark and be very clingy, wanting to sleep with an adult in the room.

Play is very important in the development of a child. It is their connection between the real world and their imagination. After a traumatic event the main theme of their play becomes the traumatic event. This is called traumatic play. A child will repeat the traumatic event over and over in play, trying to change certain moments or outcomes through their play. A child may also prefer to not play by himself but only in the presence of a adult that he believes can protect him.

Traumatic events will leave a child feeling unsafe, unprotected and helpless. Children differ in how they act on these feelings. Some may become passive, quiet, withdrawn and easily alarmed. Others may be irritable and difficult to manage. Temper-tantrums and aggression – meaning deliberately hurting others by biting, hitting or kicking – could surface. There could be triggers that remind a child of the traumatic event such a smells, sounds or colors. When death forms part of the trauma a child can become preoccupied with death and dying. He may repeat certain phrases as if his mind got stuck on that one thought. For example “Man falls. He dead.”

Physical symptoms such as stomach aches, headaches or a general feeling of being sick can also follow severe or chronic trauma.

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