Trauma is exposure to a life-threatening event, severe injury, or sexual violence. Trauma can be a single event or a series of traumatic events experienced by a person. Post-traumatic symptoms develop in a certain percentage of people, hindering their lives and making them live in fears that greatly affect them. For children, trauma impairs their school performance and relationships with their surroundings, according to Dr. Shafiq Masalha.
Children are vulnerable to trauma from the age of one and above. When discussing the impact of trauma on a child, we find that although there are similarities between them and adults, they also have some distinct characteristics. For example, both children and adults may show post-traumatic symptoms in the form of disturbing nightmares related to the traumatic event, waking up frightened and panicked. However, the child does not recount the details or events of the dream as an adult does.
Children relive the traumatic event just like adults, but they express it through play, choosing toys related to the trauma and playing with them in ways that reflect the event. For instance, a child injured in a fire may tend to play with fire, while one who experienced sexual assault may engage in games that involve sexual behaviors.
Parents often notice behavioral changes in their child after trauma, such as mood swings and unexplained anger outbursts, linked to the child’s difficulty in expressing thoughts and feelings through direct speech. Some parents and teachers may also observe the child withdrawing from peers and avoiding group play. The child may also show difficulty concentrating and a decline in academic performance.
Children and adolescents who have experienced trauma may suffer from low self-esteem, feel unwanted, and may display indifference, which could pose a danger to themselves or others.
The role of parents comes first, followed by teachers, in paying attention to children who show post-traumatic symptoms, and then providing them with support and assistance. Among the most important actions both parties can take are listening to the child, encouraging them to express themselves—especially about the traumatic event—and motivating them to participate in activities with peers of the same age group. It is crucial that the child feels safe and cared for by caregivers, whether at home or at school.
In some cases, the deep effects of trauma may hinder the child’s life, making it advisable to seek professional psychological therapy. Research and therapeutic experiences indicate that meditation is an important therapeutic tool that can be taught to children. Meditation helps counter anxiety and enhances mental, emotional, and physical relaxation that may have been disrupted by the trauma.
For this reason, Tawazon has chosen to give special attention to the mental health of children affected by traumatic events and to raise their awareness of their struggles through a collection of meditations available on the app, accessible anytime and anywhere.
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