Trauma can significantly impact a child’s physical and emotional well-being, making trauma-informed care in the classroom a critical component of early education. Trauma-informed care creates a safe, supportive environment and helps meet students’ unique social and emotional development needs.
When children experience trauma, it can affect their ability to regulate emotions, form relationships and learn. Creating a trauma-informed classroom environment is essential for supporting the needs of children who have experienced trauma and ensuring their success in school.
Teachers should be flexible, kind, attentive and caring to the needs of each student in early childhood education settings. Specifically, every educator who deals with elementary students must be trained to notice signs of neglect and child abuse. Graduates of the Northwest Missouri State University (Northwest) online Master of Science in Education (MSEd.) in Early Childhood Education program have the knowledge to identify signs of child distress and build trauma-informed classrooms.
Build Positive Relationships
To create trauma-informed classrooms, educators might start by building positive relationships. One Edutopia article notes that positive relationships build trust and help students feel supported and safe. Teachers can model vulnerability by sharing parts of themselves with their students, making time for regular check-ins and asking students to share things about themselves and their communities with classmates.
Every educator should strive to create a warm environment where kids feel respected and valued. Being mindful of what experiences students might be going through helps to contextualize and recognize what their stress or confusion might mean.
Of course, teachers can never know everything going on in students’ lives, so being proactive in offering support is crucial. As the Edutopia article notes, in the wake of the trauma and loss suffered in the COVID-19 pandemic, it is difficult to know all the emotional stress kids carry.
Set Expectations
Setting clear expectations for behavior can help children understand what is expected of them and feel more in control. Teachers should provide positive feedback and empower students by giving them a voice. A mybrightweel.com article about trauma-informed early education notes that teachers in a trauma-informed classroom should focus on a student’s needs and be responsive to words and behaviors.
Setting up a trauma-informed classroom sets the tone for learning. Components to keep in mind include safety, support and resiliency. Experts say a trauma-informed environment is always free from violence or the threat of violence. It is physically and emotionally supportive and allows students to develop skills to deal with and overcome traumatic experiences.
Maintain Consistency
Trauma-informed early childhood development cultivates social-emotional wellness and allows students an opportunity to express themselves and grow relationships with peers comfortably.
An article about the benefits of creating a trauma-sensitive environment in preschool by Paper Pinecone notes that consistency is crucial for children who have experienced trauma. Teachers should establish clear routines and expectations so children know what to expect and feel more in control.
Recognize Signs of Trauma
Over one in four preschoolers experience trauma serious enough to affect their performance in school, according to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Schools Committee. An important report in an early childhood newsletter posted by Brookes Publishing notes that kids experiencing trauma may exhibit the following:
- Withdrawal or avoidance of social interaction with peers and teachers
- Fear, anxiety or nervousness in response to certain situations or triggers
- Aggression, anger or outbursts in response to stressors
- Difficulty with concentration and memory
- Emotional dysregulation, such as mood swings, or difficulty managing emotions
Overall, trauma-informed care is critical for supporting the needs of children who have experienced trauma in early childhood education. By building positive relationships, maintaining consistency, setting expectations and allowing children to have a voice, teachers can create a safe and supportive classroom environment where all children can thrive.
Northwest’s online MSEd. in Early Childhood Education program prepares graduates to be trauma-informed education professionals and utilize trauma response practices with relevant program courses such as Trauma Informed Practices and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy.
Learn more about Northwest Missouri State University’s online MSEd. in Early Childhood Education program.
