Oklahoma School

Climate Transformation
Blaire Harrison, M.Ed.
Behavior Specialist
[email protected]
The Effects of Trauma on Children
 What is Trauma?
• Trauma is anything that changes the brain’s
development.
• Examples include:
– Abuse, assault, natural disaster, death of loved one.
• Really, anything can lead to trauma depending upon
the person and the circumstance.
• Has different effects on different people
 Be a Trauma Informed Parent
• Understand that an event does not have to be catastrophic in order
to be “traumatic” and that symptoms of trauma can manifest
following any highly stressful experience that causes lasting
emotional or physical effects.

• Is better equipped to help their child cope with and rise above
trauma related health issues or post-traumatic stress.

http://www.traumainformedparent.com
 Be a Trauma Informed Parent
• Appreciates their children’s unique temperaments recognizing that
while a location move to one child may be a bump in the road, to
another it can be devastating.

• Is aware of ACEs: (Adverse Childhood Experiences)

• Knows where to find help should their child’s ACE score warrant
attention.
http://www.traumainformedparent.com
 Be a Trauma Informed Parent
• Knows that post-traumatic stress can mimic other issues such as
ADHD, emotional outbursts, body aches, isolation, social problems
and poor school performance.

• Understands that the effects of trauma may not reveal themselves

for months or even years after an event has occurred.

http://www.traumainformedparent.com
 Adverse Childhood Experiences
• The ACE study began in an obesity clinic in San Diego, CA.
• In 1985, Dr. Vincent Felitti.
• While doing face to face interviews, a client disclosed she had been
raped and stated “to be overweight is to be overlooked and that’s
the way I need to be”.
• Through further interviews, it was discovered that many patients
had been using addiction and negative coping skills as a normal
response to serious childhood trauma.
ACEs
http://www.traumainformedparent.com
 ACE Scores
• There is a strong correlation to the higher the ACE score to
the following issues:
• Social, emotional & cognitive impairment
• Adoption of health-risk behaviors
• Disease, disability, and social problems
• Early death
– An ACE score of 6 or higher had a life span reduced by as much
as 20 years
 ACE Scores and Risk Factors
Those with a 3 or higher ACE score are considered at risk:
• Twice as likely to become a smoker
• Seven times more likely to be an alcoholic
• Ten times more likely to inject street drugs
• More likely to be violent
• Have multiple marriages
• More drug prescriptions
• More depression
• More broken bones
• More autoimmune diseases
• More work absences
 ACEs and Brain Development
• Difficulty trusting others
• Social isolation
• Difficulty seeking help
• Hypersensitivity to physical contact
• Increase medical, emotional and mental problems
• Problems with coordination and balance
• Poor affect regulation
• Problems with academic achievement
• Oppositional/antisocial behaviors
• Difficulty planning for the future
Health Indicators in Oklahoma
 ACEs in Oklahoma
Assume 45% of students have an ACE score.
Oklahoma has some of the highest ACEs in the
United States.
Oklahoma has THE highest percentage of youth
experiencing 4 or more ACEs.
 Intergenerational Trauma
• Might be passed down through changes in genes.

• Historical context - textbooks

• State context
 Addressing Trauma in Youth
Attention

- Trauma impacts a child’s ability to pay attention

- Hypervigilant or hypersensitive to changes in environment

- Aware of adult’s behavioral changes in environment

- Overly concerned about threats

(Mental Health America Report 9/19)
Addressing Trauma in Youth
 Addressing Trauma in Youth
Mood

- Children exposed to trauma experience intense emotions

- Don’t have the skills to identify their emotions

- Intense emotions become their new normal

Addressing Trauma in Youth
A Lot
 Addressing Trauma in Youth
Conduct

- Often in flight/fight/freeze (fighting the bear); high alert

- World can feel unpredictable or unsafe

- Negative emotions can lead to internal/external behavior problems

(Mental Health America Report 9/19)
Addressing Trauma in Youth
 The Trauma of Moving
• Moving is a loss to a child
– Similar response to the loss of a loved one
– Disrupt important friendships/relationships
– Cause anxiety, especially for those with introvert personalities

Psychology Today
New York Times
American Psychological Association
 Moving is Tough on Kids
- Kids struggle to build meaningful relationships
- Score lower in well-being and life satisfaction
- Family stress within the home
- Affects children into adulthood
- Moving often in childhood can reduce life span
- Creates more stress, stress leads to ill effects on health
How can I help my child?
Strategies for Parents
Hope & Resilience
 Resiliency is Greater than ACES
Resilience is not inherently in children.
• Parents, teachers, and caregivers can help children by…
– Gaining understanding of ACEs and knowing you don’t have to
be defined by your ACEs score
– Creating environments where children feel safe emotionally and
physically
– Helping children identify feelings and manage emotions
 Fostering Hope & Resilience
Resilience is bouncing back from negative events in life. Hope is wanting
more out of life.
• Higher hope people do better in life than lower hope people.
• Believing in oneself and others
• Believing in future
• Hope scores more a predictor of college success than SAT
• Students who are low hope are usually the first students who are kicked
out of school
• Higher hope kids have a greater influence on lower hope kids
• Peer mentoring groups work in increasing hope
 Protective and Compensatory Experiences (PACEs)
Relationships
• Have someone who loved you unconditionally.
• Have at least one best friend.
• Do things regularly to help others or do special projects in the
community to help others.
• Have an adult (other than a parent) you trusted and can count
on for advice.
• A member of at least one social group and/or non-sport group
Protective and Compensatory Experiences (PACEs)
• Have an engaging hobby.
• Regularly involved in organized sports groups or other
physical activity.
• Live in a home that was typically clean AND safe with enough
food to eat. 
• Have a school that provided the resources and experiences you
needed to learn.
• Were there rules in your home/school clear and fairly
administered.
(Morris, Hays-Grudo et al 2015)
 Allow the student to
de-escalate and regulate before problem
solving.
 Validation and Response
● All children respond to a traumatic event in a different manner
○ Listen with empathy
○ Understand their unique perspective
○ Validate - they are allowed feelings
○ Help child identify their emotions
○ Respond with understanding and empathy
 Validation and Response
● When a child feels validated:
○ More likely to hear/listen to you
○ Change their behaviors
○ Helps build your relationship
○ Builds child’s self-esteem
○ Improves overall emotional health

Psychology Today
There is no greater intervention
than a student having a safe
relationship.
Empathy vs. Sympathy
 De-Escalation/Coping Strategies
• Breathing Techniques
– Visualizing colors with focused breathing
– Rise and Fall, deep breathing
• Supports diaphragmatic deep breathing
– Shape breathing
– Dragon Breathing
– Bubbles
 Visualize Color Breathing
Blue Relaxation and peace; clears your mind

Green Healing and balance; improves your thoughts

Magenta Release; helps you let go of negative thoughts

Orange Fun, happiness and joy; uplifts your mood

Red Energy and vitality; increase strength and energy

 Shape Breathing

Coping Skills for Kids

 De-Escalation/Coping Strategies
• Environment
– Safe space: Calming Corner
• Comfy Space
• Music & Books
• Glitter Jars/Bubbles/Play-Doh
 De-Escalation Strategies
• Movement
– Dancing/Rocking/Pacing
– Sitting and Standing Exercises
– Yoga

• Identify Emotions - Zones of Regulation

– Find your zone
– Discuss emotions/feelings
 Zones of Regulation at Home
- 4 Conceptual Zones
- User Friendly Language
- Helps ID Emotions
- Shows interest in learning triggers
- Calming strategies
 Zones of Regulation at Home
- Make a poster together as a family
- Create a “Zone Toolbox”
- Share with the child how his/her behavior is affecting the zone you
are in
- Ask, “Is this a small or big problem?”
 Summary

• Trauma can cause changes in children’s behavior

• It can impact the health and well-being of a child and family

• With understanding and support, a child and family members can

heal and thrive