Working with a Traumatized Child

05/25/2006

Working with a Traumatized Child

We do no great things, only small things with great love.
Mother Teresa

In the new Exchange book, Child Development, Victor LaCerva provides this advice on helping a child who is traumatized by witnessing an act of violence…

"A person who is calm, deliberate and in control will significantly calm the fearful child. Use familiar adults to calm the child.

"Tell the child who you are, what you are doing, and what you will be doing. Be a play by play announcer.

"Tell the child what happened in simple, age-appropriate words. Let him know that someone is taking care of the other people. Repeat often.

"The way in which you talk is as important as the actual words. Children read nonverbal cues more than they hear words in traumatic situations."

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