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Signs of Childhood Exposure to Violence/Trauma

WARNING SIGNS That A Child Has Been Exposed To Violence

  • Difficulty sleeping, night terrors
  • Bedwetting after a period of being potty trained
  • Aggressive behavior, such as hitting parents or siblings
  • Unexplained weight loss or gain
  • Loss of appetite lasting more than one month
  • Listlessness
  • Unwillingness to explore new surroundings

 

Violence & Young Children
Age Developmental
Tasks		 Effects
of Trauma		 Possible
Symptoms
Infants Birth to 18 months
  • Building a sense of security.
  • Learning to trust parents, family members, and others to lovingly take care of basic needs.
  • World begins to feel like a scary place.
  • Bonding is affected because the environment is not trustworthy and dependable.
  • Changes in sleeping and eating patterns.
  • Clinginess
  • Difficulty separating from adults (especially parents).
Toddlers 18 to 36 months
  • Growing feelings of independence.
  • Using words or gestures to communicate needs and express feelings.
  • Interacting with peers
  • Development of language, curiosity and exploratory skills are interrupted.
  • Decreases the ability to develop skills to get along with others.
  • Difficulty paying attention
  • Isolation
  • Fearfulness
  • Aggressiveness
  • Reactions to loud noises
Pre-Schoolers 3 to 5 years
  • Separating fantasy from reality.
  • Realizing how thoughts and feelings are related to consequences.
  • Playing cooperatively with peers.
  • Abnormal thinking about themselves and the world around them.
  • Aggressive behavior (Frequently boys)
  • Withdrawal (Frequently girls)
  • Re-experiencing the event
  • Nightmares
  • Loss of appetite
  • Loss of skills
  • Trouble concentrating