Trauma-informed care is an important part of childcare education, supporting children to learn and develop with an awareness of any traumas they may have experienced.
With trauma-informed care, educators can support children to manage anxiety, depression, and other side effects of childhood trauma. This allows educators to support children with empathy and compassion.
Here’s what you need to know about trauma-informed care in a childcare setting.
What is Trauma-informed Care?
Trauma-informed care includes a range of approaches used by educators when supporting children who have experienced trauma. It can have many benefits in improving children’s well-being.
A trauma-informed approach in childcare should acknowledge the impact of trauma on children’s development, understanding how to support recovery from trauma.
Educators should learn to recognise the signs and symptoms of trauma, integrating their knowledge about trauma to inform policies and procedures to support children while avoiding further traumas.
How Does Trauma-informed Care Help Children?
Trauma-informed care can help children in many ways, supporting healthy development beyond traumatic experiences.
Responding to Children’s Needs
All children have different experiences and ways of responding to trauma. Trauma-informed care allows parents and educators to recognise the unique needs and experiences of each individual child. This allows educators to provide children with healthy coping and emotional skills.
By responding to the children’s needs directly, educators can help children overcome traumatic experiences and learn in positive ways. This improves overall emotional well-being for children.
Communicating With Children
Trauma-informed care allows educators to communicate clearly with children who have experienced trauma. Educators can speak to children about their needs and emotions, as well as providing them with self-regulation strategies.
Communicating with children is essential in helping children manage trauma and learn effectively in a childcare environment that responds to their specific needs.
Including a Team
In many cases, trauma-informed care includes a team of people who work together to help children. This may include parents, educators, social workers, and healthcare providers. A team that works together can provide children with the support they need.
By working with other professionals, childcare educators can provide children with comprehensive trauma-informed care. This helps them provide children with security and confidence at childcare.
How Can Educators Apply Trauma-informed Care in a Childcare Setting?
Early childhood educators must work alongside other educators and professionals in order to provide children with trauma-informed care and education.
Educators should be aware of trauma children may have experienced and should be able to identify the signs and symptoms of trauma. Educators must develop the knowledge and skills to recognise childhood trauma and understand the unique needs of each individual child.
It’s important that educators communicate with children, learning to understand what support children need to do well in a childcare environment. Educators may speak to children about coping strategies or about the help they need. This helps educators provide consistent care that helps children learn positively.
If you’re looking for a childcare centre near you that can provide trauma-informed care, visit MyXplor to search for great local centres such as Rooty Hill Child Care.