Understanding Childhood Trauma

Recognising the Signs of Childhood Trauma

 When a child lashes out, withdraws, or responds with defiance, we’re often quick to label the behaviour as difficult, attention-seeking, or disrespectful. But what if these responses aren’t signs of misbehaviour? What if they’re symptoms of unhealed trauma?

In the UK alone, one in five children have experienced serious maltreatment, according to the NSPCC. Globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that more than 1 billion children are affected by violence each year.

While comprehensive data on other types of childhood trauma remains limited, existing evidence from the NSPCC and WHO makes one thing clear: trauma in childhood is far more common than many realise. And its effects on behaviour, development, and overall wellbeing are profound.

With growing societal awareness of trauma, the phrase trauma-informed is often used – but what does it really mean? And how can we support children in ways that lead to meaningful, lasting impact?

What Is Childhood Trauma?

Childhood trauma refers to experiences that overwhelm a child’s ability to cope. These experiences may leave lasting emotional, psychological, or physical scars, especially when there is a lack of protective support.

Common causes of trauma in children include:

• Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
• Neglect or abandonment.
• Witnessing domestic violence.
• Death of a parent or caregiver.
• Living with addiction or mental illness in the family.
• Experiencing poverty, racism, homelessness, or systemic discrimination.
• Serious illness or invasive medical procedures.

While these are among the more recognised causes of trauma, it’s important to understand that trauma is not defined solely by what happens, but by how the child experiences it.

What may seem like a minor event to one child can be deeply traumatic to another. Two children can face the same situation and walk away with very different emotional outcomes – shaped by their age, personality, coping skills, and the presence (or absence) of a supportive environment.

What Does Trauma-Informed Care Mean?

Being trauma-informed means understanding how trauma affects children’s behaviour, learning, emotions, and relationships – and responding with empathy and support instead of judgement or reprimand.

A trauma-informed approach is built on five core principles:

1. Safety: Ensuring emotional and physical safety.
2. Trustworthiness: Building consistency and clear communication.
3. Empowerment: Giving children and families voice and choice.
4. Cultural responsiveness: Respecting and valuing identity and lived experience.
5. Collaboration: Working across systems to provide holistic care.

In everyday settings, this might look like:

• A teacher asking, “What’s behind this behaviour?” rather than sending a child out of class.
• A GP gently explaining procedures to reduce fear and anxiety.
• A social worker taking time to build trust with a family before taking action.

Trauma-informed care means seeing the child behind the behaviour.

Trauma-Informed Strategies to Support Children at Home and in School

You don’t need to be a therapist to support a traumatised child. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or community worker, here are five powerful, trauma-informed ways to help:

1. Lead with empathy: Shift your perspective from “What’s wrong with them?” to “What’s happened to make them behave in this way?”
2. Create routines and predictability: Children recovering from trauma need environments that feel safe and consistent.
3. Support the adults too: Caregivers may also have trauma. Supporting them supports the child.
4. Use creative expression: Play, art, storytelling, and movement allow children to process trauma without relying on words.
5. Build a team around the child: Collaborate across schools, healthcare, social care, and local services to create a wraparound support network.

The Importance of Culturally Responsive Trauma-Informed Care for Children

Trauma doesn’t exist in isolation. Culture, identity, language, race, disability, and religion shape how trauma is experienced – and how healing happens.

For children from marginalised or historically oppressed communities, trauma may be compounded by generational or systemic factors. A trauma-informed approach must be actively anti-racist, inclusive, and respectful of cultural context to be truly healing.

Examples of Trauma-Informed Care in Action

At KidsAid, we’ve supported thousands of children and families affected by trauma. We’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is when a child feels truly seen, heard, and safe.

Being trauma-informed isn’t a checklist – it’s a mindset. It’s about creating healing environments in schools, homes, clinics, and communities where every child can begin to recover, grow, and thrive.

How to Build a Trauma-Informed Future

Raising awareness is only the beginning. To truly support children affected by trauma, we need consistent compassion, genuine curiosity, and a commitment to understanding their lived experiences.

So, let’s stay curious. Let’s keep learning. Let’s ask thoughtful, open-ended questions.
And above all, let’s listen – really listen – with empathy. Not just to what children say, but to what they show us through their behaviour.

Because when we build environments grounded in safety, trust, and understanding, we give every child the chance to feel seen, heard, and supported.

Want to deepen your understanding?

We offer trauma-informed training and workshops for teachers, healthcare professionals, social workers, and community leaders.