Ages 2 to 5 Trauma-Related Behaviors Handout

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Young Children (ages 2 to 5) Parenting a traumatized child can be a difficult task. Young children often can’t tell us how they feel. One way they cope with trauma is through behaviors. Learning to see the signs of trauma and respond to them in a positive way helps children process their feelings in a safe way.

Symptom Explanation Common Signs

Regression Trauma can make children feel • Thumb sucking powerless. Children may regress or • Asking for a bottle take comfort in more “baby-like” • Bed-wetting behaviors. • Not interested in playing or usual activities

PTSD, Fear, • Easy startling, inconsolable crying, Anxiety Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder incessant whining (PTSD) may develop when • Headaches, stomach aches, in the absence reactions to being unsafe or hurt of an illness continue even when the traumatic • Being scared of going to bed, darkness, event is over. loud noises, certain places • Nightmares • Being very “clingy” or “attached” to you, a Clinginess When children cannot predict or stuffed toy, a baby blanket or another control traumatic events or people in their world they may feel unsafe “lovie” or insecure. • Showing strong “separation anxiety

Temper Tantrums Traumatized children often have • Have a sudden, intense tantrum in difficulty controlling their emotions reaction to a minor frustration and act impulsively. They may have • Destroy toys they are frustrated with; more intense emotional reactions suddenly aggressive with other children or suddenly fall apart, emotionally. • Severe irritability or outbursts of anger

Sexualized For all children, sexual behaviors • Touching own or others’ private parts Behaviors may arise from self-soothing or • Showing private parts impulsivity. When a child has • experienced sexual abuse, they Talking about sex may re-enact it.

Avoidance Children who have been hurt in the • Will not reach out for comfort if hurt or past may try to avoid being hurt scared, does not show emotions again by distancing themselves • Refuse to be held, hugged or comforted from others, becoming self-reliant • Will not engage in “fun” activities or with or overly pleasing. others; “blank stare”

“Off” Play Children may engage in repetitive • Throwing or banging toys together or reckless play, or play out a • Building a tower and repeatedly knocking traumatic event, as a way to manage their anxiety and control it over their emotions. • Making toys behave aggressively

Copyright © 2016 by University of California, Davis. Timmer, S., Hawk, B., Lundquist, K., Armendariz, L., Aviv, R., Boys, D., & Urquiza, A. (2016) PC-CARE: Course of Treatment Manual. Unpublished Manuscript.