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Education

A child’s ability to engage in education or their educational performance may be negatively affected following exposure to a traumatic event. Education can include academic (ex. math, reading, etc.), nonacademic (ex. lunch, recess, etc.), extracurricular (ex. band, sports, dances, etc.), and technological (ex. online assignments and instruction) (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020).

Children who have experienced trauma may be challenged in the following ways:

  • Trouble staying organized

  • Hard time focusing or paying attention

  • Problems solving tasks or finishing work

  • Acting out to get attention

  • Skipping school or not doing homework

  • Teachers do not understand their behavior

Some strategies you can implement to address the above effects include:

  • Work with teachers

    • Help them understand your child’s needs. Ask for breaks or seating changes if needed.

  • Advocate

    • Let the school know about triggers and ask for extra support like counseling.

  • Use rewards

    • Give small rewards for good behavior to encourage it.

  • Offer sensory tools

    •  Items like weighted vests or fidget tools can help your child focus.

  • Comfort items

    • Let your child bring a favorite object to school to feel safe.

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