About this Course

During early childhood, children develop the skills they need to succeed in life through their primary relationships with the trusted adults in their lives. Young children typically spend more time with their early caregivers and preschool teachers than any other adult. This makes the relationships that early care professionals build with the children they serve of utmost importance. Early childhood programs that understand trauma and create trauma-sensitive environments can offer support and relief through developmentally appropriate, relationship-based, trauma-informed practices. Caregivers, who are able to recognize trauma symptoms and respond in a caring manner, often become the source of safety and consistency for young children exposed to trauma.

Learning Outcomes

• Define trauma and explain the causes and types of trauma.
• Describe how trauma affects a developing brain.
• Recognize the effects of trauma in preschoolers and implement strategies to build secure attachment relationships with young children.
• Support the development of resiliency in preschoolers and recognize the importance of anecdotal observations.
• Create a trauma-sensitive learning environment and implement a trauma-informed approach to caregiving.
• Understand the role of caregivers in reporting abuse and neglect.
• Develop strategies for self-care.

These strategies are job-embedded and will need to be implemented with the preschoolers in your program.