ABSTRACT
Children who have suffered developmental trauma become stuck in the brain stem, in the ‘cave’ or ‘survival’ brain, where they are hyper-alert to danger at all times in order to stay alive and survive. These children can often struggle to learn in a classroom environment and they require repetitive, persistent and consistent activities over time to help to calm their fear responses and to help to repair their brains. Having an understanding of the child’s early experiences can help to identify possible triggers that can result in the child becoming overwhelmed and moving into fight, flight or freeze survival behaviours. Child’s support members can help children to manage their emotions by providing things that the child finds calming and soothing. Children are unable to grow, learn and develop when they are trapped in a place of fear and trauma. In order to feel safe, children need continuity, routine and stability from calm, caring adults.
