This module has presented an overview of trauma, including definitions of trauma, developmental responses to trauma, effects and impacts of exposure to trauma, childhood traumatic stress,  trauma informed care practices, and criteria and protocol for reporting to DSS.

Now that you have some understanding of trauma and how it impacts children, let's consider how children's behaviors may be explained differently through a trauma lens.  This activity is taken directly from the  Virtual Lab School, linked here:  Recognizing Trauma Activity (external link) and is recreated below. 

"Children exposed to trauma—particularly chronic trauma from an early age—develop survival strategies to manage traumatic experiences. Their brains and bodies adapt based on these experiences in ways that be misinterpreted by others. Trauma-related behaviors can be frustrating for adults, especially when they jeopardize a child’s success. However, these behaviors often make sense in the context of a youth’s experiences. When we put on our “trauma glasses” and consider the role trauma may play in how a child behaves, we start to think and talk about children and their behaviors differently."

Directions: Below is a list of descriptions someone might use with their "Trauma Glasses" OFF. For each, give alternative explanations or adjectives you might use to describe a particular child’s behavior when you have your “Trauma Glasses” ON."

On a word document or in the box below, for each behavior listed under Trauma Glasses OFF, provide a different reason, explanation, or way you could use to describe the behavior using your knowledge about Trauma and Trauma Informed Care or "Trauma Glasses ON."

Trauma Glasses Off:

• Manipulative
• Lazy
• Resistant
• Unmotivated
• Disrespectful
• Attention Seeking