Did you know that two-thirds of kids experience trauma during childhood? It’s a staggering number. Right?

Here are a few ways that trauma can affect children’s overall well-being:

The impact of trauma can range widely, depending on many different factors, including a child’s relationships with caring adults, social supports, and unique personal characteristics.

And often, childhood trauma can even influence children’s ability to form healthy, trusting bonds with caregivers.

Here are a few tips to help you build the trust you need to guide kids with trauma history and help them heal.

Provide structure

Create a routine and ensure that your child understands rules and expectations clearly. Doing so will create a sense of safety and help them thrive.

Use positive discipline

Punitive, physical, or inconsistent discipline can be a trigger for kids with a history of trauma and be counterproductive to your ability to guide them.

Here are some positive discipline methods you can leverage:

• Ignore mild misbehavior
• Praise good behavior
• Frame things as incentives versus pointing out negative consequences
• Redirect attention
• Offer choices
• Provide rewards
• Use time in vs. time outs

Be consistent & show warmth

Trust in any relationship is built on consistent positive interactions. Show warmth towards your child, even during conflict and discipline. And if you slip up, make sure to repair the situation with an apology and good communication.

Be sensitive to trauma

Be mindful of a child’s background and avoid putting them in a position where they feel cornered or threatened. For example, if children have a history of sexual trauma, be mindful of their physical boundaries and unexpected touch.

Need support?

We provide a wide range of wraparound mental health services that help kids and families heal. Contact us online to get a child help today.

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Do you know the signs of depression in kids? They’re easy to miss. Yet, when overlooked, the outcome can be tragic.

Data shows that suicide is the second leading cause of death in youth, and a significant portion of those who pass are confronting the condition.

Below are eight indicators of childhood depression that every parent needs to be familiar with.

Signs of Depression in Kids

Deep & Persistent Sadness

Children with depression experience sadness that persists for two or more weeks. And it can be profound! They may have thoughts of suicide or talk about hurting themselves.

Learn more: 9 Warning Signs of Teen Suicide Parents Need to Know

Problems at School

Have you recently noticed a decline in your child’s school performance? Kids confronting depression often have a hard time concentrating, making decisions, and can be quicker to anger or emotional outbursts.

Be on the watch for a sudden drop in grades, school refusal, and new behavioral issues cropping up.

Changes in Weight or Eating Habits

Has your child recently lost or gained weight? Significant fluctuations in body size or sudden changes in eating habits may signify depression.

A Shift in Sleep Patterns

Have you noticed a change in your child’s sleep patterns? Maybe they’re struggling to fall asleep, waking in the middle of the night, or even sleeping far more than usual?

Depression can impact kids’ rest and wake cycles. So, pay attention to sudden shifts in your child’s sleep routine. It may be a sign that something more is going on.

Changes in Mood & Behavior

Does it feel like your child’s demeanor changed overnight? Take notice if they’ve suddenly developed a more negative attitude or are expressing feelings of hopelessness, guilt, or worthlessness. And if they seem more agitated, irritable, or are quicker to get upset, it could also be a sign of depression.

Decrease in Self-Esteem

Does your once confident kid now seem to need frequent reassurance? A marked decrease in self-esteem is frequently an indicator of depression. Children with the condition tend to think negatively and very critically about themselves.

Withdrawal

Kids experiencing depression will frequently withdraw socially from friends and family. So, pay attention if your child no longer wants to participate in activities they once enjoyed.

Physical Pain

Depression is more than emotional pain—symptoms can frequently manifest physically. So look out for persistent fatigue, frequent headaches, stomach aches, or any other sudden unexplained discomfort. And remember, it’s essential to rule out underlying medical conditions with a doctor.

We’re Here to Help!

Do any of the signs and symptoms above sound familiar? Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (YBGR) provides a wide range of wraparound mental health services designed to help kids heal. Contact us online to get a child support today.

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Parenting a foster child with trauma history can be challenging.

Trauma profoundly influences brain development, impacting children’s behaviors, ability to regulate emotions, and even their capacity to form healthy relationships.

And for many, it’s coupled with attachment issues, rooted in everything from abuse and neglect early on in life to repeated moves due to broken-down placements.

Here are some signs that may indicate a child is struggling with attachment.

Parenting children with attachment issues rooted in a history of trauma can be a formidable task. To put it simply—it’s not easy to be a foster parent.

But the work is so critical. The bonds foster parents build with kids help them heal and serve as the foundation for healthy connections in adulthood.

We want to guide you on the path to parenting kids with trauma history. So, here are a few tips to help build trust and influence children’s behavior.

Tips on Parenting Kids with a History of Trauma

Meet Needs

Your #1 goal is to find out your foster child’s needs and meet them. And the best way to find out is to ask. When doing so, be direct, using exact language. For example, “What’s going on?” “What are your needs?” “How can I support you?”

Say “Yes”

Kids in foster care have little power over their lives. So, often that manifests in a desire for control.

You can go miles when it comes to building trust with children by focusing on dishing out “yes” more than “no.” The optimal ratio is 7:1, saying “yes” 7 times for every “no.”

Make Eye Contact

Our eyes speak louder than words.

Nonverbal cues are critical components of communication, especially for kids with trauma history. As often as possible, get on your foster child’s eye level when speaking to them.

Mirror Behavior

Be a mirror. Secure attachment is characterized by a healthy rhythm between children and their caregiver’s behavior. For instance, if a baby coos, their mother will coo back, or when a toddler laughs, their father laughs too.

Congruent behaviors build trust and attachment.

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What’s active listening? You close your mouth and let the other person speak. Right?

Not quite. There’s more to it than that.

How to Practice Active Listening

Here’s a guide to active listening inspired by the book, The Empathetic Workplace by Katharine Manning, that you can draw on for trauma-informed conversations in and out of the workplace.

Encouragement

Make brief and gentle sounds such as “ahh” & “got it” to encourage the other person to continue their story, ensuring it’s subtle and keeps the focus on them.

Eye contact

Where we focus is what we care about. That said, read the other party—if they refuse to make eye contact, it could signal they are uncomfortable, and you should follow suit.

Mirroring

We mimic the body language of the person we’re speaking with when we are fully engaged. Doing it too much can be creepy, but a subtle nod to it will create ease in a conversation.

Looping

Repeat what the other person says as closely as possible to their exact words.

Clarification

Seeking clarification shows the other person you are listening, and ensures you understand what they’re saying.

Ask open-ended questions

Typically, open-ended questions begin with what, where, when, and why and are a great way to kick-start a conversation if the speaker peters out or, conversely, get it back on track if they are heading off on a tangent.

If they’re triggered, you will notice they either become emphatic, and the conversation will become less productive, or they will shut down and stop talking altogether.

Read demeanor

Be mindful that when someone shares a story of trauma, it can be re-traumatizing—back off if it appears that responding to questions is difficult and allow a break if needed.

Body language

Keep body language loose and calm, maintaining an open stance while facing the other person. Be careful not to look down, out the window, or at their hands.

Want more?

Check out the rest of our blog and follow us on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, Instagram at @ybgr_cares, and Facebook at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.