What Is Developmental Trauma in Children? Understanding Behaviour and Early Trauma
If you look after or work with a child who has experienced early trauma, you may sometimes feel confused or stuck.
You might wonder:
Why do small problems lead to big reactions?
Why do usual behaviour techniques not work?
Why does progress feel so slow?
Often, the answer lies in developmental trauma in children.
Developmental trauma affects more than behaviour. It influences how a child thinks, learns, manages emotions, builds relationships, and feels safe in the world. Without understanding this, even experienced foster parents, teachers, and professionals can struggle to know what a child needs.
Developmental trauma happens when a child experiences
repeated stress, neglect, loss, or unsafe relationships during their early
years.
The brain is developing rapidly during the early years. When
a child does not feel safe or consistently cared for, their brain adapts to
survive. This can later show up as challenging behaviour, emotional outbursts,
withdrawal, or difficulty trusting adults.
It’s important to remember that these behaviours are not a
child purposely making bad choices; they are learned survival responses.
Research in trauma-informed practice and attachment theory helps us understand why this happens. When early relationships are disrupted, children may struggle to feel secure. This affects how they regulate their emotions and relate to others.
The effects of developmental trauma in children can impact
many aspects of their lives, including:
For foster parents, this may look like clinginess, rejection
of closeness, anger, regression, or extreme reactions to everyday situations.
For teachers and professionals, it may show up as difficulty
focusing, conflict with peers, defiance, or emotional shutdown.
When we understand the impact of early trauma, we begin to
see behaviour differently. Instead of asking, "What is wrong with this
child?" we ask, "What has this child experienced?"
That change in perspective is powerful.
Traditional behaviour systems often focus on rewards and consequences. While structure is important, children affected by early trauma often need something deeper first.
They need safety, predictability and connection.
A trauma informed approach helps adults respond in ways that support regulation and trust. This is at the heart of therapeutic parenting and is increasingly recognised as best practice in fostering and education.
Supporting a child who has experienced early trauma is not easy. It requires patience, understanding, and informed responses.
When foster parents, teachers, and professionals deepen their understanding of developmental trauma in children, they often feel:
• More confident in difficult moments
• Less reactive and more calm
• Better able to build strong relationships
• More hopeful about long term outcomes
Understanding what lies beneath behaviour changes how we respond. And when our responses change, children have a greater chance to feel safe, learn, and grow.
If you would like to deepen your understanding of developmental trauma and feel more confident in your role, Flourish Foundation is offering a CPD course that provides a clear and practical starting point.
This workshop is led by Dr Mica Douglas, an expert in therapeutic parenting and trauma informed care. She works closely with foster parents and professionals to help them understand the lasting impact of early adversity and how to respond more effectively.
