Creating Safe Environments for Traumatized Children in Schools

Abstract

Exposure to traumatic events in childhood and adolescence can have lasting negative social, emotional, and educational effects. For schools, or any environment that serves children, to be truly trauma-informed, they must address three crucial areas: safety, connection, and emotional and behavioral regulation. Chapter 4 explores these three areas as the foundational pillars of a trauma-informed structure. Each area is explored, along with examples of how they can be created in a school environment. Concrete examples of safe behavior are provided, as are examples of classroom triggers and guidance for helping children regulate emotions in the classroom. Finally, key information on identifying early risk factors for bullying behavior is included.