What is Childhood Trauma?

Trauma occurs when a child experiences an intense event that threatens or causes harm to his or her emotional and physical well-being. Some events are more likely to be traumatic than others and people can have very different responses to the same event. When a child experiences trauma, it can affect their daily lives and their ability to get along with others. Trauma is different than everyday stress. If your child gets nervous before a test at school or going to a new place, you can help them through this type of stress. This is not considered a traumatic event. Trauma is an extreme event that threatens the psychological and physical well-being of the child.
Examples of “potentially traumatic events”