Understanding Trauma to Create Effective Trauma Informed Schools

Exposure to early trauma can negatively affect a child\u27s learning, behavior, and social emotional well being. Trauma in children can change executive functions in the brain and other neurobiological developmental changes can alter their success rate academically and socially. With the changes in the brain, it can have prolonged effects such as diminishing of brain nerve cells, hormone levels, immune systems, and epigenetic changes. Without proper interventions, these changes can lead to a higher risk of developing health conditions and mental illnesses. Through research presented in the article, is it vital for early interventions to prevent the furthering effects of adverse childhood experiences. Schools play an important role in a child\u27s life, creating and implementing trauma sensitive classrooms and interventions can promote success for the students. The purpose of this paper is to present evidence on the changes that can occur in a child\u27s brain following trauma, and how schools can promote educational, social and emotional wellbeing of students who have experienced trauma