Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Trauma

This factsheet discusses the nature of trauma, abuse, and neglect, as well as the effects of trauma on children and youth. Additionally, it suggests ways to help a child who has experienced trauma. Parents or foster parents who do not understand the effects of trauma may misinterpret their child’s behavior, and attempts to address troubling behavior caused by trauma may be ineffective or even harmful. By understanding trauma, parents and foster parents can help support a child’s healing, the parent-child relationship, and their family as a whole.