How Children Respond to Stress and Trauma
This resource helps families and Head Start staff understand the effects of stress and trauma, so children can get the support and care they need to cope.
Stress can sometimes help us grow, but too much can harm our bodies and minds. For children, too much stress — such as stress caused by traumatic events — can make it hard for them to control what they do and how they feel. Studies like Adverse Childhood Experiences found that this kind of stress can lead to many health problems when they grow up.
Explore these resources to learn more about how trauma affects young children and strategies to reduce its harmful effects.
This resource helps families and Head Start staff understand the effects of stress and trauma, so children can get the support and care they need to cope.