What kind of reactions do children experience after trauma?

• Unfortunately, we know much less about the reactions of children and adolescents to traumatic experiences, and this is particularly true in the case of those below the age of 5 years.
  
  
• Although some of the normal reactions to trauma of young persons are similar to those of adults, it is important to remember that children and adolescents are individuals who are still developing physically and emotionally. Therefore, they should not be treated as "little adults". In particular, children often grieve quite differently from adults.
  
  
• How young persons react to trauma, and display their emotions, depends on a number of factors, including their age.
  
  
• The good news is that children tend to be remarkably resilient. They are most likely to cope with a traumatic event if they have:
• experienced secure and loving relationships.
• previously have met all their developmental milestones.
  
  
• In the absence of timely and professional help, some trauma can lead to prolonged and severe reactions, especially if children have been exposed intensely, and over a prolonged period, to a particularly distressing event.