As you come back from school after the holiday break, there are simple questions you can ask yourself to reset your trauma-informed mindset.
- Do you believe there is no such thing as a bad child?
- Are you curious about unmet needs when you see challenging child behavior?
- Are you viewing children through a lens of what is happening in their life rather than what is wrong with them?
- Are you providing children with an environment of love and activity?
Badness is not a normal condition – it is the result of misdirected energy and unmet needs. Children flourish in an environment where they feel connected and safe. Reframe how you view challenging behavior. Perhaps a child is communicating through behavior that they are struggling with a challenge at home or with friends. Some children might need more opportunities to feel like they belong or that they are good at something. Maybe they need more structure and predictability after being away from the school routine for a week or two.
Asking yourself these four simple questions will help you get back to seeing children through a trauma-informed lens.
