Brain Development of Children who Experience Trauma 

How Trauma affects Children's Brain Development:

• reduced thickness in an area of the brain responsible for the emotional processing of social information.

• change the way the prefrontal cortex (aka 'the thinking centre') functions.

• executive functioning difficulties can develop as a result of early adversity.

• children who have experienced neglect and physical abuse can experience problems in auditory attention and cognitive flexibility

• compared to non-neglected peers, emotionally neglected children may have less efficient brain activity during tasks that require inhibitory control, suggesting that neglect is associated with poor ability to self-regulate and inhibit responses 

• learning problems, including lower grades and more suspensions and expulsions

Six Principles for Supporting Children in Care Who Have Been Traumatized:

• Provide safe environments and rich experiences that stimulate and enrich brain growth.

• Support children and caregivers to understand the link between traumatic events and cognitive difficulties.

• Develop and support positive relationships and connections in children's lives.

• Maintain targeted interventions throughout childhood and adolescence.

• Offer all children in care targeted and trauma-specific interventions.

• Ensure that specific cognitive difficulties are addressed directly.