Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast
#12: Trauma in Early Childhood
with Holly Elissa Bruno
Did your baby or child experience any trauma in early childhood? If you were quick to answer ‘no’, consider whether the past couple of years, living through a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, has felt like a traumatic experience to you. In what ways might this have also affected your little one?
On the other hand, if you’re involved in the world of foster care, or you have experience with adoption, the idea of trauma may be one you’re very familiar with. But do you know what truly constitutes trauma, and how it changes babies’ brains?
In this episode, I talk to Holly Elissa Bruno, a bestselling award-winning author and international speaker on the topic of trauma. We discuss the causes of trauma in early childhood, and some signs you can look for in children that have experienced it. She also tells the story of her own children, adopted from Korea with very different temperaments.
If you experienced trauma in your own childhood, I’d highly recommend her book, Happiness is Running Through the Streets to Find You: Translating Trauma’s Harsh Legacy Into Healing. It’s very powerful.
Here’s a glance at this episode…
- [03:57] The three ground rules of a troubled family
- [05:27] One thing parents should remember about children who have experienced trauma
- [07:37] We have to watch out for the “perfect” children
- [10:33] How trauma changes a child’s brain
- [15:38] Are children innately hopeful?
- [18:08] The story of Holly Elissa’s adopted children and their temperaments at birth
- [27:27] Children’s brains develop as they need to
Take a moment now to follow the podcast on Apple, Google, or Spotify. It’s the best way to be notified when a new episode drops each week. These bite-sized episodes are perfect for listening during daycare drop-off, an evening walk, or a quick workout.
One last thing. I spend time each morning in meditation and would love to pray for you, your child or whatever’s on your heart. Simply email me and let me know how to pray. It can be as simple just your name or you can give a short explanation. Either way you can trust that I will do it. It’s a simple, quiet way for us to connect and for me to support you on your parenting journey. 🧡
RELATED BLOG POSTS TO CHECK OUT: