• In this discussion board, you are going to focus on the impact of trauma in middle childhood. As you know from your reading, as well as from your own personal experiences, that middle childhood is a time of slow but consistent growth, where all aspects of a child's development shift as they transition from early childhood and prepare to move into adolescence. Experiencing traumatic events or living in traumatic environments can greatly impact a child's development during this time. Some examples of childhood trauma are psychological, physical or sexual abuse, community or school violence, witnessing or experiencing domestic violence, national disasters or terrorism, sudden or violent loss of a loved one, refugee or war experiences, military family or related stressors, physical or sexual assault, neglect, and serious accidents, or life-threatening illness. It is critical that human service professionals know how to identify signs of childhood trauma, the impact that it can have, and the actions that can be taken to support children, their families, and their communities. To prepare for the discussion board, watch, we can prevent adverse childhood experiences or ACEs, and then take the ACEs test. Be sure to click on "more about my score" when you've completed the test. When you're ready, respond to the following questions:
• Discuss your reaction to taking the ACEs test. (You do not need to share your score). Just discuss your thoughts while taking it and reviewing your score.
• What are some examples of traumatic events that children might experience?
• Why is it important to recognize trauma in middle childhood?
• If you were working with a child who is experiencing trauma, what type of interventions would you suggest? Not only for the child and their family, but for their community as well.