For many children, school is not just a place of learning – it’s a silent battlefield, a breeding ground for trauma.
While teachers and parents may see a “lazy” or “unmotivated” student, what they don’t see is the weight of past trauma holding them back.
The anxiety, fear or emotional scars from unstable homes, loss or abuse make focusing in class feel impossible. But how exactly does childhood trauma affect a student’s ability to learn? And more importantly, how can we recognize and support these children before they slip through the cracks?
Impact of early childhood trauma
In an interview with Africa Jamz FM News, Pietermaritzburg-based Educational Psychologist Sandile Radebe, who runs a private practice, discussed the impact of childhood trauma on a student’s learning ability and academic performance.
“Early childhood experiences (particularly trauma) lay a foundation for the type of coping mechanisms an individual uses when distressed. If an individual comes from a background where they would constantly be shouted at, it may cause them to either use a fight or flight response when experiencing the same in a schooling environment. An example of this would be a learner who shuts down mentally after the teacher has shouted at them, causing them to lose focus and concentration,” said Sandile.
Cognitive and emotional impact
Sandile also highlighted the common cognitive and emotional challenges that children affected by trauma face in school.
“Depending on the intensity of the trauma, the individual may present problems related to paying attention, concentrating and getting triggered easily when shouted at by the teacher and sometimes the child may be constantly agitated while some may even use hyperactivity as a mechanism to shield that they are emotionally unwell,” further elaborated Sandile.
Signs to look for
For every action, there’s a sign- and childhood trauma is no exception. Sandile highlights key warning signs that parents should watch for, indicating that a child may be silently struggling. Here’s what to look out for:
“At home, children may present insomniac related symptoms and others may constantly want to spend more time in bed, constantly feeling fatigued (depressive symptoms), while others may present memory related symptoms and may show signs of anxiety when exposed to something that triggers them,” stated Sandile.
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Intervention and support
Sandile outlined strategies that schools and caregivers can implement to help children overcome learning barriers caused by trauma.
“Parents and teachers should have ongoing communication about the preceding problem and the child’s progress, and work together with a mental health practitioner,” he said.
Long-term effects and recovery
Lastly, Sandile explains the long-term effects of unresolved trauma on a person’s academic and professional future, and the steps that can be taken to support their healing.
“Untreated trauma is similar to a hemophilic wound. The trauma may be repressed but it does not mean it is not there, similar to a wound that has been bandaged but there’s no clotting factor. The trauma will present itself in inappropriate behaviors such as bullying both at home and at school.
“If left untreated to a point where it reaches adulthood, it may escalate to a person being a victim of gender-based-violence or perpetrator should the trauma be linked to violence. The only intervention that may help is to seek psychological interventions,” Sandile said.