Teachers can be great allies in keeping your child with PTSD safe and successful in school, but you'll need to make sure they have all the knowledge they need to help. Use these suggestions to create a information packet to bring educators up to speed.
Five Things Teachers Need to Know
1. Please be available if my child wants to talk about traumatic events, but don't force her if she doesn't bring it up.
2. If there will be any sort of change in my child's classroom or routine, please notify me as far in advance as possible so that we can all work together in preparing him for it.
3. My child may express repressed feelings through artwork. If you see anything that concerns you, please share it with me.
4. Unexpected things may trigger memories of trauma for my child. If you see her becoming agitated or out-of-control, intervene and remove her from the situation.
5. Please keep the lines of communication open between our home and the school. My child needs all the adults in his life working together.
Printouts to Share with Teachers
Principles of Working with Traumatized Children
Source: Scholastic
PTSD in Children and Adolescents
Source: National Center for PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Source: Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Source: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Stress, Trauma and Post-traumatic Stress Disorders in Children
Source: Child Trauma Academy
