Safety: Creating a physical and emotional environment where children feel safe and trust the adults around them.
Trustworthiness and transparency: Building trust through clear, consistent communication and honesty about what is happening and what children can expect.
Peer support: Promoting healthy relationships and connections among peers, which fosters a sense of belonging and reduces feelings of isolation.
Collaboration and empowerment: Involving children in decisions that affect them and supporting their ability to regain control over their lives.
Cultural sensitivity: Recognizing and respecting the cultural, social, and individual diversity of children, ensuring that support is tailored to their specific needs and experiences.
Five principles of trauma-informed practice and examples for school practice:
- Safety: A teacher can ensure the classroom feels like a safe space by setting clear rules and procedures that children are familiar with. For example, regular routines, predictability, and respecting children’s personal space can help create an environment where children feel protected.
- Trustworthiness and transparency: A teacher can be open and honest with children. For instance, when a change is planned, the teacher explains it in advance, answers questions, and gives children time to adapt. This reduces anxiety and builds trust.
- Peer support: A teacher can encourage both collaboration and individual attention among students. For example, by creating projects where children work in small groups, they learn to listen to one another and build trust, which strengthens their sense of belonging.
- Collaboration and empowerment: A teacher can involve children in the classroom in the decision-making processes. For example, allowing students to help decide on classroom rules or choose a project topic empowers them and reinforces their sense of control and responsibility.
Cultural sensitivity: A teacher can better understand the different cultural backgrounds of their students by educating themselves or discussing them with parents. For instance, incorporating diverse cultural perspectives and traditions into lessons gives children the feeling that their values and backgrounds are respected.