This webinar with Dr Madeleine Dobson (Curtin University, Australia) explores the nature and significance of trauma-informed early childhood education, and how it can support the needs, rights, and interests of all children. Madeleine draws on her knowledge and expertise in the areas of social justice, children’s rights, resilience and wellbeing, and Early Childhood Education & Care to provide practical strategies and ideas teachers can use in their practice
You can find the research review that Madeleine has written for The Education Hub on social justice in early childhood education here.
To help you navigate the webinar easily, there is a list of the key topics covered in the session below, including the time each was discussed. The key ideas discussed in this webinar are also shared in a short insight article.
Topics discussed in this webinar
Times shown in minutes and seconds from the start of the video:
| 2.04 | What is a trauma-informed approach to early childhood education? |
| 6.07 | What is the connection of a trauma-informed approach to children’s rights and social justice? |
| 13.25 | What does trauma look like in young children? |
| 23.05 | How can a trauma-informed approach support children’s wellbeing? |
| 27.47 | What do teachers need to succeed in implementing trauma-informed ? |
| 33.44 | Family privacy about trauma |
| 39.28 | What to do when families and children have different needs and perspectives on trauma |
| 43.40 | First steps for teachers who suspect a child has experienced trauma |
| 48.26 | Tackling the social justice issues that contribute to trauma |
| 52.58 | Concluding comments |
Questions for exploring the key ideas from this webinar
In what ways do you create safe and welcoming spaces for all children and families, including those who may be experiencing or have experienced trauma? How safe and welcomed do children and families feel?
How confident are you in your knowledge of the potential signs or signifiers of trauma? How could you learn more?
What policies and procedures does your early childhood setting or school have in place for child protection and trauma-informed practice?
What resources and organisations are available in your community to support children and families and how might you raise families’ awareness of these resources?
What practices might you engage in to ensure self-care and care for colleagues, and to develop a culture of care, empathy, and compassion in your place?
Further reading
Bartlett, J. D. & Smith, S. (2019). The role of early care and education in addressing early childhood trauma. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12380
Dobson, M. (2022). Social justice in early childhood. https://theeducationhub.org.nz/social-justice-in-early-childhood-education/
Hauser, M. D. (2020). How early life adversity transforms the learning brain. https://doi.org/10.1111/mbe.12277
Martin, K., & Berger, E. (2022). Childhood trauma and its impact. https://theeducationhub.org.nz/childhood-trauma-and-its-impact-2
