9 Ways to Help a Child Who's Had Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
After a child has had ACEs, the best thing you can do is try to
prevent future harm while helping the child heal from the
experiences they've already had. Sometimes it can be hard to know
where to start, or what to do. Remember, it's never too late to
make changes, big or small. Here are some tips.
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Find a counselor. A counselor can help the child
process their experiences and learn skills to cope. Try to
find a counselor who has experience helping kids who've had
ACEs or trauma.
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Make days calm and predictable. Setting up routines
can reduce stress by helping a child know what to expect
each day.
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Give affection. Show that you care with both your
actions and your words.
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Manage your reactions to stress. If you tend to get
angry, yell, or be short-tempered, work on learning skills
for how to respond to stress in a healthier way.
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Encourage the child's ongoing relationship with a trusted
adult.
This could be someone like a teacher, a coach, a family
friend, or a grandparent.
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Help the child feel in charge of their body. For
example, if younger children don't want to hug or be hugged,
respect their decision. And teach adolescents and teens
about sexual consent. Asking for consent means asking
someone for permission to touch them or be sexual with them
in any way.
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Ask for help when you need it. Make a list of people
you could call when you need help. And if you need help with
housing or food, ask a doctor, counselor, or social worker
about resources.
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Learn about parenting classes in your area. Being a
parent is really hard. Classes can help you learn new tools
for how to parent as your child changes and grows.
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Get help working through your own ACEs, if needed.
When adults don't heal from their own ACEs, they're more
likely to create homes where children are exposed to ACEs.
But you can break the cycle. See a counselor, get treatment
for depression and other mental health issues, and get help
if you have problems with substance use.
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Current as of: June 24, 2023
Content Version: 14.0
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