How to Prepare Children with Trauma for Graduation Season
Graduation is a radical transition in life and that can be accompanied by a lot of emotions in both students and their families. We all look forward to graduation season where we feel great about our success. It can be a frightening period for those children who have trauma.
Our Traditional Views on Graduation
Graduation is an occasion of celebration to the majority of us. We all love to hear about success and how family and friends can get together to celebrate graduation ceremonies and parties.
We understand that the majority of graduates are mostly relieved and pleased that this stage of their lives has finished. Regardless of the level at which the student is graduating, a lot of work and hard efforts must have been put to achieve this momentous event
Scenes of celebrations play out on the graduation stage and at parties around the neighborhood.
The Mixed Emotions for Children with Trauma
But for children with trauma, this time can come with some very mixed emotions. That’s because kids with trauma have overcome incredible obstacles and difficulties to make it to this point. For some children with trauma, they may have felt they would never reach the elusive goal of graduating
. Graduation can be fulfilling to children who have had trauma, as well as, ending an incredibly challenging period of their life.
Graduation may also be associated with fear, loss, discouragement and even depression. Graduation is not just a culmination of an end but the starting-point of a new beginning.
Although everyone can have these feelings when adapting to a major life change, trauma in the past can aggravate these feelings.There is a challenge to figure out where to go in the future of the traumatized children. Although these feelings may be present in any person who is going through some major change in their life, past trauma may worsen these feelings. The process can be emotionally tough on a young person to find another mission or their role in life following such a disruption as graduation, and the process can take time. Best Ways to Prepare children with trauma in anticipation of the next chapter of their life How do we as parents and caregivers prepare our child with trauma for this next life-altering event? It is distinguishing to take note of this phase of limbo where emotions may not be in their place of association with something good that graduation and achievement usually is.These
Graduation is not only a sign of finishing something but also of beginning of something. It creates change and uncertainty and that can be frightening
pent and even depression. .However, the graduation does not only mean the end of something positive, but the beginning of a new thing. It causes changes and uncertainty, which is frighteningIt is good to realize this period between and negative feelings may not be congruent with something positive that graduation and achievement should be normal. These mixed emotions can spiral and leave your child vulnerable. Knowing this can happen is the first step to helping your child with trauma make it through this life change.
At that initial level, every kid and his/her emotions will be highly individual and various. Before graduation, it is a good idea to make time with your child and discuss what he/she is feeling. Let them know that everybody is slightly frightened, despite the fact that it is a celebration. Make sure that communication between you and your child is always kept open and invite your child to communicate with you when he/she is about to start spiraling.
However, most importantly, keep in mind that such ambivalent emotions are dysregulating and that you should act with extensive patience than at any other time. Allow your child to talk about their feelings and emotions and help him/her go through this tough time as a family.
