Halloween can be FULL of triggers for kiddos who've been impacted by trauma. 

• Lots of transitions
• Sugar
• Stimuli overload
• Strangers
• Scary costumes and decorations

For our students who have been impacted by trauma, these triggers can send them right to survival. 

Once in survival, they tend to go to FIGHT, FLIGHT, or FREEZE. And we all know, that is not a place we want to send our students. We want them to feel SAFE! 

When they are in survival, there is no frontal cortex thinking going on. They are triggered. And any logical reasoning has gone out the window! 

For neurotypical students, they usually can determine the difference between and reality. Students who've been impacted by trauma, often are not able to do so.

What does that mean when it comes to Halloween?

It means that when the child sees a scary movie, sees a scary or gory costume, or hears scary sounds such as shrieks and scary music, they are not able to see it as reality. They sense fear and are triggered...sending them right into FIGHT, FLIGHT, or FREEZE.

While they may not show it on the outside, adrenaline has kicked in and they are now operating out of survival.

They no longer feel safe. 

So...if your school celebrates Halloween, there are some things you can do to still make it fun, but ensure that ALL of your students continue to feel safe.

• Only allow fun costumes...no scary costumes at all.
• Have students keep masks at home. This helps students know who each child is, rather than seeing the mask.
• Keep decorations and activities centered on pumpkins and such instead of any spooky stuff such as cobwebs, spiders, and monsters.
• Keep some regular routines throughout the day. 
• Limit the amount of sugar.
• Stations work well for activities with smaller groups. Be strategic about who you pair your students who've been impacted by trauma with. 
• Keep your student who've been impacted by trauma close to you. You are often the one who can calm and help regulate.
• Communicate with parents ahead of time about how the day will look and be clear about guidelines. 
• At the end of the day, paint a verbal picture of how the next day will look. "Tomorrow we will start the day by..."

It can still be a fun day, and one where your students still feel SAFE and CARED FOR. It takes planning. It takes intention. It takes a mind shift. But it is possible...and worth it!

Classroom after classroom has students who've been impacted by trauma. As trauma informed teachers, we are all doing our best to find ways to create a space for our students to feel safe, to know they are loved, and where they can believe they are capable.

Finding a book that is an enjoyable read, yet packed with great ideas for trauma informed teachers is a WIN! That’s what we found in the book Kids These Days by Dr. Jody Carrington. 

Words from the author:

The kids are the least of our worries.
​
Seriously. If that sounds blasphemous in a book for concerned parents and educators (and anyone, really, who worries about "kids these days"), then I am so glad you're here. If you own a kid, work with a kid, or love a kid, you will find something inspiring in these pages. Dare I say game-changing.

These words were born from the hundreds of stories of kids, their families, and their support systems I was lucky to meet as I worked across Canada and the USA. Regardless of who I met or where I met them, the message was always the same: our kids are okay ONLY if those of us holding them are okay.

During the developmental years, schools-and educators-are the most significant connection point to most every child on this continent. But are the educators okay? I believe that most of the great educators want to make a difference. Many tell me, however, that they are finding it more and more difficult "these days" to love what they do. I think it's time we did a better job of looking after them. First. Plain and simple.

This book is for the educators: our teachers, bus drivers, administrators,  educational assistants, librarians, administrative assistants, and custodians. And anyone who leads, loves, and supports them.

We are SUPER EXCITED to announce that we will be going through the book together in our online book club in IMPACT. And even more exciting…Dr. Jody Carrington, the author, will be answering our questions in a video just for our group. How great is that? 

Grab your copy here with our special aff link and join us in IMPACT today! www.tohavehope.com/impact

Get your questions ready for Dr. Carrington...it's going to be a GREAT discussion!