Working in Early Childhood Settings with Children who have Experienced Refugee or War-Related Trauma

Abstract

Between 1992 and 1997, Australia accepted approximately 11500 immigrant children under the humanitarian refugee program. Many of these children attend early childhood settings while their parents attend English classes and then go on to seek employment. Children who have experienced trauma develop behaviours that help them cope with the stress and fear of the trauma. In Australian early childhood settings, such coping behaviours are often perceived as maladaptive and undesirable. Until children feel safe in their new environments, they are unable to change their behaviour. The project reported in this paper examined caregivers’ and teachers’ responses, in Australian early childhood settings, to a range of coping behaviours commonly demonstrated by children who have been traumatised. It was concluded that caregivers and teachers are skilled in drawing from a range of options and in developing a repertoire of appropriate strategies with which they can support each child's healing and provide a safe environment for all children.