Chapter 4: Trauma and Brain Development

from the book "RootEd: How Trauma Impacts Learning and Society" by S.R. Zelenz

Introduction

There are two distinct ages when the brain is vulnerable to trauma due to high neurological development. Researcher, Jay Geidd, M.d., has found that up until the age of 5 to 6 years old, children develop 95% of the structure of their brain (2014). A secondary phase of development occurs in the prefrontal cortex around 11 to 12 years, just before puberty (Geid, 2014). These are the two phases when children find themselves facing the reactions adults have to their newly inspired independence. 

Toddlers suddenly want to explore independently of their parents, and are frequently told no, put in the corner (separation from love or nurture), spanked, or put in some form of limiting situation. Outside of any opinion relating to the methods used by the parent or caregiver, the experience the child has is restriction of their independence followed by some form of trauma to reinforce this. This becomes a fixed pain memory.