Chapter 4: Trauma and Brain Development

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

This was previously sent out on Substack in 2021 (Published in July 2020). Today, I will provide the links to the rest of the book at the bottom of the preface so that you can read it in its entirety. Some of the chapters are available to read for free. If you would like to have full access to the entire book, you can upgrade to a paid subscription of $7/month. This book is currently being sold in print worldwide at the following link:

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 …