“Every child is potentially the light of the world.” -‘Abdu’l Bahá

Hello, my name is Aimee Porter, and I am a child trauma specialist with a BA in Human Development & a Masters in ECE/Trauma Studies, trained to help meet the social, emotional and spiritual needs of young children who experience trauma.

Created with teachers and parents in mind, this site is filled with resources (and a little inspiration) to promote healing and understanding and to provide support for the youngest members of our human family.

In order to foster healing in young children, I think it is important to define childhood trauma and how we understand the layers children may be dealing with.

Childhood trauma may be defined as a scary, deeply distressing or violent event in a child’s life which cannot be processed in that moment.

Children most commonly experience trauma as a result of separation and loss, like divorce, or the death of a close family member. Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, along with violence in the home, school and community are increasingly common in children’s lives.

Immigration-related trauma, the incarceration of parents, and extended periods of parental deployment may also greatly impact a child’s well-being and development. The trauma of racism, which is the result of prejudice, othering and even bullying is ever-present.

In order to help our children heal and cope with all of these challenges, we must offer them the relationships, in addition to the necessary support and tools (e.g., therapy) which are the building blocks of resilience.