Age: 0-5
Applicable To: Groups or Individuals
CAPPD Concepts: Predictable
What It Is:Stability means a child’s environment is predictable and consistent. A key factor in providing stability is establishing a routine, such as doing things at the same time and in the same way as much as possible every day. Children benefit from knowing the routine. Use visual charts with pictures whenever possible to help children see the schedule and what comes next., sometimes verbal processing is too much. If the routine has to change, tell the children about the change as soon as you can. Explain how it will change and why, if possible. Try to engage them in making the change.
Why It Helps:Planning the day and having a daily routine makes life much more predictable and manageable for children who have experienced trauma. Traumatizing experiences, especially chronic trauma, are inherently unpredictable. To regain a sense of traust and control, children need to learn that the world and their lives can be predictable. Establishing routine also reassures children that an adult is in charge and will help keep them safe. Stability/safety and repeated experiences are essential for making the neural brain connections children need to have access to the neocortex which is used for complex learning, rational decision making and self-regulation.
