After a frightening event, a child’s mind may be filled with “what if” scenarios for the future. For example, after an incident of domestic violence, a child may worry that his or her life will be turned upside down. To help ease their anxiety, provide necessary information, but don’t overwhelm them with “what ifs” and encourage them to share their current thoughts and feelings.

“From a trauma perspective, kids can become more stressed about things they don’t know or things they think might happen,” Keeshin says. “As they begin to fill in the gaps, their thoughts about what happened may become worse. Identify these thoughts when they arise so that the child is provided with the right level of information at his or her developmental level.”