Trauma-Proofing Your Kids: A Parents' Guide for Instilling Confidence, Joy and Resilience Paperback – Illustrated, March 4, 2008

will children experience trauma, very likely in todays world. better have this book on hand, read it now before you need it, you can safely help a child navigate real trauma with this step by step information, not trite, not easy, but offered by the master of trauma work. As adults we need to understand its not the trauma that causes the damage to ongoing developments. its the affects getting stuck inside which can stop normal healthy development. know how to help the child release, how to be with and for the hurting child, this is a very important work for parents, teachers, grandparents, caregivers of all kinds and it teaches how to be as an adult assisting the child in trauma, we need to learn, its not commonly known in our culture

Great for so many challenges with our kids. Our TBRI adoption/ trauma counsellor recommended this for us for our youngest in regards to preparing her for anxious situations. I felt like it had good tools for processing with our kids but its not just an adoption book. It covers trauma associated with:Medical TraumaDivorceGriefAccidentsFeeling unsafe (could be an abusive situation/ foster kids from bio parent trauma)Very applicable for parents facing situations with their kids where they are "stuck" from a trauma. And building resiliency with our kids to empower them as they face hard situations. It gives good tools to use as you team up and process with your kids in a therapeutic and playful situation. It is going to help us in preparing for school this year and talking about felt safety. Kids anxiety is real and needs to be validated and processed even if as parents we think its surface or silly.

This is a very valuable book in my practice. I am pleased that Peter Levine has written a manual that is so clear and accurate describing how the impact of trauma can be successfully treated in the aftermath of natural disasters worldwide. PTSD can be treated successfully when the body is allowed to discharge the experience of shock naturally. People do not need to shut down, go into deep depression, numb out, lash out or act out if the body's ability to balance itself is evoked. Focusing on the story of what happened keeps one in the traumatic memories. The trauma is held in the body memory. We are designed as mammals to naturally freeze, tremble, breathe deeply, reorient and resume our day. People get stuck in the story, going over and over what happened and what they have lost or seen. We shut down as our thoughts overwhelm us. We brood silently and withdraw. Even then, focusing on body sensations starts to unwind the body memory of the shock. The sensations change as the body does what it is designed to do. It works. I know from personal experience. I was run over by an eighteen wheeler twenty years ago. Peter Levine's team helped and trained me.

I I bought this book to read for myself and to share i with others. Peter Levine is a top notch researcher, practitioner, writer. I also heard his presentations as well.. I am in the midst of reading it now and will up date when I finish. There is so much trauma in the world and I you have not noticed often it is in your own back yard as wll. I want to do everything I can to support my grandchildren as they grow and face the many challenges in the world in front of them. Will review more later.

Every parent, every teacher, every grandparent, everyone who deals with children should have a copy of this book. They should read it and apply what they learn from it. I am a trauma therapist and I have given a copy of it to everyone in my own family who has kids as well as recommending it to clients with children. It is the consummate book to help create a happier and healthier generation. Trauma will occur no matter what and if a child is taught ways to keep their nervous system regulated and running smoothly they will be less likely to develop long term trauma related illnesses. If you use this book with your kids and you become a grandparent, you can be sure that your kids raise their own resilient children. Here is a way to make the world a better place, starting at home and letting it spread.

Peter Levine has written the first book for parents on helping their child deal with shocking, traumatizing and otherwise overwhelming events. This is a book parents should read as soon as possible - so they will be prepared for when they need the information contained within its extraordinarily wise pages. You never know when your child will face a potentially traumatizing situation - you only know that life is full of them: emergency medical procedures, amusement park experiences, assault, dental procedures, death of a family member, divorce, acts of terrorism and all the rest. Trauma-Proofing Your Kids shows parents how to take care of THEMSELVES so that they can actually help their kids handle overwhelming situations without experiencing traumatic after-effects. The book is detailed and practical - a truly helpful guide for parents.Sarah Chana RadcliffeAuthor, Raise Your Kids without Raising Your Voice

An eye opener for parenting to reduce effects of trauma

Solid stand-alone intro to Somatic Experiencing ideas, and a great resource for anyone who deals with children and babies. Lots of specific ideas for common scenarios: medical procedures and emergencies, divorce, death, natural disasters, "everyday" traumas as well as more obvious and shocking traumas. Very readable. Not the most "scientific" or carefully worded book, some random bold pronouncements that made me scratch my head, but the lax approach also makes it easy to read and understand for the average busy parent. Overall it is pretty well cited and supported, and suggests good books for further reading on specific topics. Chock full of easily applied tips and tricks. Highly recommended!