Trauma, Development, and Spirituality 1
Trauma and Resilience in Toddlerhood and Preschool Stages
Mina Petrous
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
COUC502 – Human Growth and Development
Trauma and Resilience in Toddlerhood and Preschool Stages
Like everything else in life, what is sowed is what is reaped. In early childhood, trauma plays a
major role on developmental outcomes, especially during the toddler and preschool years when
the emotional, social, and cognitive facets are being constructed. While spiritual development
frequently offers extra resources for healing and growth, research highlights that resilience and
protective factors can alleviate the detrimental impacts of trauma that may have a long-term
effect on children who are victims of it. In my opinion, supporting children who are exposed to
adversity starts with an understanding of the dynamics between trauma, resilience, and
spirituality.
Trauma and Resilience in Toddlerhood
The toddler years, which ranges between the ages of one to three, are marked by the
development of language, the building of attachments, and an increase in independence and
autonomy. Long-term socioemotional problems that find source in this period of life might have
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been the result of a trauma experienced at this time, such as neglect or exposure to domestic
abuse (Boyce, 2014). At this age, children are also learning to trust. This means that toddlers who
receive uneven care, for instance, may have trouble trusting others and grow anxious. Inevitably,
this will have an impact on relationships in the future. Language deficits resulting from
traumatized situations that impair caregiver attentiveness are another example. Toddlers may
suffer from emotional and cognitive impairments if they don't have responsive interaction.
Toddler resilience is frequently promoted by reliable care and a nurturing environment
represented in the person of the parents, older siblings, and extended family including
grandparents, aunts and uncles. Despite trauma, toddlers can develop a foundation of trust when
their parents offer stability and love. By enhancing parents-child ties, interventions including
attachment-based theories have shown promise in fostering resilience (Raby et al., 2019).
Trauma and Resilience in Preschool
Later in life, at the Preschoolers stage – ages three to five – children start developing their
pre-academic abilities, such as early literacy and numeracy, peer interactions, and selfregulation.
Behavioral issues are one way that trauma during this stage can show up. Preschoolers who
experience ongoing stress, for instance, could act aggressively or retreat in social situations.
Because trauma modifies stress-response mechanisms essential for attention and problem-solving
– fight or flight – poor executive functioning may surface as developmental consequence
(Zaynab et al., 2020).
Structured routines, caring teachers, and supportive and enriching peer contact can all
help children become more resilient. It has been demonstrated that protective variables, such as
participation in early childhood programs and sports teams, reduce developmental risks and give
kids the opportunity to learn prosocial and emotional control (Rungsattatharm et al., 2025).
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Spiritual Development and Countering Trauma
Even in young children, spirituality can help them become more resilient by providing a
framework for finding purpose and hope. As the Lord says through the words of Jeremiah the
prophet: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and
not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) As a matter of fact, spiritual
practices promote a sense of safety and belonging. Prayer, rituals, or stories that emphasize love
and protection, can mitigate the consequences of trauma. For example, the story of Joseph started
with trauma and betrayal, but ended with him being the most powerful man in the world after
Pharaoh (Holy Bible, Genesis 37 to 40). Children who grow up in religious settings could see
difficulties through the prism of faith in God, which will help them cope and lessens their sense
of powerlessness.
Parents can also benefit from spirituality in the sense that can teach their children to learn
to control their emotions and internalize virtues like forgiveness, compassion, and perseverance
by incorporating spiritual activities into their everyday routines. By integrating therapy treatment
with families' cultural and religious traditions, spiritually integrated interventions have been
demonstrated to increase resilience in trauma-exposed populations.
Conclusion
The importance of early intervention through caring relationships, and supporting
surroundings is highlighted by our growing understanding of trauma and resilience in
toddlerhood and preschool. Resilience, which is promoted by protective factors and spiritual
grounding, provides children with a route toward healing and growth, even when trauma can
undermine trust, attachment, and development. Parents and educators can assist young children
in overcoming adversity and building the emotional and cognitive foundations necessary for a
bright future by incorporating psychological, social, and spiritual supports, empowering them
through love and intentionality.
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References
Holy Bible, New King James Version, 1997
Boyce, W. T. (2014). The lifelong effects of early childhood adversity and toxic stress.
Pediatric Dentistry, 36(2), 102-8.
Raby, K. L., Freedman, E., Yarger, H. A., Lind, T., & Dozier, M. (2019). Enhancing the language
development of toddlers in foster care by promoting foster parents' sensitivity: Results from a
randomized controlled trial.
Developmental Science, 22(2).
Rungsattatharm, L., Tasingha, P., Trairatvorakul, P., & Chonchaiya, W. (2025). Longitudinal
associations between executive function and positive parenting during early childhood and
resilience, self-regulation, and behavioral problems in school-age children.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 19, 1-12.
Wong, D., Hall, K., & Hernandez, L. W. (2021). Counseling individuals through the lifespan
(2nd ed.).
Sage Publication.
Zaynab, D., Böge Kerem, Fan, Y., Corinna, H., Harb, M. R., Hahn, E., Joachim, S., & Malek, B.
(2020). The role of emotion regulation as a mediator between early life stress and posttraumatic
stress disorder, depression and anxiety in Syrian refugees.
Translational Psychiatry, 10(1).
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