Understanding ACES
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) are traumatic events that affect children, prior to the age of 18. These experiences can include physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, substance abuse, exposure to violence or crime, death or incarceration of a family member, homelessness, conflict and discrimination. The impact of ACES on children is massive and this adversity is carried into their adult life, shaping the way they develop, their health and their relationships.
The possible long term effects of ACES on children include chronic health problems and disease, caused by the toxic stress of these traumatic experiences, mental illness, substance abuse, emotional problems, functional limitations and lower educational achievements. Inevitably, this can all lead to lower life satisfaction and tragically, in some cases, premature mortality. This is why it’s so crucial to strike early and understand the root cause of potential ACES – helping children to avoid traumatic experiences altogether, whenever possible.
What can you do to prevent them?
You know that age-old saying: prevention is better than cure. The same logic can be applied to ACES. There are numerous ways of preventing ACES before they happen, and it’s important to remember that anybody can safeguard children. Parent, caregiver, teacher, healthcare professional, family friend, or member of the wider community. Everyone has the power to help children avoid these highly traumatic and often life-altering experiences.
First, we’ve highlighted five guidance points specifically to help parents and caregivers prevent ACES.
Watch.
Keep an eye on your child for any signs that they may be in trouble or distress. This could be something very apparent, such as misbehaving or underperforming at school, acts of violence, self-harm, criminal offences or other antisocial behaviours.
But these signs can also be less obvious - they may start displaying minor changes in their habits, behaviours or personality, which close family members and caregivers are more likely to notice.
Look.
Look for opportunities to praise and reward your child wherever possible, no matter how big or small their achievement may seem. It could be a simple act of kindness towards another person, a piece of school work they are proud of, or even learning something new, such as how to cook a favourite meal.
Positive reinforcement and plenty of encouragement is a wonderful way to create a sense of self-worth and confidence in young people.
Listen.
If your child is worried about something, or if they’ve experienced something unpleasant, they might well approach you first. It may be difficult for them to express, explain or put into words, so try to stay calm and listen without judgement or rash reactions.
We understand it can be emotional for you too, but it’s important to let the child talk. Whether they need help with their mental health, or a resolution to a particular situation, you can discuss together what steps to take next.
Quality Time.
Spend as much time with your child as you can. We know that this may become trickier the older they get, what with school hours, clubs, sports teams and a blossoming social life - however, try scheduling time with them. Whether it’s starting a hobby together, going on walks or even regular meal times together. This way, you’ll build healthy bonds which strengthen trust, communication and safety.
Ask for Help.
Remember – it’s absolutely okay to ask for help if you need it too! In fact, this is one of the best things you can do if you have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, rather than struggling with these worries on your own.
Confiding in trusted friends, family or professionals can lead to helpful advice and provide valuable assistance for your child, as well as lifting the weight from your shoulders.
Fittingly, this point leads into five ways that adults other than parents and caregivers can help prevent ACES. We want to reiterate that parents are not alone when it comes to preventing traumatic events – everybody can take a certain amount of responsibility to promote positive childhood experiences. How? By supporting children and families where they live and work.
Advocate.
You can speak up and advocate for stronger economic support systems to help children and their families live more comfortably and securely. Whether it’s assistance with childcare costs, access to healthcare, affordable housing or workplace adjustments - we can all show our support for implementing these policies.
Reduce Stigma.
Sadly, there is still a stigma around asking for help with mental health issues and substance abuse. And in turn, this means that children so often don’t get the help they need. So, how can we break this stigma down?
Let’s talk about it! Wherever and whenever possible. The more open we are about mental health issues, the less ‘taboo’ it becomes and the easier it becomes for children to feel safe seeking help.
Volunteer.
Calling all friends and family members! Can you help those close to you by volunteering as a trusted adult to mentor, babysit or even lend a listening ear? The more trustworthy, caring adults these children and their families have around for support, the less likely it is that ACES will occur.
Community.
Promote a sense of belonging for young people in your local area and endorse positive experiences where possible. Can you think of any ways to create a more inclusive and child-friendly environment in your neighbourhood?
Whether it’s providing safe spaces, clubs, events or networks, this sense of community can make all the difference in supporting young people and their families.
Educate.
Last but by no means least, educating yourself and others about ACES is incredibly important for the prevention of traumatic events.
At Adenydd, our mission is to support people who care for, or work with, children affected by developmental trauma and we are here to provide you with all the advice, information and help you need. You can find further information on ACES here.
