School is often seen as a place for learning, growth, and stability. But for many children growing up with trauma, school can feel like just another battlefield. When the mind is busy surviving, it’s hard to focus on math homework or remember what the teacher just said.
If you’ve ever struggled to concentrate in class, felt like an outsider in the school environment, or noticed your child withdrawing or acting out, it might not be laziness or defiance — it might be ACEs.
What Are ACEs?
ACEs — Adverse Childhood Experiences — are potentially traumatic events that happen before the age of 18. These can include emotional or physical abuse, neglect, witnessing domestic violence, having a parent with mental illness, or growing up in a home affected by addiction.
The more ACEs a child experiences, the higher their risk for challenges later in life — not just in mental and physical health, but also in education.
How Trauma Affects the Brain
When a child experiences chronic stress or trauma, it rewires the developing brain. The part of the brain responsible for survival — the amygdala — becomes overactive, while areas linked to memory, concentration, and emotional regulation become underdeveloped.
In simple terms:
A child in survival mode isn’t able to access the parts of their brain needed for learning.
You might have heard of the “fight, flight, or freeze” response. In a classroom setting, this could look like:
- A child lashing out at peers (fight)
- Skipping school altogether (flight)
- Shutting down and refusing to engage (freeze)
Academic Struggles Linked to ACEs
Children dealing with unresolved trauma may experience:
- Difficulty concentrating: Their brains are constantly scanning for danger, making it hard to focus.
- Chronic absenteeism: Home instability, anxiety, or lack of adult support can make school attendance inconsistent.
- Underperformance or failing grades: Not because they don’t care — but because they’re overwhelmed.
- Behavioral challenges: Trauma can look like “acting out,” but it’s often a cry for help.
- Low motivation and self-worth: When you believe you’re “not smart” or “always in trouble,” it’s hard to try.
When the School System Gets It Wrong
Many schools are not trauma-informed — which means they misread trauma responses as bad behavior, disrespect, or laziness.
Some common missteps include:
- Labeling children instead of supporting them
- Punitive discipline over compassionate understanding
- Zero-tolerance policies that push out the very kids who need connection most
Instead of asking “What’s wrong with this child?” we need to ask “What happened to this child?”
🎥 In the short video below, we explore how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) — like abuse, neglect, and household stress — can impact a child’s ability to focus, learn, and succeed in school.
We’ll break down how trauma shows up in the classroom and why academic struggles are often signs of deeper emotional pain. Most importantly, we shift the question from “What’s wrong with this child?” to “What happened to this child?”
This video is a call to educators, caregivers, and communities to respond with compassion, not punishment.
What Helps? Trauma-Informed Support
There is hope — and it starts with understanding.
Here’s what makes a difference for kids impacted by ACEs:
- Safe, caring adults: Teachers, counselors, and mentors who offer trust, consistency, and kindness.
- Structure and predictability: A calm environment helps regulate a dysregulated nervous system.
- Social-emotional learning (SEL): Teaching kids how to name and manage emotions is just as important as teaching them to read.
- Mental health resources: Access to school counselors, therapists, or support groups can be life-changing.
- Understanding > Punishment: Compassionate discipline, not harsh consequences, helps children grow.
You’re Not Alone — and Neither Are They
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or someone healing from your own educational wounds — know this: change is possible.
Advocating for trauma-informed schools, educating yourself on ACEs, and showing up with empathy can change a child’s life trajectory.
And if you’re on a healing journey yourself, you don’t have to walk it alone. I invite you to join our Facebook group:
🌱Healing Together – A Safe Space for Survivors of Childhood Trauma (ACEs)
It’s a private, supportive space for anyone unpacking childhood trauma, especially those impacted by ACEs.
🌱 Together, we learn, grow, and heal. 🌱
Final Thoughts
For many children, the real test isn’t on paper — it’s surviving what’s happening outside the classroom. When schools become places of safety and understanding, we don’t just help students succeed academically. We help them feel seen.