With the significant amount of time that children spend in daycare, traumatic events can occur while a child is supposed to be safe and protected at their daycare center. No matter how old a child is, a daycare injury can be a scary and traumatic experience. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than two-thirds of children reportedly experience at least one traumatic event by the time they are 16 years old. These traumatic events at daycare centers can range in severity from being left behind in a hot daycare van to instances of verbal abuse and sexual abuse.
A child’s path to recovery involves overcoming the physical injuries they suffered while at the daycare center. Additionally, enduring a daycare injury can have lasting emotional and psychological effects on the child. Even after the child has recuperated from any physical wounds sustained while in daycare, the psychological repercussions may require a much lengthier healing process.
As for a daycare injury’s psychological impact, children often struggle with scarring and other changes to their appearance and any limitations to their physical activity such as playing on a playground or participating in sports after an injury, according to a 2021 medical study published in the National Library of Medicine. These battles can range from not being able to play with other children to interruptions with friendships. The aftermath of a child’s injury can easily lead to new physical and mental health symptoms and issues if not treated.
In this article, our experienced Texas daycare injury attorneys discuss the issues surrounding psychological trauma after a daycare injury, including how to hold a negligent daycare center accountable for a child’s psychological injuries. The good news: Our daycare injury attorneys at The Button Law Firm have held negligent daycare centers accountable and helped numerous children and their families move forward following traumatic incidents.
What Are the Symptoms of Psychological Trauma After a Daycare Injury?
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, signs of traumatic stress may manifest differently in every child, and age and developmental stages often play a role in that. For example, preschool-age children may show signs of psychological trauma by:
- Being fearful of separation from a parent or caregiver
- Displaying shifts in self-esteem and low self-confidence
- Experiencing frequent nightmares or night terrors
- Frequent, inconsolable crying or screaming
- Developing poor eating habits that cause the child to lose weight
- Regressing in potty training
Meanwhile, older children’s psychological trauma can manifest itself by:
- A change in hygiene habits, such as taking multiple showers in a single day or neglecting personal care altogether
- Exhibiting signs of depression or post-traumatic stress disorder
- Showing increased anxiety or fear about the daycare center or a worker at the childcare facility
- Sleeping a majority of the day
- Displaying sudden changes in behavior, such as becoming aggressive or isolating from friends
Seeking Treatment After a Child’s Daycare Injury
It is often difficult for parents to deal with the trauma a child has suffered because younger children are limited in their ability to speak or describe their feelings and thoughts. After a daycare injury, our knowledgeable attorneys recommend seeking out:
- The child’s pediatrician for a medical evaluation and recommendation for a child psychologist or therapist
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides additional helpful information and resources for parents of children experiencing traumatic stress
Our team of Texas daycare injury attorneys has years of experience handling child injury cases, and we can recommend highly qualified psychologists and therapists who can help children of all ages move forward after these traumatic incidents.
Sometimes, finding the right therapist who specializes in working with children can be challenging. However, we want to stress the importance of getting a child the support and help they need as soon as possible. Delaying this important treatment could be detrimental to your child’s mental health and well-being for years to come.
How The Button Law Firm’s Texas Daycare Injury Attorneys Can Help
As we have shared, a daycare injury can cause your child significant physical and emotional trauma. The stress can also weigh on you as you try to help your child throughout the recovery process. It is important to retain an attorney like our experienced and compassionate Texas daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm as soon as possible. With attorneys in Dallas, Houston, and Midland, we are ready to listen, fight for your family, and help your family move forward. Our attorneys at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. However, you should act quickly. There is a two-year time limit from the date of the incident for filing a daycare injury lawsuit in Texas. Call us at 214-699-4409 or fill out a contact form for a free consultation.
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