Understanding the Fight Response

Supporting Children with a Fight Response to Stress & Trauma

Does your child have a strong fight response? Children with a strong fight response often exhibit behaviours such as yelling, hitting, kicking, or intense defiance when they feel threatened or overwhelmed. These reactions can be challenging for parents and educators to manage, but they are a natural way for children to protect themselves from perceived danger. Understanding and supporting these behaviours with empathy and effective strategies is essential for helping children feel safe and secure. Let's explore practical ways to support children with an active fight threat response and how Child-Centred Play Therapy can play a crucial role in their healing journey.

Trauma affects children in various ways, and one common reaction is the fight response. This natural instinct is a child’s way of defending themselves from perceived threats. Children with a strong fight response might display aggressive behaviour, defiance, or intense emotional outbursts. Understanding and supporting these children with compassion and practical strategies is crucial for their emotional well-being.

What is the Fight Response?

The fight response is part of our body’s autonomic nervous system, which kicks in when we sense danger. For children, this can manifest as physical aggression, yelling, or defiance. These behaviours are their way of coping with overwhelming stress or trauma. Recognising that these reactions stem from a place of fear and a need for safety helps us respond with empathy and support.

Practical Ways to Support Children with a Strong Fight Response

Create a Safe and Predictable Environment: Consistency is key. Establishing clear routines and maintaining a calm, structured environment can help reduce a child’s anxiety and minimise triggers that provoke a fight response.

Teach Emotional Co-Regulation Skills: Equip children with tools to manage their emotions. Techniques like deep breathing, counting to ten, or having a calm-down space can be very effective. Teaching these skills during calm moments helps children better utilise them when needed.

Use Positive Reinforcement: Encourage and reward positive behaviour. Recognise and praise a child’s efforts to manage their emotions and respond calmly. Positive reinforcement builds their confidence and reinforces healthy coping strategies.

Empathise and Validate Feelings: Acknowledge a child’s emotions without judgment. Statements like, “I see you’re really upset right now. It’s okay to feel angry,” can validate their feelings and help them feel understood and supported.

Seek Professional Support: Sometimes, professional guidance is essential. Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) is particularly effective for children with trauma. This approach allows children to express their emotions and experiences through play, their natural language of communication.

How Child-Centred Play Therapy Supports Children with a Fight Response

Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT), centred on evidence-based practices, emphasises the therapeutic power of play. In CCPT, children can safely explore their emotions and experiences through play, guided by a compassionate and trained therapist.

CCPT helps children with a strong fight response by providing a safe space to express their anger and frustration. The therapist reflects and validates the child’s feelings, helping them make sense of their emotions and develop healthier coping mechanisms. Over time, this process can lead to reduced aggression and improved emotional regulation.

Supporting children with a strong fight response to trauma requires understanding, patience, and practical strategies. By creating a safe environment, teaching emotional regulation skills, using positive reinforcement, and seeking professional support through approaches like Child-Centred Play Therapy, we can help these children feel secure and understood.

At Inspiring Play: Child and Family Play Therapy Sunshine Coast, we are dedicated to supporting children and families navigating the complexities of behavioural challenges and trauma. If you need guidance or support, please reach out to us. Together, we can help your child find their path to emotional well-being and resilience.

For more information, resources, and support, visit our website or contact us directly. Remember, you don’t have to navigate this journey alone; we are here to help.

Inspiring Play: Child & Family Play Therapy, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

References:

• Landreth, G. L., & Bratton, S. C. (2021). Child-Centred Play Therapy.

• Delahooke, M. (2019). Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children's Behavioral Challenges.

• Kennedy, B. (2020). Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be.

• Siegel, D. J., & Bryson, T. P. (2016). The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind.