Supporting childhood trauma – Jane Evans and Fink Cards

­If you’re a parent then as you’re sitting here reading this your child or children may be playing with blocks at your feet, in the room next door watching TV, learning at school, swimming, studying at college. Normal everyday stuff right?

But some children have to deal with trauma everyday in their lives and it has a profound effect on their childhood, development and adulthood. Every parent wants to do their best to support and nurture their children but sometimes, some families need that little bit of extra help.

Today I’m proud to welcome Jane Evans who has been providing that help and working with families with complex needs around early childhood trauma for over two decades. As a passionate advocate of offering an understanding of the impact of early childhood trauma in all areas of our lives, Jane speaks and trains around the World. She has written two books to be used for young children who have lived with domestic violence (How are you feeling today Baby Bear? & Kit Kitten and the Topsy Turvy Feelings) and her work with traumatised families has also featured in Channel 5’s documentary ‘My Violent Child’.

What led you to work with Fink Cards on Parenting Impacted by Trauma?

I have long wanted to create a resource for professionals to use when supporting parents based upon my experience of working with parents who have been impacted by some level of childhood trauma. My curiosity about the difficulties parents and children have been showing me and telling me about for over 20 years has led me to read extensively about complex trauma, the brain and the role of attachment, and this has all formed the basis for my Parenting Impacted by Trauma Fink Cards.

I am delighted to be able to share this simple to use, non-threatening and very adaptable resource to explore the often complex needs of individual parents and their children through these lovely Fink Cards.

What’s a typical day for you?

I don’t have any typical days anymore! Since becoming a freelance trainer, conference speaker, writer and sometimes TV and Radio Trauma Parenting Expert anything can happen!! I travel the World speaking about parenting and children impacted by trauma, recently speaking in India and I also had the opportunity to be a part of the Channel 5 My Violent Child Series so it’s most definitely varied and unpredictable.

What apps can’t you live without?

My Twitter app is my first and last one I use every day. Twitter has connected me globally with like-minded people which is a fantastic networking tool without even leaving home. It has raised my profile globally, generated work and even got me my first book publishing contract.

Who inspires you?

I am always greatly inspired by Camila Batmanghelidjh of Kids Company. Her whole life has been and is dedicated to supporting traumatised children and young people and raising awareness of the blight childhood trauma is on their daily lives. She does this tirelessly and is not afraid to challenge and say what has to be said!

If you could give one piece of advice to parents what would it be?

Be kind, compassionate and emotionally connected to yourselves as a priority, as then you will be able to offer the same to your children as that’s what they most need from you, every day, all day.

Finally, complete this sentence – joy for me is…

The look of relief on a parent’s face when we are working together and they realise they can use kindness to raise their children and not consequences.

For more information about Jane visit: www.parentingposttrauma.co.uk or find her on twitter:

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Fink Cards is a leader in the field of creating powerful conversations, creating award winning publications that start positive conversations. Parenting Impacted by Trauma cards launch 24th June and contain 48 compelling questions . The cards are published by Fink Cards, priced at £14.99 and available from www.finkcards.com. For more information visit: www.parentingposttrauma.co.uk or tel: 020 8242 4055.

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