Trauma in Young Children and Their Families.

The early period of life form pregnancy to preschool is often overlooked in discussions of the impact of trauma. Early childhood is a period of high sensitivity to experience, both positive and negative. Young children may be at higher risk of experiencing potentially traumatic events (PTEs) AND the possibility- but not destiny- of long-term negative implications. This article describes patterns of exposure to PTEs, the associated clinical presentations, and the opportunities for health care systems to deliver effective, trauma-informed care and protect against potential secondary traumatization in clinical settings.