Which of the following is not typically a sign of traumatic stress in young children?

• A. Stomach aches or headaches
• B. Lack self-confidence
• C. Start to excel in reading
• D. Increased fear responses

Answer: (C)

Traumatic stress in young children most often shows up through physical symptoms, worries, and changes in behavior. Kids may report or show up with stomachaches or headaches because stress can express itself as bodily pain when they can’t put their distress into words. They may also show a drop in self-confidence, feeling unsafe or unsure of themselves, which reflects how trauma can undermine a child’s sense of security and competence. Increased fear responses are common too—clinginess, separation anxiety, or heightened reactivity to familiar people or environments.

Starting to excel in reading is not a typical sign of traumatic stress. Improvement in a skill like reading reflects learning progress or other positive factors and isn’t a usual response to trauma. So, among the options, that improvement stands out as not fitting the pattern of trauma-related signs.