Having the two-year-old girl recently abducted by her father safely returned to her mother’s care is a relief for her and her family.

However, as a clinical social worker who works with young children who have experienced trauma, I am concerned after reading the mother’s statement that “We’re trying to wipe it away from her mind.” (Sun Journal, Nov. 13)

The research and clinical practice involving young children witnessing domestic violence and being traumatized themselves clearly has proven that trauma does have an impact on their social and emotional development and well-being.

I have been part of a national learning collaborative sponsored by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and in a local learning collaborative sponsored by THRIVE which has focused on the ongoing effects of experiencing trauma or witnessing family violence for infants, toddlers and pre-school age children.

Often, as adults, we tend to believe that children are “too young” to remember violence and/or abuse; however they remember “in their bones.” They tell their stories by their behaviors, their play, having sleep and/or eating problems or becoming aggressive themselves.

We can help young children and their parents remember and lessen the ongoing effects of trauma by creating safe and developmentally appropriate interventions which can free a child from trauma responses and allow them to develop to their full potential.

Eileen Fair, Auburn