How might young children exhibit signs of PTSD compared with teens (age 13 and older) after trauma?

• A. Young children might show signs of PTSD in their play more so than teens.
• B. Teens show PTSD signs in play more than younger children.
• C. PTSD signs are identical across ages.
• D. Trauma does not affect play behavior.

Answer: (A)

In young children, play is the primary way they express and process what they’ve experienced. After a trauma, signs of PTSD often show up through changes in play themes and behaviors rather than through verbal reports. You might see repetitive, frightening play scenarios, dolls or toys reenacting the danger, or avoidance of certain activities or settings in their play. They may also regress to earlier behaviors (like bed-wetting or clinginess) or use play to act out fears they can’t yet put into words. This is because preschool- and early-school-age kids are still learning to express distress verbally, so observers look for shifts in how they play as a reflection of distress.

Teens, by contrast, typically have more language and cognitive tools to describe their distress, so their PTSD signs are often verbal or mood-based—intrusive thoughts, nightmares they can describe, irritability or withdrawal, sleep problems, or concentration difficulties. Because of these developmental differences, signs appearing in play are more characteristic of younger children, making them a better focus for recognizing PTSD in that age group.