03/12/2025
Så fint skrevet om «det stille barnet». Med stillheten følger også intuisjonen og tilpasning som ikke er av det gode, men en overlevelsesstrategi ❤️
Silence in children is often mistaken for obedience or calmness, but neuroscience suggests that deep quietness may sometimes be a sign of emotional overload. When a child faces repeated stress, fear, or overwhelming environments, their nervous system may enter a shutdown state known as the freeze response. This reaction is the body’s instinctive way of coping when it feels unable to fight or escape. Instead of expressing feelings, the child becomes quiet, withdrawn, or overly compliant.
The freeze response is commonly observed in trauma survivors because the brain shifts into self-protection mode. In children, this may look like sitting silently, avoiding eye contact, or becoming unusually still. Their system may be trying to conserve energy and avoid further stress. This does not happen because the child is “well behaved.” It happens because their emotional world feels unsafe or too heavy to express.
A silent child may struggle to communicate needs, identify emotions, or ask for help. Their brain may prioritize survival over learning, curiosity, or play. Over time, this can affect attention, relationships, and confidence. But the hopeful truth is that the nervous system can heal with consistent safety and connection.
Warm tone, predictable routines, gentle presence, and emotional validation help bring the child out of shutdown. When they feel safe enough to speak, move, and express, the brain shifts out of freeze and into growth mode.
A child’s silence is never something to overlook. Listening beneath the quiet may reveal the support they need most.
