Supporting Young Children

Many adults believe that younger children are hidden from the affects of parental substance use in the home. They think they have been able to shield them from what is happening. They may think that just because young children cannot articulate what is happening, it isn’t affecting them. Yet the reality is that this trauma, or unresolvable stress, profoundly impacts children under five.

Because young children lack verbal skills to express fear, they manifest distress behaviorally. Common signs include regression (e.g., potty accidents), clinginess, sleep disruptions, and aggression. Unaddressed, it can derail cognitive and emotional development, necessitating a supportive, routine-heavy environment.

Thanks to highly effective, evidence-based treatments and the incredible adaptability of young, developing brains, young children can heal, regain a sense of safety, and overcome developmental setbacks with proper care and support.

Behavioral Warning Signs

Physical Changes
Unexplained weight fluctuations, loss of appetite, or frequent complaints of stomachaches.

Emotional Shifts
Sudden withdrawal, fear of being left alone, or becoming easily frustrated and difficult to soothe.

Sleep Disturbances
Night terrors, fear of bedtime, or waking up frequently.

Developmental Regression
Resuming behaviors they have outgrown, such as thumb-sucking, baby talk, or potty accidents.

How to Help & Find Support

Establish Consistency
Predictable routines, clear rules, and a secure environment help traumatized children rebuild a sense of safety.

Play
Providing a safe, low-stakes environment to process overwhelming emotions, regain a sense of control, rewrite negative brain responses, and rebuild a connection with joy promotes healing for young children.

Consult a Professional
If symptoms last longer than a month or interfere with daily life, contact a pediatrician or mental health provider.

Resources for Caregivers

Sesame Street’s Parental Addiction Initiative
NACoA partnered with Sesame Street on this educational project providing tools to caring adults to help children struggling with parental addiction in the family. Through candid discussions with the Muppet Karli – whose mother also has struggled with the disease of addiction – and the support from everyone on Sesame Street, children can discover that they are not alone and that by talking to others they can feel better.

NACoA Chair Emerita Sis Wenger and Jerry Moe, MA worked with Sesame Street to create the Parental Addiction Initiative, a collection of resources and videos to teach the lessons NACoA has provided since its inception. When children get good honest answers to their silent questions, and have caring adults who support and encourage them, they can find the hope and strength to thrive.

Karli’s favorite food is pizza, and she loves playing monster ball (which is kind of like soccer, but for monsters). She is in the care of two foster parents and is a very good friend of Elmo’s. Karli's mother is away getting treatment for her addiction, and she shares her thoughts and fears with her friends, who provide her a great deal of support. She also talks about the meetings her Mommy attends.

Parental Addiction Resources
There are multiple brief videos, each touching on a different aspect of the impact of addiction on children when a parent suffers from it or is struggling in early recovery. There are easy-to-use lesson plans to follow up after each video, and there are webinars for the adults who can learn how to help, such as a parent, grandparent or teacher.

Sesame Workshop additionally addresses other important areas that can also support children impacted by addiction, click on each topic to be connected to a variety of resources to help support kids:

Calming Strategies
Little ones need lots of help from caring adults to grow and thrive. We offer calming strategies on comforting and providing nurturing touch, all of which are required for healthy brain development.
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Children’s Feelings
When you help children to understand and express their emotions, you help them grow and thrive.
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Foster Care
As an adult involved in foster care, you have a big job: rebuilding family structures and children’s sense of safety and personal stability.
Learn More>>

Grief
Help kids grieve the loss of a loved one. With love and support, children can learn to cope with loss and start to heal.
Learn More>>

Tools for Parents and Caregivers
NACoA’s Tools for Parents and Caregivers: Helping Families Impacted by Substance Use Disorders provides great information and guidance to help caregivers support children impacted by substance use disorders.

Healthy Adults are Healthy Caregivers

Adults who are impacted by the disease of addiction often need to help themselves heal for their own peace of mind and emotional wellness, as well as help them be the best caregivers to support children. The ongoing stress related to someone struggling with a substance use disorder can significantly diminish a caregiver's capacity. Evaluate your physical health, your emotional resilience and is you need additional support personally, so that you can be a capable and consistent caregiver for the child(ren) who need your support. Finding Strength in Al-Anon: How Joining a Support Group Can Change Your Life provides some great guidance about the experience, strength, and hope available for families impacted by addiction.

Special care may be needed if parental addiction also affected your own childhood. It is very common that children who grew up in homes affected by the disease of addiction find themselves in similar situations as adults. It may be frustrating, sad, or maddening, but it doesn’t have to stay that way.

NACoA provides important information and resources to help understand how what happened during your childhood can still affect you as an adult.