ACEs are recurrent, stressful experiences occurring in childhood that affect a child either directly (e.g. child abuse and neglect) or indirectly through the environment in which they live (e.g. exposure to domestic abuse, parental mental illness, substance misuse or incarceration). They are often carried forward through ancestral and family patterns that recreate the same experiences - which is why it is so important that we create compassionate and trauma-aware communities. We also need to focus on what is positive and powerful about children and young people, rather than only what has happened to them. Lots of settings now adopt trauma-informed practices, with a focus on ACES, but it's important that we also look at the contexts that children are living within and the cultural and family backgrounds that have created these.
It's also important that we celebrate what is positive and powerful about children and young people, rather than only what has happened to them. 
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ACEs are the single biggest predictor of later aggression, depression, criminal behaviour, ill health and poor levels of achievement.
The evidence shows us that the single most important thing to build resilience and prevent ACES is for children to experience stable, nurturing and positive relationships
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