Toddler terrified of other babies or toddlers

[Hasmik]

We have a 20 month old toddler boy who was a very social baby prior to a bad experience that happened about 4 months ago.  Prior to the experience, he was always overly excited when he saw other babies or toddlers and was happy for the opportunity to approach them and be around them.  An incident happened that dramatically changed his behavior.  I took him to a playground and unexpectidely, another toddler hit him very hard on his head and face and I didn't see it coming to prevent it, it happened really fast.  He was so devastated and started crying and was really upset since he was so happy seeing that the toddler was approaching him and was dissapointed of the outcome.  Ever since that they he's terrified of other kids, doesn't want to be near them, doesn't want them to touch him.  When we take him to a playground, he will not play in the area where there is other kids and will find a place where there's no one and want to play in that area.  And he sort of feels like other kids are superior after that incidence, since if he does decide to stay in the same area, he will wait until everyone has taken their chance at sliding before he will make an attept at it.  This has extremely altered his social behavior and we are very worried and alerted because we don't want this to stay with him and for him to develop lifelong social behavior issues or low self esteem.  Another interesting to point out is that he's more willing to be around kids when he's with my husband, maybe because that experience happened when he was with me only and it triggeres that bad memory.  We would greatly appreciate your feedback on this as we are very worried.  Thank You.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Your son is having a normal reaction to a distressing event. It is very understandable that he would be wary of the other children under the circumstances. Time does not heal all things, but it will heal this. Don't push him to interact, but continue to expose him to situations in which he has the option to interact with peers. Over time he will replace the traumatic episode with more successful encounters.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

No, it is not at all probable that any long term impact will occur.

[Hasmik]

Thank you for your feedback.  It was very helpfull to get professional opinion on this subject matter.  Is it possible that this incident can have long term affects on his self esteem?