How to talk to children about the war: advice from the Ministry of Health
[ad_1]
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been going on for 11 months now, and children have many questions about the war. The Ministry of Health explained how to answer children’s “why” questions about the situation in the country. The list of recommendations was created together with specialists from the Center for Health and Development “Family Circle”. Psychologists advise: Be open to discussing the topic of war. Psychologists note that children seek to understand what is happening. Therefore, you should not avoid talking about things that concern them. Photo: yacobchuk1/Depositphotos Search for wise answers with children: reflect and discuss together. Use fairy tales, pictures, stories. Children think figuratively and use fairy tales or stories as examples of behavior. Art therapy methods can be used to show the child how he sees war. Pay attention not only to the questions, but also to the feelings of the child. Children, like adults, can be angry, sad, worried – these are normal emotions. So show that you share these feelings and do not leave the child alone with them. Give hope and talk about values. “Hope is about the Light that always defeats the darkness, despite pain and loss,” remind psychologists. We remind you that children’s fears and anxieties can manifest in different ways. For example, a child may be afraid that his father will be killed in the war or wish Putin dead. Read also: “Our children draw torn Russian flags”: the chronicle of the besieged Mariupol
[ad_2]
Original Source Link