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English - Helping children and parents cope

 

  • Welcome to Ukraine Parenting Response set up to provide practical tips to parents and caregivers so they can help themselves and their children cope in the current crisis.
  • All the tips can be downloaded in PDF formats and are open source to allow sharing.
  • This page will continue to be updated as more resources become available.

 

Parents and caregivers are heroes: Protecting our children in a crisis

 

Helping children and parents cope Preventing child trafficking and sexual abuse

Tips to help parents manage their feelings
and help their children feel safe and supported. Tips 1-7

1: TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF SO YOU CAN SUPPORT CHILDREN

  • When the stress is too much, take a moment for yourself.
  • Listen to your breath as it goes in and out.
  • You can put a hand on your stomach and feel it rise and fall with each breath.
  • Then just listen to your breath for a while.

Try this every day. You are amazing.

2: PRACTICAL WAYS TO HELP US COPE

  • Even when it feels hard, try to have some daily routines for yourself.
  • Routines help children feel safe. If you can, do daily routines like meals or schoolwork.
  • Helping someone else can make you feel better too.

Our children learn calm and kindness from us.

3: HELP CHILDREN COPE WITH CRISIS

  • Children may be scared, confused and angry. They need your support.
  • Listen to children when they share how they are feeling.
  • Accept how they feel and give them comfort.
  • Be honest but try to stay positive.

Every evening, praise children and yourself for something.

4: FIVE MINUTES OF POSITIVE TIME WITH YOUR CHILDREN

  • Ask children what they would like to do.
  • Listen to them, look at them.
  • Give them your full attention.

Playing with and talking to children every day helps them feel secure.

5: COPING WITH STRESS, UPSET AND ANGER

  • Find someone who you can talk to about how you are feeling.
  • Losing your temper? Give yourself a 10-second pause.
  • Breathe in and out slowly five times. Then try to respond in a calmer way.

Be proud of yourself every time you try this.

6: SMALL THINGS HELP KEEP CHILDREN SAFE

  • Make plans with children about practical ways to keep safe.
  • Try to keep children with parents, family or friends you trust.
  • Make a plan together for what to do if you are separated.

Planning with children helps them feel safer too.

7: BUILDING CHILDREN’S STRENGTH IN A CRISIS

  • Ask children to help with family tasks.
  • Praise children for trying or doing well.
  • This will help them do good things again.

Praising children shows them that you notice and care.

 

[EU & free transport info here . Anti-trafficking hotlines here. UNHCR help for Poland and other countries. Teach your child the free Europe emergency call: 112]

 

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