Forced relocation is a challenging experience for both adults and children, who have to face new realities, unfamiliar people, and the need to adapt to a new environment. How can parents help their children cope with these changes more easily?
Here are a few simple but effective tips:
- Make your home, even if temporary, a center of stability. Try to maintain a daily routine and restore the rituals children were used to at home: reading books before bed, taking walks together, resuming sports activities, and having meals at set times. Stability helps children adapt more easily to new conditions.
- Talk about your child’s emotions.
Encourage your children to share their feelings. Listen carefully and discuss their emotions—fears, hopes, uncertainties—so they feel your support. - 3. Involve children in new activities.
- Support your children in engaging in new activities and hobbies. This will not only help them make new friends but also foster emotional growth.
- 4. Join local support groups.
- Becoming part of local support groups or organizations that work with displaced children can help your kids find a community and feel less isolated.
- 5. Stay connected to the past.
- Help your children maintain a connection to their past by looking through photos, sharing stories, and keeping in touch with friends and relatives. This can help preserve their sense of identity and connection to home.
At Hope – Children of Ukraine, we understand how difficult it is for children to adapt to new circumstances, which is why we offer free psychological support programs for children and their families. Together, we can help children return to a normal life!