REASSURING YOUR CHILD IN A NEW LOCATION

A sudden change in residence can result in unique physical risks as well as psychosocial stress.

You can help by creating a safe environment for them.

• Always keep your child in sight or ensure that they are with someone that you trust.
• Monitor your child’s psychosocial reactions and respond to their needs. It is good for children to share their emotions and ask questions.It is important for children to understand what is happening and to know what to expect. Explain to your child that you had to leave your home, why, and, as much as possible, tell them what will follow. Try to give truthful information about what is happening but keep it at a level that they can understand.
• Allow your child to play or draw «war». Visualizing, voicing and using different censes to express the feelings and emotions associated with traumatic events help to reduce the level of tension and anxiety.
• Allow your child to talk, draw, and play about topics related to their experiences’ Visualizing and voicing the feelings and emotions associated with terrifying or stressful events help to reduce tension and anxiety.
• Hug or hold hands! Physical contact is soothing for children.
• Try to maintain routines (e.g., a bedtime story) as much as possible, it will give you and your children a sense of control.
• Limit your consumption of war-related news in front of your child.
• Take care of yourself. Good self-care can give you strength to better look after those you care about. Children will learn from and imitate adults. By setting an example of positive coping, you are encouraging your child to do the same.

Evidence shows that mental health of children with disabilities on the move may be exacerbated. Therefore it is very important to pay close attention to your child with disability, allowing your child to express their feelings using multiple ways of communication. Depending on your child disability type and age, locally available materials could be used to express their feelings, (e.g if a child is blind, beside using voice, tools such as spoons, pots or anything that make noise e.g. wood, plastic could be used in addition to the materials with different texture).

Shelters must be a safe space for children. If you’re in a shelter that isn’t safe, seek support from the Blue Dot Hub.