War never brings positive emotions. It is always fear, sadness, compassion, despair and confusion. The majority of the adult population of Ukraine has already received lifelong psychological trauma. Then what to say about children? How to tell them what is happening around? In this material, you will learn the opinion of psychologists on this issue.

Prepare to discuss difficult issues

Psychologists say that if you are a parent, you should be prepared for constant questions about the war. Children do not control their own thoughts the way adults do. They always speak their emotions and tend to hyperbolize them. Prepare for any of the reactions. First, be patient with answering the same questions over and over again. Do not stop saying that everything will be fine and that peace will surely come. Don't fantasize, be honest. Forget about the word "calm down". But avoid hard details and photos from the places of missile strikes, especially if they depict shelling victims.

Be close

Experts say that inner anxiety is always visible in a person's movements. That is why it is extremely important to hug your child and show him maximum security. Draw, build small houses, play role-playing games - create physical contact.

Remind about everyday things

Even if going down to the basement has become your new routine, don't forget to remind your kids where they can ask for help. Show that you can be trusted. It is also worth taking care of security issues. Make sure that the child knows his home address, can call adults in case of need and is well aware of the rules of behavior in stressful situations (if he suddenly gets lost or hears loud noises in the yard when adults are not around).

Talk about your own emotions

Show your child that you are also worried. Tell them that it's okay to cry, to be afraid, and to be sad. Tell them what helps you deal with this condition. Understanding and support are necessary not only for adults, but also for children. The main thing – stay calm, because children get nervous when they see that even their parents are not able to cope with the situation.

Give them an opportunity to express thoughts

Schoolchildren can already analyze cause-and-effect relationships and draw certain parallels. Let the child speak aloud his vision of such difficult things as the beginning of the war, the current situation at the front or the occupation. Listen to your kid carefully and share your own thoughts about what he/she said. You should not condemn a teenager for what you think are wrong statements. In this way, you will only confuse the child and prevent him from learning critical thinking.

If the little one does not ask questions about explosions or changes in your daily life, it does not mean that they are not worried about what is happening. Even the smallest changes in behavior: loss of appetite, nocturnal enuresis or atypical silence are signals of changes in the child's emotional state. Do not ignore these symptoms. Try to have more contact with children and, if possible, give them access to society. Interaction with peers will reduce anxiety levels.

Be honest

If a child asks you about something you do not understand or do not know, you should not fantasize to maintain your own authority. It is better to honestly say: "I don't know that. Let's find the answer together?" Remember that there can be a lot of different information on the Internet, sometimes quite far from reality. Therefore, it is very important to check multiple sources before accepting either side. Teach your child to form a "media filter" from an early age.

Another important point is to call a spade a spade. If you need to say that a person is dead, do not invent that he is sleeping or has gone somewhere. In this way, you can suggest that sleeping means dying. To make it easier for the child to accept such information, do not be specific. If this concerns your friend or relative, offer to write a letter to the deceased, light a candle or release a balloon into the sky. The child must put an end to the relationship with this person.

Should we take children to the cemetery?

Psychologists also add that you should not take children with you to the burial ceremony who do not understand very well what exactly will happen. The optimal age for attending such events is from 7 years.

Do not forget that children are not aware of the difficulties and threats that surround them today. Maintain emotional balance and be close to the baby. Your parental warmth will help your kid to survive a stressful period with minimal risks of mental disorders.