What to do if a child sees something scary and gets scared. Olena Zelenska shared her advice

In times of war, children fear for their lives along with adults. The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, told us what parents should do if their child has seen the horrors of war and is very scared.

Children witness shelling, see the wounded and even the dead. All these circumstances provoke psychological disorders. Zelenska shared her advice on her Telegram channel.

The first lady asks parents not to scold or shame their children for being scared. "Fear is a natural and normal feeling, part of an instinctive self-preservation program. It is uncontrollable in children and manifests itself on a physical level," says Zelenska.

A very frightened child needs to be calmed down, hugged tightly and warmed with his or her body. The first lady recommends stroking the baby's back to relieve tension. Together with parents, you should draw fear or something that scared you. This will help to cope with emotions.

Let children cry if they need to. Parents should not stop them from crying because children, like adults, need to cry. Mom and dad shouldn't get angry at their child's nagging, they just need to be there for them and show them their love.

It is worth discussing what scared the child. You should say: "You were so scared when you saw..." During the conversation, you should create a safe environment, hug your daughter or son if they need it. You should discuss in a calm tone with pauses so that the child can process everything.

One conversation is not enough, it is necessary to discuss the fear many times, recalling the details of the event. The child should be supported every time he or she recalls what happened. "This should be done until you feel that the fear is gradually decreasing," Olena Zelenska assures.

In addition, the child should repeat that the adults were also afraid, but the family is not weak and coped with the difficulties. There is no need to try to convince the child that there was no reason to be afraid and that it is not really scary.

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