In light of the war in Ukraine, many Ukrainian citizens who fled the war are seeking protection and help in Germany and other countries.
The topic of war is omnipresent at the moment and concerns the entire world. The situation is difficult to comprehend not only for us adults, but it also affects children. It is much harder for children than for adults to understand what is happening, as they lack a clear understanding of war.
Many questions arise: "Will the war come to us too?", "What can I do, how can I help?", "What support is available for refugees, how can help be provided?" Therefore, this section addresses these questions and uncertainties and outlines ways to provide support.
Dealing with children's insecurity
Many children are asking questions about the current situation in Ukraine, worrying about their future, and afraid of war. Parents often face the challenge of how to explain war to their children without causing them unnecessary fear.
How can one respond to this without trivializing war or stoking fear? It is important to explain a war situation to children in an age-appropriate way.
For me, being age-appropriate means first and foremost explaining to the child, in simple language and age-appropriate words, what the word "war" actually means. It's okay to talk about war events, and the child should have the opportunity to ask questions. Adults should take children's questions and comments seriously and address them. Throughout the conversation, children should feel emotionally supported and not alone.
An example:
War means that two or more countries have differing opinions, which creates a huge conflict. If the conflict becomes so severe that the countries cannot find a compromise and strongly oppose each other, this can lead to one country trying to force the other to adopt its position by force. People from both countries then fight with weapons for their country's position. In such battles, many cities are destroyed and many people die.
It makes sense to put yourself in the child's shoes and think about how you can explain the situation to your child.
Instead of using the term "war," depending on the child's age and level of understanding, it may be appropriate to use the word "argument." This word is likely to be more understandable for a child, as arguments are something the child may have experienced before.
Watching children's news together
For illustration and if further information is needed, there are programs and videos that explain current events in a child-friendly way:
- logo! – Children's news on ZDFtivi (for children aged six and up, to watch)
- MouseZoom in the ARD audio library (for children aged three and up, for listening)
Here you will find answers to the many questions that children have about the war in Ukraine:
- logo! topic page: War in Ukraine (for children aged six and up)
- logo!: Your questions about the war in Ukraine (for children aged six and up)
- The Mouse – War in Ukraine (for children aged three and up)
Helping can feel good
In some situations, helping others can be beneficial. You can discuss with your child how you could help. There are many different ways to help refugees:
- For example, through donations (in-kind donations, monetary donations, time donations). Information on this can be obtained from welfare organizations, clubs, and non-profit institutions in Bremen.
- For example, discuss with the child how to welcome and integrate refugee children, for example into the school class.
To help you get an overview, we have information, offers and contact points in Bremen that offer help and support.
Free city tours, accommodation placement, German courses, help with the after-effects of flight trauma, advice cafés, learning groups and information on the Bremen school system – here you will find an overview of the services specifically for refugee families from Ukraine.