Children sense our mood and emotional state. Despite the difficult situation, it's important to remain calm and try not to be anxious in front of little ones. Your anxiety should not be passed on to children; on the contrary, it’s vital to give them a sense of safety and confidence about the future.

We have gathered advice from specialists that can help calm young children in stressful situations.

• Explain each step to the child. Describe your actions if an alarm sounds. If you plan to go to a shelter, explain to the child why this is necessary.
• Remind your son or daughter that they are the most precious things you have, and you are doing everything possible to ensure the highest possible level of safety. Therefore, it's important to listen to parents and not argue, as you only want the best for them.
• If you are staying at home together, distract yourselves from the news! Involve the little ones in household chores; clean and wash dishes together.
• Build with blocks or puzzles, draw superheroes, and read fairy tales.
• Cook delicious meals. Experts assure that when we chew, our nervous system calms down from panic. If the child can already read, let them dictate each step of the recipe to you. This helps distract them and practice reading skills.
• Psychologists recommend hugging more often. In hugs, not only children but also adults feel safe.
• Hold the child’s hand, especially during air raid alerts or when going down to a shelter. The child will feel that they are under your reliable protection.
• Take toys with you to the shelter so you can play together.
• Practice deep breathing exercises with the children. This helps relieve tension and overcome stress. Deep breathing will come in handy when trying to cope with anxiety.
• Encourage the little ones to drink more. When a person feels anxious, their body uses up more fluid. We may not notice this, but it's important to replenish water supplies in advance.
• Maintain a regular daily routine. If you used to read a fairy tale before bed or had special rituals, try to stick to them.
• Children are a reflection of their parents, and if they see or sense uncertainty or panic in adults, they will start to feel scared themselves.
• Trust only verified sources of information. What happens outside is less important than what we let into ourselves. Try to think about the future. Stay positive, believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and our victory!

Take care of yourself and your little ones. Even in stressful situations, we must be a worthy example for our children. Remember that our behavior affects the lives and health of our kids.