How to talk to children about mine danger: psychologist's advice

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the problem of mine danger has become critical, especially for children who are not fully aware of the risks that can be hidden in familiar places: yards, parks, even near schools. Many regions of Ukraine, especially those affected by hostilities, have become high-risk zones due to abandoned mines, explosive objects or ammunition.

How to protect a child from such danger? Are school activities enough to teach mine safety, and what role should parents play in this process? Practical psychologist Svitlana Dabahian gives answers to these questions.

Psychologist Svitlana Dabahian explains how parents should talk to their children about mine safety. Photo: NikVesti

Why is mine safety not just a school issue?

Unfortunately, many parents believe that mine safety issues should be explained only at school, however, according to Svitlana Dabahian, this is a big mistake.

«Children should have the greatest trust in their parents,» she emphasizes.

At home in the family circle, the child feels safe, so it is the parents who can most effectively explain complex topics. It is important that parents know how to talk to their children correctly, so as not to scare them, but at the same time convey important rules.

Should parents talk to their children about landmines if they are in a safe zone?

«We have regions that are more contaminated by mines, and there are regions that have suffered less. But you and I understand that we live in a state of war. And here are these dangerous objects, they can also be found on the playground. They can be hidden, for example, in toys or in such objects that you would not think that there could be something dangerous. Therefore, it is very important to talk with children about mine safety so that they are careful, says Svitlana Dabahian.

How to start a dialogue about mine danger?

You can start a conversation about mines with a simple question: «What do you know about mine danger?». Often in schools or during events organized by Red Cross or Emergency Services specialists, children already have some information about landmines. If the child says he knows something, ask what exactly he knows and continue the conversation based on his answers. If the child is not familiar with this topic, offer to watch an educational cartoon or video together.

«It is best when information is presented in a casual way: it can be cartoons, interactive games, tests or simple gestures or moves. This approach does not burden the child emotionally and does not cause excessive fear,» adds Svitlana Dabahian.

Fold the handles like binoculars and put them to the eyes - this is how we indicate to be attentive. Moves for children from UNICEF.

Extend your hand forward - to indicate «do not approach». Moves for children from UNICEF.

We cross our hands near the chest - this is how we mark do not touch. Moves for children from UNICEF

Bring your palm up to your ear to mark the phone. Moves for children from UNICEF.

In order for children to understand the importance of following safety rules, it is necessary to explain them clearly and interestingly. For example, when we tell children why they need to brush their teeth, we create a habit that becomes a part of their lives. It is equally important to explain what to expect if they find a mine or dangerous object, as well as how to behave properly. It is important to communicate with the child at the level of friends so that he feels supported and understood, not afraid.

Svitlana Dabahian notes that when talking to a child about mine safety, their age should be taken into account: «Children aged 5 to 11 perceive information differently than teenagers. In adolescence, young people try to separate themselves from adults, so it is important to maintain trust with them and talk more seriously.»

How to talk to a child about tragic events?

If the child has learned about real cases of injury or death from mines, it is important to remain calm during the conversation.

«Parents should be an emotional support for the child,» advises Svitlana Dabahian.

In the conversation, it is important to listen to the child, reflect his emotions, confirm that the situation was really scary, but at the same time explain that there are safety measures that must be followed to avoid such dangers. Physical contact (hugs, holding hands) also helps the child feel safe.

«If a child has witnessed or heard a story that his peers or adults came across a mine, then you should choose a protected space to talk to him. If it is a small child, you can put it on your lap. If it is an adult child, then somewhere near you. It is necessary to hug if the child allows it. And very calmly about talking about the situation that happened. When a child talks, we listen carefully, we learn to empathize. It is also necessary to reflect her emotions and experiences, for example, you can say: «Yes, it is very terrible, were you scared, or did you witness such a terrible situation?». And here it is important that the child tells the details. After all, when we become a witness or a hero of such a danger, it is important for us to tell it several times in order to get rid of our worries,» the psychologist advises.

If the child wants to tell his story more than once, let him do so. This is part of the process of letting go of negative experiences. After such a conversation, it is important to help the child get rid of tension: you can offer him to play active games or perform simple physical exercises.

Tips from a psychologist on how to calm a child if she is scared after talking about mine safety. Photo: Family

How to behave if the child is scared?

There are situations when a child has already heard about explosions or even seen the consequences of tragedies. In such cases, it is important to give the child the opportunity to express his feelings.

«If a child draws or plays games related to explosions or mines, this is a natural reaction to stress,» explains the psychologist.

It is important not to deny these feelings, but to help the child react: let him talk several times about what he saw or heard. This helps her process information and reduce anxiety.

«After the conversation, watching the video about mine safety, the child can repeat certain phrases, question something. And if the child was interested in new information, it will somehow spread it among its peers,» says the psychologist.

Signs that a child is not just interested but stressed about the topic of mine safety may include sleep disturbances, lack of appetite, nightmares or withdrawal. In such cases, you should consult a specialist if negative reactions persist.

Warning «Beware of mines» in the forest. Photo: NikVesti

What to do if the child found a mine?

If a child finds a mine or tries to disassemble it, the first reaction of parents may be shock or stupor. However, in such a situation it is important to quickly calm down and find the right words. Psychologist Svitlana Dabahian advises parents to re-emphasize the fact that you should never touch suspicious objects and immediately contact specialists. Discuss the incident in a calm atmosphere and explain to the child the importance of safe behavior.

Should parents mention real cases of mine detonation in conversation?

The main goal of mine safety education is not to scare, but to teach the child the correct actions. Photos and videos from the scene of the explosions should not be shown, as they may cause trauma to the child.

«Our nervous system does not distinguish whether we saw it with our own eyes or on the screen,» warns the psychologist. «Instead, the topic should be explained calmly and with non-intimidating examples,» says Svitlana Dabahian.

How to reduce anxiety after a conversation?

If the child feels anxious after the conversation, the psychologist advises using physical practices. Frequent hugs, stroking of the palms or back, and games to show aggression help relieve tension. For example, you can play air football or have a pillow fight. Such simple but active actions allow the child to release emotions and restore peace.

«If the child has a lot of tension, and you see that he shows too much aggression, then you can offer just the right games for his manifestation. For example, we can take pillows, put them under our clothes and play sumo wrestlers,» says Svitlana Dabahian.

The psychologist recommends the book-game «What to do if?» Liudmyla Petranovska. Photo: NikVesti

How often do you need to communicate on the topic of mine safety?

According to Svitlana Dabahian, one or two times a year will be enough for discussions on the topic of mine safety, if the child has had a positive experience and learned the information. However, if the child is completely unfamiliar with this topic, it is worth returning to it from time to time, especially if the family lives in a high-risk area.

It is important for parents to provide their children with knowledge about mine safety, and both games and cartoons can help with this. The psychologist recommends the book-game «What to do if?» Liudmyla Petranovska, which, although not directly dedicated to mine safety, can be adapted for training. By adding cards with dangerous situations, parents can make the game not only interesting, but also useful and educational.

In addition, interesting cartoons about mine safety, divided by age, are available on YouTube. These are materials created taking into account the interests of children, which help to learn important information in a playful way.

Parents should also take note of the short videos that can be found by typing «mine safety for kids» into the search engine. These videos, developed by UNICEF and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, offer accessible and understandable information about the dangers that can be encountered in everyday life. In addition, there are manuals and educational platforms that help parents effectively teach children the basics of mine safety.

In order to consolidate information without scaring the child, you can use coloring pages, comics or videos:

• Riddles for children on the topic of mine safety
• Comics and cartoons about the Inforce super team
• Coloring pages with Inforces

Mine safety education is the responsibility of both schools and parents. Children should receive information in an accessible form that will not frighten them, but at the same time will provide the necessary knowledge to avoid dangerous situations. Calm conversations, cartoons and games, physical exercises and support from parents are key tools in raising conscious and cautious children.