What can a parent do to help their child?

Surround the child with unconditional love, attention, and care.

Try and set a daily routine for the child. A child's sense of stability, confidence in the world, and uncertainty often falter in emergencies. To provide the child with a sense of relative stability, parents should try to maintain a normal daily routine (e.g., sleep, food, study, leisure hours, etc.). Organize the child's day in such a way that they have the opportunity for physical activity and games.

Give the child clear roles and responsibilities, which will keep them busy throughout the day. For example, dusting, watering the flowers, feeding the dog, etc.

Arrange for the child to safely communicate with peers (e.g., online, on the phone, etc.)

Control the amount and content of the information the child consumes. Consider that the child not only consumes the information directly transmitted to them, but also everything that is said around them.

Talk to the child to understand their situational awareness and their anxieties. For younger children, use methods that include playing and art. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can put a mask on their favorite toy and ask questions about it. The child can then answer on behalf of the toy. We can also speak to them through drawing, painting, sculpting, etc.  With the help of these methods, not only do we get information about the child's emotions, concerns, and thoughts, but also help them better understand their own thoughts and express their emotions.

Teach your child to care for themselves and those around them in a new situation. For example, teach a child how to protect themselves from COVID-19 or how to keep themselves and others safe in a conflict zone, etc. You can discuss the new situation with the child, to give them information on how to protect themselves and those around them.

Having family traditions and leisurely time together are important. (e.g., reading to a child, playing board games with the family, etc.).