Iryna Kut: Today we try to give children not only care but also a sense of security

In the context of the war in Ukraine, preschools are facing a lot of new challenges. And they manage to overcome them only through gratitude, teamwork and love for children. According to Iryna Kut, head of the Bila Tserkva preschool “Smile”, children today need not only attention and education, but they also need a sense of security.

“Of course, with the advent of war in our country, the life of each of us has changed. We have to work in completely new and frightening conditions of constant air raids, attacks, news of losses and grief. Children's psyche is very vulnerable to such things, although children often do not show it. At first, they can disguise it with non-standard behavior, then they can close up and refuse to communicate with both adults and children.

I must say that everyone needs psychological support today, without exception. And as for children, it is not even discussed. That is why each of our educators today is not just a teacher who educates or gives new interesting knowledge, helping a child to learn about the world. Each of them is a psychologist. They have to carefully monitor the emotional state of the child, take an interest in what he or she is feeling today, what he or she deserves or what could comfort him or her.

And you know, it doesn't work to play with a child or switch their attention now. Not even like that. It does, but we should not always resort to such measures. After all, this is a disguise of the problem, and every children's teacher should be interested in helping a child to live through difficult emotions. And not just to shrug it off,” explains Iryna Kut.

Iryna Kut: Mental health of children is the responsibility not only of parents but also of kindergartens

Iryna Kut is convinced that the mental health of children today depends on many factors. And shifting all the responsibility onto parents is not the right thing to do.

“When we talk about working with children in pre-schools, I will take full responsibility for how mentally healthy our children will grow up today with our entire team. How exactly will all these psycho-emotional traumas of the war go now. To what extent we will teach them to cope with these emotions by example, so that they do not turn into destructive personalities for the little ones,” says the teacher.

Iryna Kut on children's sense of safety

Iryna Kut adds that the need for young children to feel safe is very acute today.

“This is logical. It is clear why this is happening. Because we live in complete danger every day. Children do not sleep at night, sometimes for several nights in a row. One of our main tasks is to give this sense of security within the walls of a preschool educational institution. And it should not be considered too difficult. Loving and professional teachers know and know how to help a child feel safe. And you know, I'm going to tell you a little secret: sometimes a simple warm hug is enough. In order for a child to be sincere in his or her emotions with you in such situations, you need to show maximum sincerity and equality, and in no case arrogance,” summarized Iryna Kut.