World Children’s Day promotes international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide, with an aim to improve children’s welfare. This year has been especially challenging, as the world implemented unprecedented restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19. Children have had to mentally and physically adapt to a new lifestyle where virtual communication, social distancing and physical isolation has become the new norm. The IFRC Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support has compiled numerous materials and guidances on how to help children understand the coronavirus, and to help them cope with and adjust to a new restricted lifestyle.
It is crucial to involve parents and caregivers throughout this process, and to provide them with guidance on how to communicate about COVID to children, and how to address their new daily routines and habits regarding socialization and physical distance.
Video: Children's mental health matters too
Child Friendly Activity Cards
Acknowledging the need to provide tools and guidance to children and their parents and caregivers, the IFRC Psychosocial Centre in collaboration with World Vision created a set of Child Friendly Activity Cards, more than 20 activities designed especially for children who are in lock-down or have limited access to school and other institutions. The activities are designed to help children have fun, learn ways to be emotionally healthy, and to practice new skills. All the activities can be done individually or with a small group of 2 to 3 people at home or in any suitable place.
” When disasters happen, the better psychosocial skill you have, the better you cope. Children develop social skill through play and when they share ideas and emotions with others. We hope that these activity cards can help children cope with the challenge of having limited access to friends, school or other recreational institutions they have otherwise been used to in their lives.”, says Ea Suzanne Akasha, Technical Advisor at the IFRC Psychosocial Centre and co-author of the activity cards.
My Hero is You
A story of hope of emerged in the midst of COVID-19. To help children understand, cope and adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings (IASC MHPSS RG) created the children’s book My Hero is You. It started as a book that was based on the feedback of 1700 children, parents, caregivers and teachers from around the world, who shared how they were coping with the pandemic.
It has since been translated into more than 130 languages and adapted into various forms of expressions, such as animated films, puppet show radio adaptations and podcasts. This video highlights the global collaboration that went into the making of My Hero is You, and the positive influence it has had on children around the world who are learning how to cope with the new norms from the coronavirus.
Happy World Children’s Day
