How to Help a Child Cope with Loss: Practical Tips from a Senior Psychologist at the Children of Heroes Charity Fund

On March 4th, the fifth round table organized by the Children of Heroes Charity Fund’s partner, the Ukrainian Educational Platform, took place. It was dedicated to a pressing current issue: “How to communicate with children whose parents are in the military“. Experts, including leading psychologists and social workers, discussed the importance and methods of effective communication with children who have experienced loss.

Marta Bilyk, a senior psychologist at the Children of Heroes Charity Fгтв, emphasized the importance of remembering each child’s individuality, showing empathy rather than pity, and being a support during this difficult time. She stressed that there are no universal tips, but there are several key principles to follow:

• Avoid phrases that children might misunderstand, such as “he fell asleep” or “God took him to heaven” (younger children may start to fear falling asleep, etc.).
• Do not ignore the topic of loss: trauma begins with silence, so it is necessary to create a space where the child can freely express their feelings.
• Be attentive to the manifestations of grieving: pay attention to possible physical symptoms, emotional and behavioral changes.

“Children have a great capacity to cope with various traumatic experiences and live a long and happy life. It is important that there are adults nearby who can be a support for the child,” Marta Bilyk concluded.

In addition to Marta Bilyk, the event featured presentations by Natasha Odessky, Director of Social Services at the Youth Village Vizo Nir Ha Emek, and Dr. Robert Chernik, former Director of the Psychological Service of the Kfar Shmaryahu Municipality. They shared their experience in working with children and discussed effective methods of psychological support.

The Children of Heroes Charity Fund actively implements a psychological support program, which in 2024 has demonstrated the following results:

• 11,937 individual psychological consultations were conducted.
• 2,323 children attended camps.
• 2,465 children participated in 86 offline events aimed at socialization and emotional development.
• 222 guardians attended 239 group therapy sessions.

Currently, the Children of Heroes CF is raising funds for psychological rehabilitation, which allows children to manage their own experiences, cope with loss, and find inner balance. Every donation is an investment in the future of the Heroes’ children.