A psychologist from Mykolaiv told how to talk to children about mines

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

Psychologist Svitlana Dabahian told how to properly talk to children about mine danger without scaring them, but at the same time explaining important rules of behavior.

She told journalists NikVesti about this.

According to her, the main role in such a conversation belongs to parents, because children trust their relatives the most. Even if the family lives in a relatively safe area, it is important to tell children about the threat, because explosive objects can be found in unexpected places, even in playgrounds.

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You can start the conversation by asking simple questions, such as «What do you know about landmine hazards?» and providing basic information. The main thing is not to create a feeling of fear in the child, but to emphasize how to act safely: explain that no suspicious objects should be touched, and it is better to immediately call an adult. Use simple and clear words, avoiding complex explanations.

Basic rules for children:

• Do not touch suspicious objects: Do not touch any unfamiliar or strange objects, even if they look interesting.
• Do not approach suspicious objects: if you see something unusual, it is better to move to a safe distance.
• Notify an adult immediately: If you find a suspicious object or something explosive, tell a parent, teacher, or other adult right away.
• Do not play in areas marked with «Mine» signs or in dangerous areas: Avoid areas with warning signs, even if it seems that there is no danger.
• Remember places where you have seen mines or explosive objects: if you have seen suspicious objects in a certain place before, avoid it and warn your friends about it.

These simple rules will help the child feel more confident and understand how to act in situations related to mine danger.

We will remind, as of September 2024, in Ukraine, since the beginning of 2024, explosives technicians have surveyed and demined 224 thousand hectares of agricultural land. Mykolaiv Oblast entered the top three oblasts in terms of demining rates, Kherson Oblast and Kharkiv Oblast took the first and second places.

According to the updated plan, more than 512,000 hectares of agricultural land in Ukraine are subject to priority and priority demining. Of them, 44,000 hectares are in the Mykolaiv region.