How to help a child cope with moving house? Educator Dima Zitser offers advice

Since 2022, thousands of families have been forced to leave their homes due to Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. Educator Dima Zitser explains in his book how to help children adapt to a new place of residence. Any move – whether to another country or a different street – can be a major challenge for a child.

Since 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, thousands of families around the world have had to leave their homes and find new places to live. Many of these families continue to search for a home today, moving from country to country and from city to city.

Any move – whether to another country, city, or even another street – represents serious stress for a child. Children lose the familiar environment, friends and routine that are crucial for their wellbeing.

Educator Dima Zitser has addressed these challenging questions thoroughly in his book "Love in Times of Turbulence". Zitser explains how parents can support, comfort and help their child adapt to a new situation without losing their own sense of clarity in the process.

The book offers practical answers to how to talk with children about moving honestly and age-appropriately, how to maintain a sense of security in changing circumstances, and how to establish a new routine quickly in a new place. According to Zitser, the most important thing is that parents should not hide their emotions, but share them openly with their children – this helps children understand that worry is normal.

Recommendations from medical professionals and psychologists align with Zitser's approach: for children, stability and predictability are critically important, even if this means simply having dinner together every day. Small routines help a child take root in a new environment and signal to them that the world is still safe.