Organization of Psychological and Pedagogical Support and Directions of Psychocorrection for Preschool Children Affected by the Consequences of War

Abstract. War is one of the most tragic phenomena in human activity, endangering the very existence of
childhood. The devastating consequences of war compel greater attention to the psychological state of families.
In most cases, parents raise children alone under difficult conditions. Particularly severe challenges arise in the
upbringing of children in displaced families and in families where one or both parents are defending Ukraine
from Russian occupiers.

This article is dedicated to the analysis of current approaches to providing psychological assistance for
children. Preschool-aged children from displaced families and those whose parents are at war are among the
most vulnerable to the effects of war. Traumatic events resulting from war can lead to various behavioral issues
in children, which require psychological and educational support.

The topic of death is especially relevant in the context of the war: as a result of active combat, Ukrainian
defenders and civilians in occupied territories–where children as young as four remain–are being killed. One of
the most traumatic experiences for a preschool child is becoming aware of the death of a peer or parent.

This paper examines modern scientific literature on psychological support for children and offers
recommendations to parents on overcoming various negative psychological states caused by the war. One of
the proposed psychocorrectional methods is fairy tale therapy, which serves as a modernized tool to help older
school-age children psychologically comprehend the concepts of death and life.

Additional psychocorrectional approaches for preschool children affected by war require an integrated
model that combines elements of body-oriented therapy, play therapy, art therapy, and narrative therapy, as
well as psychoeducation for parents. The comprehensive implementation of these approaches contributes to the development of internal resilience in children, the restoration of their basic sense of safety, and lays the
groundwork for further psycho-emotional development in a post-traumatic reality.

The results of the study confirm the critical role of parents in normalizing the mental health of preschool
children under the current conditions of war, and in preventing post-traumatic consequences at both the family
and state levels.