Canadian child protection agencies provide support resources for Ukrainian and Russian refugee families fleeing from war

Winnipeg, Manitoba — Children experiencing trauma from fleeing the war in Ukraine will be receiving copies of Big Feelings Come and Go, a storybook which helps families understand and manage difficult emotions, thanks to a collaboration between two Winnipeg‑based organizations and a Finnish ally. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) and New Directions for Children, Youth, Adults and Families (New Directions) are partnering with the Finnish child protection organization, Suojellaan Lapsia ry, to provide copies of the book, translated in both Ukrainian and Russian, to families seeking refuge in Finland.

Big Feelings Come and Go, which was developed by C3P and New Directions, helps children understand the concept of freeze, flight and fight responses, along with how to regulate their body and mind when their emotions get to be too much. The book has had tremendous global appeal, being translated into 11 different languages.

"The trauma these children are facing cannot be understated. It is hard to imagine any child having to live through the emotional burden of war. Our hope is that this storybook will help children understand the overwhelming feelings arising from these experiences and help families find a sense of calm and control in this extremely distressing time," says Lianna McDonald, Executive Director of C3P.

“Many years of clinical work were the inspiration and basis for creating this book, to help children and their caregivers talk about the scary things in life. We are so grateful that this book has been translated into Ukrainian and Russian, and is being made available to those most directly impacted by the war in the Ukraine,” says Dr. Jennifer Frain, C.Psych., Chief Executive Officer of New Directions.

Suojellaan Lapsia ry, which works with C3P on other global child protection initiatives, will handle the distribution of the storybooks to refugee families arriving in Finland, with the first set of books being shared this week.

“Big Feelings Come and Go is not only an excellent storybook for every child who is worried about the war, but it is extremely important for children fleeing from Ukraine. Every child has the right to age‑appropriate information and materials to help them cope with their trauma symptoms, thoughts and feelings,’ says Nina Vaaranen‑Valkonen, Executive Director, Senior Specialist and psychotherapist of Suojellaan Lapsia ry. “The Big Feelings Come and Go storybook can also help parents to understand how trauma affects their child as well as themselves. The book can also be used in clinical work as part of the trauma focused therapy and trauma informed care in the reception centres.”

Big Feelings Come and Go can be downloaded at protectchildren.ca/order