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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV Ukraine Child Therapy - Kosstutschenko
HEADLINE: Ukrainian Children Using Toy Therapy to Process Trauma
TEASER: Psychologists have set up special rooms filled with toys throughout Ukraine to help kids cope with fear, stress of war
PUBLISHED AT: (DATE & TIME)
BYLINE: Anna Kosstutschenko
CONTRIBUTOR: S
DATELINE: Krasylivka, Ukraine
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Kenochs; Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:44
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TV only
EDITOR NOTES:
Please return to Zorislav Baydyuk, zbaydyuk@VOANews.com and copy to HFR when done ))
((INTRO))
[[The children still in Ukraine are being forced to deal with the trauma of war. To help them process their emotions, Ukrainian psychologists are using a method called toy therapy. Anna Kosstutschenko reports.]]
((NATS girls playing))
((NARRATION))
Nine-year-old Iryna is playing calmly with her cousins at home in the village of Krasylivka outside Kyiv.
But just a few months ago, she shuddered at the slightest noise, says her mother, Natalia Ladan.
In March, early in the war, the family lived under near-constant Russian shelling.
((Natalia Ladan, Iryna’s Mother)) ((in UKR))
“We were in the cellar. There was a loud explosion. The children started screaming and crying inconsolably.
((:37 Courtesy: Natalia Ladan))
The lights went out. It was terrifying. IWe realized the Russians hit somewhere very close.”
((NARRATION))
When a Russian rocket badly damaged the roof of the house, Ladan left for western Ukraine with her two daughters, sister and two nieces.
((END Courtesy: 52))
They returned in April, after the Russians retreated. But Ladan noticed her daughters were still under a lot of stress.
The family decided to visit a special toy therapy room set up by Ukrainian psychologists to help children deal with their trauma.
((Vita Moskalenko, Psychologist )) ((In UKR))
“The toy therapy room project is a special space where a child and even an adult can receive healing and have the opportunity to relieve tension and stress by giving it all to a toy.”
((NARRATION))
When Iryna visited the room, she picked a zebra out of the many toys available. Psychologists say she transferred all her war fears to the toy and became terrified of the toy itself.
((Iryna Ladan, War Survivor)) ((IN UKR))
“When I went to bed with her, I had a terrible dream. I asked my mother to take her somewhere so that I would not see it.”
((NARRATION))
Local psychologist Vita Moskalenko says the girl transferred her fears to the toy. Now she can choose a new toy friend. After some hesitation, Iryna chose a snake — as a symbol of her own strength.
((NATS)) ((ALL IN UKR))
LADY - Is this the right one?
GIRL - Yes! I am sure!
((NARRATION))
The first toy therapy room opened in June.
Now there are about 100 such rooms throughout Ukraine that have helped more than
1,600 Ukrainian children.
There are plans to open similar rooms for Ukrainian refugee children outside the country as many are forced to remain abroad as the Russians continue to target critical infrastructure.
((Anna Kosstutschenko, for VOA news, Kyiv region, Ukraine))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJanuary 27, 2023 07:23 EST
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English