Safe Spaces needed to help young children survive shock of emergencies

More than 16 million babies were born in conflict zones in 2015 国产视频� an average of 43,835 per day. Despite that, more than 60% of education aid appeals lack clear plans for early learning programmes or psychosocial support for children under five to access the safe spaces they need to learn, grow and recover.

国产视频 President Sarah Brown said: 国产视频淲e know that 80% of brain development is completed by age three and 90% by age five.

国产视频淏abies and toddlers absolutely cannot afford to wait for the end of a crisis to learn, play and receive care.

国产视频淐hildren are incredibly adaptable and resilient. With proper services and support, and close relationships with nurturing caregivers, they will not only survive emergencies but manage to thrive in spite of even the most adverse circumstances.国产视频�

After five years of war in Syria, 3.7 million children 国产视频� or one in three of all Syrian children 国产视频� have only ever known life in a violent conflict and 306,000 Syrian babies were born as refugees.

Zeinah 国产视频� a psychosocial support expert working with Syrian children in Turkey 国产视频� said: 聽国产视频淪afe child-friendly spaces are helping the youngest children to forget and recover from what they have been through in Syria.国产视频�

国产视频淐hildren are psychologically and physically affected by the war. When they first come they don国产视频檛 interact with other children and hardly speak.国产视频�

国产视频淪ometimes children as young as three and four are telling me about their dreams. They are seeing war in their dreams 国产视频� people have died, often relatives and loved ones.国产视频�

Zeinah said she deals with each case individually and over time most children are getting better. They are able to laugh, play with their friends and be more interactive.

She added: 国产视频淧arents have a lot of pressure and stress at home. They cannot always pay interest in their children 国产视频� but it is important to work with the parents to get more involved with their children to support their early development needs.国产视频澛�

Early learning programmes increase young children国产视频檚 readiness for school and improve learning outcomes. This is especially important in emergencies because children living through conflict are much more likely to be excluded from school or fall behind academically.

国产视频 is working to ensure that more attention and resources in this critical time in a child国产视频檚 life is prioritised.聽

One mother who knows the value of that is Baria, a 41-year-old Syrian teacher who fled her home in Al Raqqah and arrived in Turkey as a refugee two years ago.

She now works at a children国产视频檚 centre and has three children of her own, aged three, four and seven.聽

国产视频淓arly childhood education is extremely important, as it helps the child to understand the difficult situation we are in and to develop despite the hardships,国产视频� said Baria.

国产视频淭hese children have lost everything. Before if they would want to play in a park they would be frightened that a plane would bomb them. They had lost their childhood innocence.

国产视频淭hey don国产视频檛 realise that they are safe now. We have to work to return the child国产视频檚 sense of security which they have lost.国产视频�

Baria believes children who go to kindergarten before primary school will benefit hugely in their development and education.

She added: 国产视频淭he children will already have a routine installed into them, where education is part of their life. They will have the basic reading and writing principles before starting school.

国产视频淭hey will know how to work with other children and will have confidence in themselves and would have developed a sense of independence.国产视频�