A balloon and a ball of yarn to help parents and children in relieving themselves from worries and anxiety
A balloon and a ball of yarn to help parents and children in relieving themselves from worries and anxiety
Due to the ongoing war in Gaza, our Psychosocial Support (PSS) team in South Lebanon engaged in therapeutic activities with children and parents who are consistently experiencing high levels of stress, hindering them from articulating their fears and anxieties. In response, the team utilized balloons and ball yarns to provide relief to both children and parents grappling with the profound impact of the security situation.
Children openly shared their fears, expressing a deep concern about Lebanon facing a fate similar to Gaza. Some children articulated the haunting worry that they might wake up one day to find their siblings or parents missing. Parents, particularly mothers, expressed that their anxiety makes it challenging for them to properly care for their children.
To address these anxieties, the children were encouraged to participate in balloon whistling as a symbolic act of releasing their pent-up stress and fears.
Standing in a circle, representing a collective circle of stress, parents articulated their emotions and symbolically released them by throwing them into the circle while vocalizing the burdens weighing heavily on their hearts. They also passed a ball of yarn back and forth, creating what resembled a solidarity spider web.
By the end of the session, children expressed that they felt safe and supported, while parents noted a collective sense of resilience among the group. The therapeutic activities provided a constructive and supportive space for both children and parents to navigate the challenges brought about by the ongoing conflict.
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