Huggy Puppy - cuddly toy intervention to alleviate the effects of trauma and stress in young refugee children

(Flyer)

Ukraine; war of aggression; refugees; psychological support; trauma; grief; early intervention; prevention; preschool children; cuddly toys; Huggy Puppy

Dr rer. nat. Andrea Hahnefeld

Psychological psychotherapist (VT) with further training in special psychotrauma therapy with children and adolescents (DeGPT)

TU Munich, Chair of Social Paediatrics

kbo Children's Centre

Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF)

01.05.2022 - 30.04.2023

Experiencing the war of aggression in Ukraine, fleeing to Germany and being separated from their home and often also from their fathers can place a considerable psychological burden on Ukrainian children. The potentially traumatic events often exceed the children's ability to cope with the associated fear and stress. The psychological burden can still be high even after the children are safe.

The "Huggy Puppy" early intervention programme was developed by a team of researchers in Israel in 2006 (Sadeh, Hen-Gal & Tikotzky, 2008). It can be offered to children of pre-school and primary school age who have been exposed to stressful or traumatising experiences. The intervention can help children to use active stress management strategies and regulate their emotions. By caring for and building a bond with the cuddly toy, stress and trauma reactions can be alleviated.

The project is being implemented together with Dr Andrea Hahnefeld, who also offers the intervention in her Interdisciplinary Child Trauma Consultation (IKTS) in Munich.

The "Huggy Puppy" intervention is offered for refugee Ukrainian children aged 3 - 10 years. At the first appointment, after getting to know each other, there is a psychoeducation session for parents and children about trauma, the needs of children and support options. A Ukrainian psychologist then introduces the children to the soft toys. She tells them a story that tells the children that Huggy the teddy bear is also far away from home, sad and alone. The children are asked if they would like to look after Huggy. If they agree, the children are shown how to hug the teddy bear and how they can be hugged. Parents are asked to support the children's interest in the soft toy. After three weeks, there is another meeting with the family with feedback on the intervention. At both meetings, a screening is carried out to assess the children's symptoms.

The intervention has already been carried out with a number of children and is being scientifically monitored and continuously developed based on the experience of those carrying it out.

University Hospital Ulm

Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry & Psychotherapy

Steinhövelstr. 2

89075 Ulm

Project staff: Maria Hrynova & Selina Gehring

E-mail: ukraine.kjp[at]uniklinik-ulm.de

The "Huggy Puppy" project is supported by the Vector Foundation, which provides funding as part of an emergency aid programme to employ Ukrainian researchers who have fled their country.

The cuddly toys used in the intervention are donated by the company Steiff (Margarete Steiff GmbH).