Preschool Children Program
The program provides a social and emotional framework for children ages 4-6 and their widowed parents
Preschool children experience the transition to orphanhood as traumatic and complex, as the grief and bereavement are felt even when cognitive and emotional maturity have not been reached. Without suitable treatment of this sensitive situation that befell the young child the trauma may overshadow their adolescence and adult life.
The response we developed at Sunflowers is intended for both the parent and the child together, while in part focusing solely on the child. The program, that was developed by the Sunflowers professional team, combines therapeutic content through suitable games aimed at enabling the child to process the loss and build a renewed relationship with the remaining parent. Socially, the child has the opportunity to meet other children like them, who were also orphaned, and who in the future will be able to be friends with a common shared experience.
Furthermore, during the activities the orphan’s parent has the opportunity to be part of a peer group comprised of widows and widowers who also have preschool children. In this group the parents receive tools for coping with their child’s complex situation, as well as personal professional help in dealing with the everyday challenges of raising the child. Social engagement with the other parents, also widows and widowers, has numerous advantages, and offers an opportunity to build relationships with people in a similar situation, to find a support network and a place where they can freely share and release their feelings.
The project currently operates in Tel Aviv for children from neighboring cities as well. Our aim is to open activity branches for preschool children in the course of 2021 in the cities where the association has operated for a long time, among them Beer Sheva, Hod Hasharon, Kfar Saba and Yafo (a Jewish-Arab branch).
A program for preschool children is opened based on demand. If you would like to take part in the Sunflowers core program please register here »
Questions and Answers
Why a specific group for preschool children?
Contrary to the commonly held notion, orphanhood for preschool children is a traumatic, difficult and complex experience. The grief and bereavement are felt even when the child still lacks cognitive and emotional maturity. A group of typical reactions is characteristic of preschool children who lost a parent: sadness and emotional withdrawal, many times the child expects to meet the parent, intensification of existing anxieties (that the parent left the child because of the child’s behavior), anger, developmental regression, disconnection with reality, and the thought that the parent chose to die. After the parent’s death the child is identified as suffering from trauma, which if not treated may overshadow their entire adolescence. Owing to young children’s inability to express themselves verbally, in most cases the parent and the various professionals are unsuccessful in treating these children.
Why does the parent also take part in the group?
In contrast to the Sunflowers core program, our program for preschool children is conducted together with the children’s parents. We consider it important to strengthen the dyadic relationship between the parent and the child, as this is the age at which the child is dependent on the parent, in this case the remaining parent. We believe in strengthening the parent’s relationship with the child. We believe that by doing so the child will feel more comfortable talking with the parent and building trust in them.
As a parent do I have to participate in the group and its activity?
All parents of the participating children must take part in the group and its activity on a regular basis. In addition to the activity together with the children, there are also sessions in which only the parents meet with the therapist of the Sunflowers branch. These sessions take place once a month throughout the duration of the program. It is important to note that if a parent also wants personal assistance, we will of course be happy to help.
Can my child and I join a group that has already started?
Every group is a cohort. After a group has already started you can register to join the next cohort group that opens.
Can siblings participate in the same group?
Yes, siblings can participate in the same activity group or in the Sunflowers core program.
Do you also accept special needs children?
Yes, we accept anyone who wants to and is able to take part in the group.
What are the group activities?
The first part of a group session is conducted together with the parents, followed by an interactive activity only for the children. The group session ends with a summing up of the activity with the participation of both the parents and the children together.
Is the activity accompanied by a therapist?
All Sunflowers activities are accompanied by therapists, including the preschool children program. Every activity is conducted by a developmental psychologist who accompanies the ongoing activity and also supports the parents in the parent group.