“There are no other people’s children”: Uzhhorod teacher addresses challenges faced by IDP preschoolers

What is the problem?

Starting school is a significant event for every family. Naturally, parents want to see their child succeed, stay healthy, and be happy as they begin this new chapter. 

Psychologists highlight that school preparation helps first-graders feel more confident in a new environment. When a child has some practical experience, they experience less stress, adapt more quickly to school activities, interact more easily with adults, and connect with peers—all of which positively impact their mental and physical well-being.

However, not every family can afford to pay for tutors or preparatory classes. This challenge is particularly acute for families of Ukrainian internally displaced persons (IDPs). After moving—often more than once—to a new city or region, losing their usual rhythm of life, housing, and work, these displaced families are frequently forced to save at every turn.

What is the solution?

In Uzhhorod, social pedagogue Oksana Yaremenko, an migrant from Bakhmut, in Ukraine's east, conducts classes for IDP preschoolers. Her express training, based on her own methodology, covers all the knowledge, skills, and abilities a first-grader needs.

These preparatory classes for future schoolchildren were organized by the charity fund SOS Dytyachi Mistechka Ukraine in the Zakarpattia region. The course is free and spans 2.5 months.

How does it work?

The international charitable organization SOS Dytyachi Mistechka Ukraine began its work in Uzhhorod already after the start of the full-scale war in 2022.

"We operate throughout the Zakarpattia region with a team of specialists in social work, psychology, social pedagogy, and corrective education. Most of our team members are forced migrants from the Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions," says Nataliia Kryvoruchko, the manager of the social services sector for SOS Dytyachi Mistechka Ukraine in the Zakarpattia region.

The express course Soon to School has become one of the most eagerly awaited services offered by the Uzhhorod office.

Oksana Yaremenko, originally from Bakhmut, lived her whole life there—growing up, getting an education, starting a family, and working for nearly 17 years as a primary school teacher. However, all of this was upended by the full-scale Russia's invasion.

"It became too dangerous to stay in my city, so my daughter and I left for Dnipro. We lived with friends—three families in a two-room apartment. My daughter, who was graduating from 11th grade, missed the joy of her graduation ceremony and receiving her diploma in person; instead, we received it by mail, and she took her exams in a bomb shelter in a foreign city. Despite all this, my daughter managed to get into Uzhhorod National University on a scholarship. That's how we ended up in Uzhhorod—the city chose us," Yarememnko shares her story.

During this time, Yaremenko continued teaching remotely at her school in Bakhmut and also began working with SOS Dytyachi Mistechka Ukraine.

"The motto of our foundation is that there are no other people's children. After becoming an IDP, I realized that I had the opportunity and the resources to work and share my knowledge and skills with children," she says.

As a social pedagogue, Yaremenko is responsible for addressing the needs of the families supported by the foundation, including leisure activities, education, and personal development. 

Her classes are not only educational but also enjoyable. According to Nataliia Kryvoruchko, weekends at the Center became a true celebration for the youngest participants. The master classes, which were carefully prepared, helped children develop their imagination, fine motor skills, and a sense of beauty. These sessions always left a lasting impression on everyone involved. The children were genuinely happy, and the parents were deeply appreciative.

Yaremenko is always coming up with new activities for the children. They've made crafts from grains and autumn leaves, painted with salt and coffee, and even created charms for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The children built ships and then had fun playing a real "sea battle" with them. After a master class on creating pictures from groats, the Center's manager requested a similar session for all employees.

The teacher also started a Speed Reading group. After just six sessions, elementary school students who regularly attended the group improved their reading speed by two to three times. This success led to parents requesting an educational course for younger children, specifically future schoolchildren.

The author's course Soon to School, developed by Yaremenko at the request of parents, began this summer. The first group of children started classes in July. This express course, lasting 2.5 months, will run continuously, with two mini-groups of six children each participating.

"The level of educational losses during distance learning is no secret, especially due to the occupation of territories, military operations, and forced displacement," says Kryvoruchko, the social sphere manager. "Our goal isn't to reach as many children as possible, but to meet the specific needs of families who require school preparation for their children."

Small groups offer a distinct advantage. For children under six, attention spans are short, and understanding, explaining, and absorbing information requires the teacher's full engagement—an individual approach that's hard to achieve with larger groups.

The Soon to School course provides comprehensive training in math, writing, reading, logic, and cognitive development. Most of Yaremenko's young students are children of displaced families. Classes are held twice a week, and the goal is for the child to acquire all the necessary knowledge and skills for first grade within 2.5 months.

"Parents might manage on their own, but at home, they're still Mom and Dad," Yaremenko explains. "Children see them as caregivers, not as educators. Parents may not always know how to methodically teach writing or arithmetic."

Moreover, the classes provide children with the opportunity to interact with peers, learn teamwork, and develop social skills — all they lack so much due to the ongoing war. They gain knowledge in an environment of healthy competition, which encourages growth and development.

Yaremenko believes that "a child is not a vessel to be filled, but a torch that needs to be lit." This philosophy underpins her teaching methods. She emphasizes that traditional approaches like "sit and write, sit and read, sit and count" are outdated for today's children, often referred to as the Generation Z.

"In our classes, we learn through play. Each day begins with an introduction and greeting because it's important for me to know the child's mood when they arrive. Whether there are 12 or 28 children, I make sure to check in with each one, even if it's just with a 'like' or 'dislike' sign," Yaremenko explains.

She also acknowledges the unique challenges faced by children from IDP families, such as socialization, communication in a new environment, and language barriers. Recognizing that every child is different, she employs a variety of methods to engage them and ease the learning process.

Yaremenko incorporates well-known educational tools into her classes, including the Montessori method, Nikitina's method, mathematical geoboards, Cuisenaire rods, Seguin boards, and interactive boards. She adapts these tools to suit her young students' needs. If she sees positive results, she knows she's on the right track; if not, she's quick to adjust her approach.

Does it really work?

Parents and specialists at the Center observe that children who attend the express course gain confidence in their knowledge and skills and become better at expressing their opinions. They are well-prepared for the new experiences that school will bring.

Nataliia, a refugee from the Zaporizhzhia region and mother of 7-year-old Timofii, shares: 

"My son attends many different groups; I always have to encourage him. But he eagerly looks forward to his school preparation classes!"

Uliana, who is almost 7, and her mother Kateryna, are from the Donetsk region. Kateryna says: 

"Uliana really enjoys the course. Recently, she even signed a birthday card for her father herself.'"

Vera, the mother of 6-year-old Yaroslava from Donetsk, notes: 

"At home, I struggled to interest my daughter in writing or recognizing letters. She could only count to five, painted coloring pages, and 'wrote' wavy lines. Thanks to the course, she now counts orally from 1 to 10 both forwards and backwards, writes numbers, solves simple math problems (like 1+3=4 or 4+1=5), and writes letters and simple words (like mom, dad, forest, peace). She can break words into syllables and give complete answers to questions."

Even more useful solutions!

Starting in mid-September, the Uzhhorod branch of SOS Dytyachi Mistechka Ukraine will launch a new school preparation course for children entering school in 2025. This advanced course will span 10 months.

"We are dedicated to supporting the children of our country. Our goal is to nurture educated, creative, progressive, patriotic, and resilient future leaders!" says Yaremenko.

For parents preparing their children for first grade, the teacher offers these practical tips:

1. Foster Excitement: Create an environment where school is seen as an exciting place full of interesting and useful things to learn.
2. Encourage, Don't Criticize: Focus on celebrating small victories rather than scolding for mistakes. Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process.
3. Engage in Conversation: Regularly talk with your child about their experiences and interests. Engaging in discussions helps with speech development and shows that you are interested in their thoughts.
4. Read Together: Make reading a daily habit. This helps with diction, pronunciation, and memory, and sharpens speech skills.
5. Respect Individuality: Recognize and honor your child's unique temperament, needs, and interests.

These approaches will help prepare children for a successful transition into school life.