A new Hebrew-language book by trauma-informed educator Yulie Khromchenco offers insights into supporting children during wartime, drawing on experiences from Israel, Ukraine, and other conflict zones. Published in November 2025, “It Is Safe Here” aims to guide parents, teachers, and local officials in providing spaces for healing and resilience amid ongoing crises.

Khromchenco, who began her career as a journalist before shifting to education and humanitarian work, initially volunteered to assist children fleeing the Ukraine conflict. Collaborating with organizations such as Early Starters International and IsraAID, she helped establish “safe spaces” at the Ukraine-Moldova border—informal educational settings designed to foster emotional support, social skills, and resilience through play and positive adult-child interactions, rather than formal academic instruction.

The work expanded to aid refugees in New York, mainly from Colombia and Venezuela, where many families had shelter but limited support for children’s psychological and developmental needs. In Israel, Khromchenco’s efforts intensified after the outbreak of renewed conflict following missile attacks launched from Iran. Since October 7, her organization has opened 17 centers in hotels accommodating evacuees from Gaza and northern Israel, providing children with environments emphasizing connection, play, and emotional safety.

The book stresses that children’s needs are often deprioritized during emergencies, overshadowed by adults’ focus on survival, food, and shelter. Yet Khromchenco emphasizes that sustaining childhood routines and emotional bonds is crucial for healthy development in times of adversity. She advises parents and caregivers to foster continuity amid disruption, even when family members serve in reserve forces or when children face loss, by maintaining consistent routines and support networks that include extended family or friends.

According to Khromchenco, caregiving adults do not need to assume the role of psychologists; instead, their presence and attentiveness provide essential reassurance. Simple interactions—such as shared play, laughter, or physical affection—help children feel secure and understood. The goal is to help children regulate their emotions and maintain optimism despite the challenges they face.

While children’s developmental needs remain largely consistent across different conflict-affected regions—including Israel, Ukraine, Lebanon, and Iran—the book notes that approaches to parenting and communication vary according to cultural and situational contexts. For example, explaining ongoing warfare differs from addressing natural disasters, though the core principles of nurturing resilience hold true.

Khromchenco deliberately wrote the guide in accessible language to reach a broad audience, aiming to empower not only parents but also educators and policymakers. She sees creating safe, supportive environments for children during collective trauma as a shared societal responsibility, drawing parallels to protective behaviors seen in the animal kingdom. Plans are underway to translate the book into English and Ukrainian to extend its reach.

As civilian populations increasingly endure prolonged crises, Khromchenco’s work highlights the importance of collective care and structured support for children’s well-being, underscoring the need for communities to prioritize their youngest members’ safety and emotional security.