Rituals give children support and security

Rituals give children security

Rituals play a central role in children's lives. They provide security, orientation and a feeling of security, especially in times of change or uncertainty. At the SOS Children's Village, we therefore attach great importance to rituals that give children reliability and trust.

Exclusive time in everyday life

One particularly valuable example is the evening ritual in a shared flat at the SOS Children's Village Carinthia. Before going to bed, each child is given around 15 to 20 minutes of personal, exclusive time with a social worker. Whether it's a story, a conversation, a game or being tucked in together: These rituals convey to every child that they are important and are seen.

Children also experience community, belonging and cohesion at celebrations, be it birthdays or the Kinderdorf festival.

Rituals create trust

Children who have had difficult experiences benefit particularly from rituals. They counteract the feeling of loss of control, create predictability and help to build new trust. Even if a child does not participate, the ritual remains. In this way, children learn that closeness and security are not tied to conditions.

Preserve your own rituals - develop new rituals

Many children bring their own rituals from their families of origin, for example a song, a saying or a special birthday routine. These rituals are integrated into the SOS Children's Village and combined with new traditions. This creates a lively everyday life in which children preserve their roots and at the same time gain new experiences of safety and security.