In times of war, children do not only lose their homes or schools; they also lose their sense of safety, stability, and trust in the world around them. Between displacement and fear, childhood becomes burdened with anxiety. Recreational initiatives are no longer just passing activities, but a fundamental psychological need that attempts to restore something of children’s lost world, even if only for brief moments.
Jisr Al-Obour: play as relief
In Ain El Mreisseh, along the seaside promenade, the “Jisr Al-Obour” initiative organizes activities for children through cross-sectarian volunteer efforts. Farida, the initiative’s coordinator, explains that the main goal is to ease the burden of displacement and war through activities such as football and drawing.
After it became impossible to hold activities during Eid due to weather conditions and life in tents, the initiative later distributed entertainment packages that included chocolate, muffins, chips, juice, balloons, and play materials, along with drawing sessions. The children’s drawings clearly reflected their emotions—homes they longed for, and flags expressing their sense of belonging.
The initiative also worked to recreate a sense of normal life through simple details such as a sweet corn cart, “to make them feel as if they are on an outing,” as Farida described. Support extended beyond entertainment to include clothing, food supplies, baby formula, diapers, and general assistance for families. She notes that funding for these initiatives depends largely on donations collected through social media.
Cinema… a break from war
In Hamra, the Lebanese National Theater opens its doors to displaced families through free film screenings held almost daily at Cinema Colosseum, in an attempt to provide a warm space that offers moments of joy amid difficult conditions.
Zeinab Ballout, a displaced mother from the southern suburbs, expressed her gratitude for this initiative, noting that her children “buy popcorn and sit as if they are in a normal cinema day, without war.” She added that this experience allowed them to temporarily escape anxiety and connect with other children.
"They buy popcorn and sit as if they are in a cinema on a normal day, without war. "
Batoul Nashar also confirmed the clear psychological impact, as her children immersed themselves in the screening as if they were free from all the pressures they are living through. Nermine shared the experience of her young daughter, who, despite being only two and a half years old, engaged remarkably-imitating movements, dancing, and clapping as if she were at a real celebration. The children themselves, such as Ali, Mehdi, Abbas, and Mohammad, expressed their happiness in simple ways, saying they enjoyed the films and wished the experience could be repeated every day if possible.
Drawing as a safe space
In Baalchmay, students from the Al-Danaf family organized an art activity inside a shelter center, focusing on drawing as a tool for expression and psychological support. Celine Al-Danaf, who supervised the activity, explained that it was not merely recreational, but aimed to recreate familiar environments for children through drawings of land, home, trees, and belonging. She emphasized that the goal was to help children express themselves and connect with their surroundings in safe ways, especially since many are unable to verbally describe what they have experienced.
She added that drawing helps children release feelings of anxiety, anger, and stress, offering them a temporary sense of calm and distraction from fear. It also helps them feel that they are not alone, but part of a group sharing the same experience. The activity extends over several days, encouraging children to meet daily, color together, and share tools. Their drawings are later displayed inside the shelter, creating a warm, colorful environment that fosters a sense of achievement and self-confidence.
She also noted that involving parents in these sessions helps them better understand their children’s psychological state and observe their reactions, making it easier to deal with their stress. Amal Al-Saghir, displaced from Bint Jbeil, said these initiatives restore a sense of school atmosphere for children and help them move away from pressure and depression, emphasizing the need to expand them to include ongoing educational activities, even for a small fee.
Moments of joy in Beit Chabab
In the town of Beit Chabab, the association “Daleh” organized an initiative to support displaced families from the southern suburbs and the south, in an attempt to revive a sense of joy for children. Nour, a volunteer, explained that the initiative came at a sensitive time, as children were forced to leave their homes and everything they owned, “and we wanted to bring back a part of joy and love to them.”
Individual bags were distributed to 56 children, aged between two weeks and 12 years, each labeled with their names and containing various toys and new clothes. The initiative also extended to supporting one of those affected by the bombing by purchasing clothing from his warehouse after he lost his shop.
What children are experiencing today is “more than they can bear.”
Nour explained that what children are going through today is “more than they can handle,” emphasizing that the goal was to offer something simple “that gives them a sense that they still have something of their own, at a time when they have lost so much.” Rola, the coordinator of the Beit Chabab area, added that the response was very positive, with children and mothers expressing joy, and surprise clearly visible on their faces, as if it were a brief break from the weight of reality.
The psychological dimension of play
Psychotherapist Charlotte Khalil explained that a child in wartime does not only experience an external event, but also a deep internal state affecting their nervous system, behavior, and mental health. She stressed that speaking about children means speaking about childhood, and childhood means play.
She emphasized that these activities are not mere entertainment, but a fundamental psychological need. They help reduce stress and anxiety, activate parts of the brain associated with comfort and creativity instead of constant alertness caused by danger, and provide a temporary sense of safety and control. They also help children connect with others, reducing feelings of isolation. Most importantly, these initiatives send a message to children—that someone stands beside them and seeks to ease their suffering, helping them rebuild trust in the world.
Charlotte concluded: “These initiatives may seem simple on the surface-a game, a film screening, or a drawing. But at their core, they represent real psychological support lines for children facing a war beyond their capacity to endure. They are not final solutions, but moments of survival that restore part of a child’s childhood and silently tell them they are not alone.”
Between war and survival
At moments when war seems greater than children’s ability to understand or endure, these initiatives become more than just temporary activities. They are small spaces of safety opened amid chaos, and sincere attempts to repair what has been broken within the child before the outside world. They may not end the war or erase its effects, but they offer children something just as important: a moment to laugh without fear, to play without anxiety, and to feel-even briefly-that the world is still capable of holding them.
