The Khvylyalka method is a resourceful art-therapeutic technique designed to reduce anxiety and develop emotional resilience in children. Through creativity, play, and tactile contact, it helps children better understand and process emotions in a safe way. Khvylyalka helps create a space of silence, focus, and self-care—especially vital in times of instability and high emotional stress.

The story of its creation

The Khvylyalka method was developed in the spring of 2022 by a team of psychologists from the Ridni Foundation in response to the urgent need for psychological support for children during the full-scale war.
The technique was inspired by Guatemalan “Worry Dolls” but adapted to the Ukrainian context — incorporating the experience of war and the profound need for safety and emotional stability.
The name Khvylyalka was born from a blend of two Ukrainian words: khvylyuvannya (worry/anxiety) and lyalka (doll).

How the Khvylyalka method works

The core element of the method is the hand-crafting of a Khvylyalka doll. In the creative process, the child doesn’t just make a toy; they fill it with symbols of support that are meaningful to them.

This creative process facilitates: restoring a sense of control and inner strength; calming through touch and concentration; gentle contact between the child and their inner experiences.

Khvylyalka becomes a “little helper”— someone to whom a child can entrust their worries, fears, or tension.

A helper in your hand

Khvylyalka is not just a ready-made toy, but an image created by the child themselves. It can resemble the author, a loved one, a favorite hero, or possess imaginary “superpowers.” Every child needs someone to talk to; Khvylyalka becomes that companion, brought to life through the child’s imagination.

A blend of sensory and emotional experience

The method works at the intersection of sensory experience, creative self-expression, and emotional support. It helps restore confidence even when the outside world remains unpredictable.

Trust and self-regulation

Once emotions are voiced, they become clearer and easier to process. Children can share their worries with Khvylyalka, write it notes, or place it under their pillow at night. This helps develop basic self-regulation skills — learning to notice feelings, describe them in words, and share them.

Emotional intelligence development

By creating a story for their character, children learn to recognize their own emotions and express them safely.

Support in difficult moments

A child can use Khvylyalka for self-soothing in various situations: during a lesson, in a shelter, or in a new, unfamiliar environment. It serves as a physical reminder that the child is not alone.

Making contact

Creating a Khvylyalka together reduces tension, helping to establish a safe space and a trusting relationship between the child and the specialist.

Self-expression through creativity

The process is free from strict rules, evaluations, or limitations, allowing the child to freely express themselves through colors, materials, and imagery.

A tool always at hand

The method is universal and can be used in individual therapy, group workshops, or parent-child meetings.

Teaching self-help

Specialists use this method to teach children how to recognize and cope with anxiety, fostering resilience that can be applied in any challenging situation.