THE MAGIC MITTEN APP
Helping Children Cope with
the Aftermath of War
What is The Magic Mitten?
Engaging Digital Game
The Magic Mitten is an engaging digital game designed to help children affected by war.
Based on Research
The concept of The Magic Mitten is based on evidence-based research on social and emotional learning and coping strategies for children.
Tools for Coping
The Magic Mitten offers a variety of tools to help children cope with challenges such as loss, fear, and painful memories.
Storytelling and Illustrations
The Magic Mitten is based on a Ukrainian fairy tale and illustrated by Bíbor Timko, making it a unique and enjoyable experience for children.
The Magic Mitten app provides children with valuable tools to help them cope with stress and adversity, available in several languages, like English, Ukrainian, Arabic and Hungarian.
It can be used in several ways: by the children alone or accompanied by their parents, creating room for meaningful conversations that might not occur otherwise. It can also be used in group sessions led by a facilitator.
The app has been piloted in several countries since 2023: it is currently implemented in a series of workshops by Child Smile Initative and the London House of Consultants in the Gaza strip, reaching several hundered children with promising results and positive impact. It has been also implemented in Lebanon and Norway, reaching over 150 Syrian and Lebanese children.
In Ukraine, the digital app version has been used by children, parents, and therapists – even
in bunkers during attacks – providing a trusted self-help tool and complementing PTSD
treatment at MSF’s Vinnytsia clinic. Across all settings, The Magic Mitten proved to be
a feasible, evidence-informed intervention enhancing children’s emotional strength and hope during crisis.
