Kirill came to PlayHub for the first time with his dad. It was an unusual situation, because more often children are brought by their mothers or grandmothers. Kirill's dad is a military man. And although his service did not allow him to be with his son all the time, he tried to devote every free minute to his child. It was he who insisted that Kirill start visiting PlayHub, because he saw that his son needed a new environment for development and communication.

The first days at Play Hub

Kirill was a smart but withdrawn boy. He had almost no contact with children, did not join in joint games, and always waited for a hint or permission from his father before doing anything. It was noticeable that he was very attached to his father. And at times when his father had to go on business, the boy became restless and anxious.

Talking to the father, the specialists understood that he wanted to help his son become more independent, learn to overcome difficulties, and feel more confident among his peers. However, due to his constant business trips, he was afraid that he could not give Kirill the amount of attention the boy needed.

Working with Kirill and his dad

The PlayHub psychologist developed an individual support plan that included:

• joint activities for father and son — game-based learning methods, joint tasks, and creative activities such as participatory art, where both actively participated and worked as a team. This helped Kirill both feel supported by his father, and the father better understand his son's needs;
• individual lessons with Kirillka - learning through play, interactive games that helped him show initiative, develop communication skills and become more independent;
• individual consultations with his father—meetings during which they discussed how he could support his son's development, even from a distance.

The first changes

After a few weeks of visits, it became noticeable that Kirill began to open up. He was no longer afraid to approach other children, and became more active in group games. At first, he still looked for his father, but he increasingly acted independently.

When his father went on a business trip again, Kyryl was worried at first, but now he knew that his dad would always come back, and that friends and interesting activities were waiting for him at PlayHub. The hub's specialists also taught Kyryl to stay in touch with his dad through small daily rituals. For example, the boy would draw a picture for his dad before going to bed, and he would send him a voice message.

In a few months

Kirill became much more confident. He began to take the initiative in games, willingly completed creative tasks, and communicated more with his peers. Most importantly, he learned to trust not only his dad, but also other adults around him.

His father noticed the changes too. They started talking more about emotions, planning time together. Dad realized that even though he was far away, he could still be an important part of his son's life.

This story is still ongoing, but we are sure: Kirill has already taken a big step towards growing up as an independent, open, and self-confident boy. And his dad is the main example for him in this.