Ukraine

The way a Ukrainian spends his or her childhood has changed dramatically over the years. Children of old played with beautiful, traditional toys crafted by hand and then with the cold, utilitarian toys of Russia in the time of the Soviet Union. Childhood development and play have not been a top priority for most people for a long time; survival has. Play is making a comeback, though. The Ukrainian government is putting new programs into place, and attention is being focused on childhood development. Children's needs beyond the basic essentials are now being given attention.

Ukraine has a strong tradition of toy making. Traditional Ukrainian toys are strong and beautiful. They are generally made out of natural materials like fabric, clay, wood, and straw. These traditional toys are becoming popular again. Examples of traditional toys include carved whistles (usually made of wood), stuffed animals, handmade Christmas decorations, and dolls. Many of the toys illustrate Ukraine's history and culture by portraying important Ukrainian historical figures or popular characters from well-known folk tales. Along with a strong tradition of toy making, there are also many traditional children's games.

The many traditional children's games of the Ukraine require nothing more than willing players. One of the more popular games is Dragon. Children form a chain by putting their hands on the shoulders of the children in front of them. The first person in line is the dragon's “head,” and the last person is its “tail.” The children begin running around, with the head trying to catch the tail. No hands can be used, or the chain will be broken, and the game begin again. Other popular children's games are Blind Cat, or Eyes, and Old Woman Kutsia, which is similar to the game Blind Man's Bluff. Many of these games are still popular because they do not cost any money and are relatively simple to play.

During the time that Ukraine was part of a Communist state, toys were impersonal and utilitarian. New games were more propaganda than they were fun. In the 1930s, a small sign hung from each tree in the city of Kharkov. Each sign showed the name of the tree's child monitor. If any harm befell that tree, the child was required to report it. Children were left alone or with their grandparents while their parents went to work or tried to find other ways of obtaining money. Any extra money went to necessities like new shoes or jackets. During this time, children grew up fast, and many ended up on the streets. Communist Ukraine was a difficult place for childhood and play to inhabit.

Many problems from its time under communist rule have carried over into modern Ukraine. Living standards are extremely low. Many families cannot send [Page 738]their children to preschool because they do not have the money for school supplies, proper clothing, or school and class fees. Most often, parents' careers and jobs come first; little attention is paid to the children. Also, there are still many homeless children in Ukraine. These children's priority is to survive; there is little time to play. Results from a study on a group of 50 at-risk children showed that 39 percent of the children began smoking by the age of 5,48 percent started to use alcohol by the age of 5, and 24 percent constantly used drugs. The Ukrainian government recognizes these problems and is working toward abolishing them. Many of the problems children faced are present in modern Ukraine, but efforts are being made to get rid of them, and the situation is getting better.

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