But a large 6.4 magnitude earthquake last Monday shattered efforts to give the children some feeling of normalcy amid weeks of terrifying after shocks.
A video provided by Erdal Çoban, one of the volunteers and the art director of the Sokak Atölyesi, shows the children's cheers and singing turn to screaming.
"Stay calm," one yelled as another held onto a toddler she was carrying.
"CONSTANT, CHRONIC STRESS"
Turkish people had already been under significant pressure, said Ayşe Bilge Selçuk, a professor and psychologist at Koç University, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the earthquake has taken it to the next level.
"The stress is chronic and constant and it is now beyond a level that we can cope with," Selçuk said. "For this nation to get back on its feet, we need to find that strength within us and that starts with our psychology," she added.
People look numb, likely a defense mechanism to deal with insurmountable stress, according to Selçuk. Anxiety, helplessness and depression are likely to be common and young people could feel a sense of rage.
Rebuilding efforts should include mental health, Selçuk said, urging the government to provide funding for trained psychologists to be sent to the quake zone and stay there. "Sustainability is key. We shouldn't withdraw our attention three months later," she said.
