overwhelmed at times. When parents feel stressed, their children may be affected.
HOW OFTEN DOES THIS STATEMENT
OCCUR?
WAYS TO REACH MORE CONSISTENCY
Adopted from Kids Have Stress Too! A program of the Psychology Foundation of Canada
http://www.psychologyfoundation.org/Public/Public/Programs/Kids_Have_Stress_Too/Kids_Have_Stress_Too_.aspx
DEPLOYMENT TIPS FOR DEPLOYING PARENTS
PRE-DEPLOYMENT
• Be the one to tell the children about deployment. They should be told ahead of time, and more than once.
• Talk face to face with children, being open and honest concerning feelings about deployment.
• Allow talking about separation to be a part of regular conversation during dinnertime, bedtime, or while
driving around.
• Give children the heads-up about situations that may occur during deployment missing birthdays or holidays,
changes in routine.
• Work at building an emotional bond. Spend quality time with each child. Younger children (8 and under)
respond to shorter periods of time1/2 hour and physical contact. Give them lots of hugs!
• Emphasize the priority of safety (especially for 9-11 yr olds). Express your sense of pride in your work.
• Respect and support non-deployed parent in role as disciplinarian.
• Allow children to assist in packing roll socks in balls, count t-shirts.
• Swap a small token- something of your child's that can be easily packed into your bag for something in return
of yours a key ring, hat, or old shirt to sleep in.
• Children may enjoy helping deploying parents decorate the inside of their clothing lockers by giving them
pictures they have drawn or photographs of themselves with deployed parent to hang in the locker.
DURING DEPLOYMENT
• Put forth extra effort to stay in touch with children.
