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The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) and Child Care Aware do not endorse nor are we responsible for the information or materials posted on any of the resource’s websites.Helping Children Handle Deployment - Part II
March 20, 2006
(Helping Children Handle Deployment Part I)
This article is a continuation of the Survivingdeployment.com article written by Rachel Robertson and featured on this web-based bi-weekly magazine on March 9, 2006
Activities to Do
There are many simple things the parent at home can do to have fun with their children and make this time memorable. Here are some examples:
- Have Family Fun Nights – Have each child take turns selecting an activity.
- Take turns planning dinners for each other.
- Keep a family timeline during the deployment on a large piece of paper taped on the wall.
- Make a video of the family during deployment. Plan, edit and produce it just like a movie.
- Have board game tournaments.
- Keep a scrapbook.
- Buy a mini-tape recorder and record messages to the deployed parent. Make sure they have a recorder too so they can send messages back.
- Check out a copy of the Guinness Book of World records and try to beat some of the records.
- Draw a circle on a map with an eighty-mile radius from your house. Pick a new place to explore within that circle each weekend.
- Teach your kids to dance.
Journaling
Journaling can be one of the most effective ways to help kids handle deployment. It allows them to explore and learn about themselves in a personal way. According to research done by the American Psychologists Association, journaling increases mental and physical health and is a very effective way to turn angry and confused feelings into clear thoughts. I created Deployment Journal for Kids to help guide military kids through the journaling process during a parent's deployment. See related article - Kids and Journaling and tips for kids about journaling on DeploymentKids.com .
Parents
According to Karen Pavlicin, author of Surviving Deployment: A guide for military families , it is also important for parents to take care of themselves so that they may take better care of their children. "It's like the safety instructions you get on an airline," says Pavlicin. "Secure your own mask before assisting others." That means getting plenty of exercise, sleep, and healthy food. Your lives are already in such chaos from all the changes in a deployment, so establishing a daily routine to ensure you get the basics can go a long way toward keeping yourself and your kids less stressed.
Sometimes parents struggle with this and find themselves taking out their frustrations on their children. If you ever find yourself doing this it is important to understand you are not alone and you must seek help. Contact your family services center, key volunteer or ombudsman for guidance.
There is no doubt that helping kids through a deployment is a challenge, but it doesn't have to be unbearable. Having a plan, sharing feelings, enjoying special times and enlisting the help of family, friends and support services will make things easier on your child and you!
Reprinted with Permission
©Rachel Robertson
For more information and resource regarding support for families of deployed service members:
National Military Families Association
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