Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. Communicating with children during this time of uncertainty can help ease their stress. Use the checklist below to guide you as you talk to your children about leaving.

As a Parent, I:

___ Am available to my children whenever they need to talk.

___ Allow my children to ask questions.

___ Give open and honest answers using words that they can understand.

___ Encourage my children to share feelings through words, play, drawings, etc.

___ Talk to my children about the changes to come for everyone.

___ Remind my children and myself that separation can be a time for everyone to grow.

___ Assure my children that I will miss them every day and look forward to returning home.

As a Family, We:

___ Talk about why and when I will be leaving and where I will be going, if possible.

___ Talk about what it means to be on alert, if that is my status.

___ Discuss ways we can communicate while I'm away.

___ Find some time to talk about feelings.

___ Discuss ways to feel connected while I'm away.

Download a pdf version of this Checklist suitable for printing and distribution.

Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. Communicating with children during this time of uncertainty can help ease their stress. Use the checklist below to guide you as you talk to your children about leaving.

As a Parent, I:

___ Am available to my children whenever they need to talk.

___ Allow my children to ask questions.

___ Give open and honest answers using words that they can understand.

___ Encourage my children to share feelings through words, play, drawings, etc.

___ Talk to my children about the changes to come for everyone.

___ Remind my children and myself that separation can be a time for everyone to grow.

___ Assure my children that I will miss them every day and look forward to returning home.

As a Family, We:

___ Talk about why and when I will be leaving and where I will be going, if possible.

___ Talk about what it means to be on alert, if that is my status.

___ Discuss ways we can communicate while I'm away.

___ Find some time to talk about feelings.

___ Discuss ways to feel connected while I'm away.

Download a pdf version of this Checklist suitable for printing and distribution.

Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. Reassuring children in many ways can help ease their stress. Use the checklist below as a guide for helping your children share their feelings about deployment.

As a Parent, I:

___ Remind my preschool children that they are not the reason I have to leave and that deployment is part of my job.

___ Reassure my children that they will be safe and cared for while I am away.

___ Tell my children I will do everything I can to return safely.

___ Show confidence in my children's ability to manage while I am gone.

___ Give each child a "comfort item" to hold on to while I am away.

___ Give a picture of myself to each child for him or her to keep.

___ Reassure my children that I will stay in touch as much as possible.

___ Tell my children I will think of them at a special time each day.

___ Give each child lots of reassuring hugs.

___ Watch for signs of stress in my children (nightmares; excessive worry; anxiety about being away from home; anxiety about going to school or other activities; stomach aches, headaches; withdrawal; lack of interest; acting out; and sudden changes in eating or sleeping habits).

___ Seek professional help, if needed.

Download a pdf version of this Checklist suitable for printing and distribution.

Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. Reassuring children in many ways can help ease their stress. Use the checklist below as a guide for helping your children share their feelings about deployment.

As a Parent, I:

___ Remind my preschool children that they are not the reason I have to leave and that deployment is part of my job.

___ Reassure my children that they will be safe and cared for while I am away.

___ Tell my children I will do everything I can to return safely.

___ Show confidence in my children's ability to manage while I am gone.

___ Give each child a "comfort item" to hold on to while I am away.

___ Give a picture of myself to each child for him or her to keep.

___ Reassure my children that I will stay in touch as much as possible.

___ Tell my children I will think of them at a special time each day.

___ Give each child lots of reassuring hugs.

___ Watch for signs of stress in my children (nightmares; excessive worry; anxiety about being away from home; anxiety about going to school or other activities; stomach aches, headaches; withdrawal; lack of interest; acting out; and sudden changes in eating or sleeping habits).

___ Seek professional help, if needed.

Download a pdf version of this Checklist suitable for printing and distribution.

Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. Helping children maintain routines in their lives can ease their stress. Use the checklist below to help guide you in maintaining family routines while you prepare for deployment.

As a Family, We:

___ Keep family routines as normal as possible.

___ Continue family celebrations.

___ Plan ways to continue routines as much as possible while I am away.

___ Make a list of ways to manage the household while I am away.

___ Talk about how family rules still apply while I am away.

___ Remind everyone that I want to be a part of all family decisions, even while I am away.

Download a pdf version of this Checklist suitable for printing and distribution.

Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. Helping children maintain routines in their lives can ease their stress. Use the checklist below to help guide you in maintaining family routines while you prepare for deployment.

As a Family, We:

___ Keep family routines as normal as possible.

___ Continue family celebrations.

___ Plan ways to continue routines as much as possible while I am away.

___ Make a list of ways to manage the household while I am away.

___ Talk about how family rules still apply while I am away.

___ Remind everyone that I want to be a part of all family decisions, even while I am away.

Download a pdf version of this Checklist suitable for printing and distribution.

Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. Doing special things together with children can help ease their stress. Use the checklist below to help children keep their routines as their parent prepares to leave.

As a Family, We:

___ Plan to cook and share a special meal together before the deploying parent leaves.

___ Each share a memory that everyone can cherish.

___ Celebrate a family member's birthday early so that everyone is together.

___ Make plans for activities we can do together when the deploying parent returns.

___ Share a special goodbye hug if the deploying parent is placed on alert status, knowing that he or she may have to leave on short notice.

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.

Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. Doing special things together with children can help ease their stress. Use the checklist below to help children keep their routines as their parent prepares to leave.

As a Family, We:

___ Plan to cook and share a special meal together before the deploying parent leaves.

___ Each share a memory that everyone can cherish.

___ Celebrate a family member's birthday early so that everyone is together.

___ Make plans for activities we can do together when the deploying parent returns.

___ Share a special goodbye hug if the deploying parent is placed on alert status, knowing that he or she may have to leave on short notice.

Download a PDF version of this document suitable for printing and distribution.