Homefront Parent Fact Sheets

Deployment is a very stressful time for all family members, especially children. The uncertainty of when or if things will return to normal can make a child's life very difficult. What can you do to help make this trying time easier for your children? There are a few ideas in this series of fact sheets for the Homefront Parent:

Pre-Deployment

Talking About Preparing to Leave - Keeping the lines of communication open during deployment preparation can be key in reducing stress levels in your family. As you prepare for the deployment of your spouse, some of the ideas in this fact sheet will help you to communicate, and possibly reduce family tension.

Talking About Your Thoughts on Deployment - Here are some suggestions for encouraging your family to share their thoughts about deployment. Sharing these thoughts can help to reduce your stress levels.

Keeping Routines While Preparing to Leave - Children like and need routines. Deployment often makes it necessary to change some aspects of family life, but when children know what to expect, it helps them feel safer and more secure. Here are a few ideas to help you and your children maintain routines to help everyone cope during this time.

Deployment

Talking While a Parent is Away - After the deployed parent leaves, daily activities may become more routine. While this is good, it is still important to talk about what is happening and to learn what your children are feeling. Here are a few ideas to help you and your children cope during this time.

Media Exposure While a Parent is Away - During times of military conflict, news reports and images may be confusing or frightening to children. What can you do to help make this difficult time easier for your child? Here are a few ideas for helping your children cope while a parent is away.

Taking Care of Yourself While a Parent is Away - When your spouse is away on assignment, it can be a time of worries and fears for the whole family. What can you do to help make this difficult time easier for your children? One of the best ways is to take care of yourself and not neglect your needs. The better you care for yourself, the better you will be able to meet your children's needs. Here are a few ideas for taking care of yourself while a parent is away.

Reunion

Talking About the Return of a Parent - The reunion of your family can be a building block or a stumbling block. Here are some ideas of things you can do to help you and your children prepare for the return of the deployed parent.

Keeping Routines During the Return of a Parent - Reunions create big changes for your whole family. During these changes, it is important that your children continue in many of their same routines. Knowing what to expect helps them to feel safer and more secure.

Preparing Yourself for the Deployed Parent's Return - The reunion of your family is a good time, but there are often many adjustments that everyone needs to make. Read through this list of things as you prepare for the reunion. What can you do to help you and your children adjust during this time?