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 to guide you as you seek to reassure your children.

As a Parent, I:

___ Recognize that my children might feel and display a variety of emotions during this time.

___ Let my children know it is okay to share whatever they are feeling.

___ Let my children know that other children share similar feelings when their parents are deploying.

___ Assure my children that the deploying parent is leaving to do a special job for our country.

___ Reassure my children that they will be safe and cared for while the deploying parent is away.

___ Reassure my children that the deploying parent will do everything he or she can to stay safe.

___ Am confident that my children and I will manage while the deploying parent is away.

___ Show a positive attitude toward the mission of the deploying parent.

___ Read books with my children about separation.

___ Give each child lots of reassuring hugs and stay as close as possible to each child.

___ 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).

___ Realize that my children might have more anxiety than usual if the parent is placed on alert status.

___ Seek professional help, if needed.

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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 to guide you as you seek to reassure your children.

As a Parent, I:

___ Recognize that my children might feel and display a variety of emotions during this time.

___ Let my children know it is okay to share whatever they are feeling.

___ Let my children know that other children share similar feelings when their parents are deploying.

___ Assure my children that the deploying parent is leaving to do a special job for our country.

___ Reassure my children that they will be safe and cared for while the deploying parent is away.

___ Reassure my children that the deploying parent will do everything he or she can to stay safe.

___ Am confident that my children and I will manage while the deploying parent is away.

___ Show a positive attitude toward the mission of the deploying parent.

___ Read books with my children about separation.

___ Give each child lots of reassuring hugs and stay as close as possible to each child.

___ 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).

___ Realize that my children might have more anxiety than usual if the parent is placed on alert status.

___ Seek professional help, if needed.

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

Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. Maintaining routines 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:

___ Keep family routines as normal as possible.

___ Discuss changes to everyday life that may occur when the deploying parent leaves.

___ Make a list of ways our children can help while the deploying parent is away.

___ Remind everyone that family rules apply while the deploying parent is away.

___ Remind everyone that the deploying parent will help make all family decisions.

___ Give everyone time to adjust to the change at their own rate and in their own way.

___ Find some time to talk about feelings.

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

Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. Maintaining routines 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:

___ Keep family routines as normal as possible.

___ Discuss changes to everyday life that may occur when the deploying parent leaves.

___ Make a list of ways our children can help while the deploying parent is away.

___ Remind everyone that family rules apply while the deploying parent is away.

___ Remind everyone that the deploying parent will help make all family decisions.

___ Give everyone time to adjust to the change at their own rate and in their own way.

___ Find some time to talk about feelings.

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.

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.