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. Involving children in different ways as you prepare to leave can help ease their stress. Use the checklist below as a guide for involving children as you prepare to leave.

As a Parent, I:

___ Let my children help me get ready for deployment.

___ Let my children pick a special place where I will keep their pictures while I am away.

___ Make plans to include my children in family goodbyes at my point of departure, if possible.

___ Plan to write each child a letter and hide it in a special place to be found later.

As a Family, We:

___ Plan to cook and share a special meal together before I leave.

___ Each share a memory that everyone can cherish.

___ Plan to celebrate a family member's birthday early so that everyone is involved.

___ Make plans for fun activities that we can do together when I return.

___ Share a goodbye hug if I am on alert status, knowing that I may have to leave on short notice.

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

Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. Involving children in different ways as you prepare to leave can help ease their stress. Use the checklist below as a guide for involving children as you prepare to leave.

As a Parent, I:

___ Let my children help me get ready for deployment.

___ Let my children pick a special place where I will keep their pictures while I am away.

___ Make plans to include my children in family goodbyes at my point of departure, if possible.

___ Plan to write each child a letter and hide it in a special place to be found later.

As a Family, We:

___ Plan to cook and share a special meal together before I leave.

___ Each share a memory that everyone can cherish.

___ Plan to celebrate a family member's birthday early so that everyone is involved.

___ Make plans for fun activities that we can do together when I return.

___ Share a goodbye hug if I am on alert status, knowing that I may have to leave on short notice.

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

Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. But when single parents or both parents are deployed, there are extra challenges for families. There are several ways to comfort children during this uncertain time, including planning for their care. Use the checklist below to help guide you in preparing your children and caregiver for your deployment.

With my Children's Primary Caregiver, I:

___ Review childcare plans.

___ Discuss routines and rules to help keep my children on track.

___ Develop a plan to ease the transition from parent to caregiver once I leave.

___ Make plans for a quick transition if I am placed on alert status.

___ Provide important instructions, such as medical information, I.D. card information, command information, school information, transportation plans, mailing addresses, telephone numbers, next of kin, emergency contacts, etc.

___ Discuss how we will communicate while I am away.

___ Give suggestions for talking to my children about my absence and my return.

___ Give suggestions for answering my children's questions about my mission.

With my Children, I:

___ Talk about who will care for them while I am away.

___ Discuss childcare plans, routines, and rules to keep them on track while I am away.

___ Talk about how and when they will go to their new home.

___ Plan which toys, clothes, and other items they can take.

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

Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. But when single parents or both parents are deployed, there are extra challenges for families. There are several ways to comfort children during this uncertain time, including planning for their care. Use the checklist below to help guide you in preparing your children and caregiver for your deployment.

With my Children's Primary Caregiver, I:

___ Review childcare plans.

___ Discuss routines and rules to help keep my children on track.

___ Develop a plan to ease the transition from parent to caregiver once I leave.

___ Make plans for a quick transition if I am placed on alert status.

___ Provide important instructions, such as medical information, I.D. card information, command information, school information, transportation plans, mailing addresses, telephone numbers, next of kin, emergency contacts, etc.

___ Discuss how we will communicate while I am away.

___ Give suggestions for talking to my children about my absence and my return.

___ Give suggestions for answering my children's questions about my mission.

With my Children, I:

___ Talk about who will care for them while I am away.

___ Discuss childcare plans, routines, and rules to keep them on track while I am away.

___ Talk about how and when they will go to their new home.

___ Plan which toys, clothes, and other items they can take.

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

Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. But when single parents or both parents are deployed, there are extra challenges for families. There are several ways to comfort children during this uncertain time, including reassuring them that they will be safe and cared for while you are gone. Use the checklist below to help guide you in preparing your children and caregiver for your deployment.

I ask the Caregiver to:

___ Reassure my children that they are safe and that I will do everything I can to stay safe.

___ Be a sensitive listener for my children and help them feel secure.

___ Show a positive attitude about my mission while I am away.

___ Keep my children from seeing graphic war images in newspapers and on TV.

___ Help my children celebrate special occasions while I am away.

___ Help my children keep journals of things they do to share with me when I return.

___ Help my children communicate with me through letters, e-mails, and phone calls.

___ Help my children count down the days while I am gone. Children can set up a calendar, count beans, or make paper chains.

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

I tell my Children that:

___They will be safe and cared for while I am gone.

___ I will do everything I can to stay safe and that we will be together again.

___We will stay connected through phone calls, letters, e-mails, etc.

___The caregiver will help them manage while I am gone.

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

Deployment is a stressful time for all family members, especially children. But when single parents or both parents are deployed, there are extra challenges for families. There are several ways to comfort children during this uncertain time, including reassuring them that they will be safe and cared for while you are gone. Use the checklist below to help guide you in preparing your children and caregiver for your deployment.

I ask the Caregiver to:

___ Reassure my children that they are safe and that I will do everything I can to stay safe.

___ Be a sensitive listener for my children and help them feel secure.

___ Show a positive attitude about my mission while I am away.

___ Keep my children from seeing graphic war images in newspapers and on TV.

___ Help my children celebrate special occasions while I am away.

___ Help my children keep journals of things they do to share with me when I return.

___ Help my children communicate with me through letters, e-mails, and phone calls.

___ Help my children count down the days while I am gone. Children can set up a calendar, count beans, or make paper chains.

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

I tell my Children that:

___They will be safe and cared for while I am gone.

___ I will do everything I can to stay safe and that we will be together again.

___We will stay connected through phone calls, letters, e-mails, etc.

___The caregiver will help them manage while I am gone.

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