Supporting Your Children in a Deployment Separation

Signs of Distress  

Parents who do all the right things to prepare their children for a deployment won’t always be able to prevent their children from experiencing stress. The following are signs of separation anxiety that children may exhibit when their parent is away.  

Preschool or Kindergarten Age Children 

• Clinging to people or favorite toy or blanket 
• Unexplained crying or tearfulness 
• Choosing adults over same-age play mates 
• Increased acts of violence toward people or things 
• Shrinking away from people or becoming very quiet 
• Sleep difficulties 
• Eating difficulties  
• Fear of new people or situations 
• Keeps primary care giver in view 

School- Age Children

• Any of the signs listed above, and 
• A rise in complaints about stomachaches, headaches, or other illnesses 
• More irritable 
• Problems at school  
• Anger toward at-home parent 

Adolescents

• Any of the signs listed above, and: 
• Acting out behaviors  
• Low self-esteem and self-criticism. 
• Misdirected anger  
• Sudden or unusual school problems 
• Loss of interest in usual interests and hobbies 

Tips for Supporting Your Children

• Talk to your children openly and honestly as they are very perceptive 
• Share your own feelings which will help children to communicate their feelings 
• Using a map, show your child where you will be going and explore interesting information about that place together. 
• Keep teachers informed about what is happening. 
• Create an activity to track time such as a paper chain. Your child can break a link for each day you are gone. 
• Show your child your workspace if you can. 
• Let you child get more involved in the process by allowing them to help you pack.  

Source:

Deployment: Your Children and Separation. Military.com. - https://www.military.com/spouse/military-deployment/dealing-with-deployment/deployment-children-and-separation.html