My husband will be depoying soon, and I need some ideas to help my 3 year old and 1 1/2 year old cope with his depoyment. Most references I have checked out are for older kids. I will give best answer.
2007-08-11 05:59:11 · 10 answers · asked by LayLooLaRose 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
There are some things that we did with our kids:
-Have dad read from a book onto a tape and keep the book and tape behind and let the kids listen to it.
-take pictures of dad with kids (with each one separately and together). then get frames and put the pictures in there and put them in their rooms. Or you can even buy frames that they can decorate with dad before he leaves and use those ones.
-Let them draw pictures for their dad and send them to him while he is gone. Have pre-addressed envelopes on the table for them (at least the older one) to put his picture into it and walk with him to the mailbox. Let them put it in the mailbox.
-Sesame Street has a really good video with Elmo that is free of charge for military members:
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc/
http://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/display.aspx?ModuleID=ae74eaa3-d1b6-4dbd-b23e-354880172094&Mode=User&action=material&CatID=fb92f69d-bd32-4e16-a0d7-0f3074a3241c&IssueID=ab3b1c71-6707-4ce2-be6b-c4362bb94246&ObjectID=b4f794c5-2a60-4f81-b69a-20a524720e2b
-http://www.operationhomefront.org/Info/info_kids.shtml
has a coloring book to print and other info for 2-4 year olds
-http://www.operationhomefront.org/downloads/My_Goodbye_Book.pdf and this one http://www.operationhomefront.org/Info/info_deploy.shtml
-prepare a map of where daddy will be going to put on their bedroom wall
-http://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/display.aspx?ModuleID=ae74eaa3-d1b6-4dbd-b23e-354880172094&Mode=User&action=issue&CatID=fb92f69d-bd32-4e16-a0d7-0f3074a3241c&ObjectID=ab3b1c71-6707-4ce2-be6b-c4362bb94246
-http://www.deploymentkids.com/
-make a paper chain with a link for each day you will be gone that the child can use to measure time (the child will break a link each day). Estimate on this, add extra links if need be, that way hey he is home before the links are gone instead of not being home and the links are all gone
-Daddy dolls, these are cute and they can take daddy with them where-ever they go:
http://daddydolls.com/index.php
-Flat Daddies are good to but to big to take with you. lol. Military that have deployed mom or dad, just have to pay for shipping and handling: http://flatdaddies.com/
-Buy a webcam and give one to your hubby if possible (might have to find this info out after he is deployed)
-http://www.survivingdeployment.com/
some of these books might be good:
http://militaryfamilybooks.com/productcart/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=3
http://www.amazon.com/Miss-You-Military-About-Deployment/dp/1591025346/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-9141264-0666025?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186857878&sr=8-1 this one leads to one book but you can see alot of other books on deployment and kids
This is all I have for now. Make sure that even though they are young that dad can stay involved to. Every so often send a photo album with pictures of the kids to him.
Take care and good luck
If you need anything like carepackages to send or cake in a jar receipes let me know. I have tons of things like this ( I am going through my 3rd Iraq tour).
I hope some of these help
2007-08-11 07:48:42 · answer #1 · answered by ckamk1995 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A lot of great ideas here, these might help also. Buy dad a recorder or a laptop to send messages home and how about some life-size cutouts to place around the house. Get updated pix from dad as he will change as time goes by. Tell the kids their daddy is doing a great and heroic thing for them and the rest of the world. Their daddy's job is to be someone's hero. Not everyone sees this as a truth but we all know he is making a great sacrifice to do his job. Also do the same for daddy as he will not know these boys by the time they see each other again. There are so many organizations to help you here at home but you might do some checking as to what daddy has available to him. Tell your hubby that as a former serviceman myself I thank him and admire what he is doing for us all. I wish him and you all the best!!!!! His sacrifices do not go unnoticed by all. Some of us know exactly what he will see and feel. STAY SAFE!!!! BTW, if you happen to have a spy shop near you buy dad some improvised munitions manuals so he will be able to recognize them when he sees them. It is a valuable resource for a person in this case especially!!!!!
2007-08-11 06:26:17 · answer #2 · answered by pappyld04 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, find out if they understand exactly what their daddy is doing. It's a lot different than him going on a business trip. Explain that daddy is going to help people who aren't as fortunate as we are. Don't delve into details or how dangerous it is. That will only scare them. Get invlolved with your Family Readiness Group. Lots of them have events and stuff geared towards all kinds of kids, big and small. Keep a calender and make it a routine that every day at some point (when they get up, lunchtime, bedtime etc.) to mark it off as one day closer to when daddy comes home. Most of all, keep them distracted. Get them involved in play groups, day camps, etc. The less time they have to think about daddy not being home, the better. Good luck and god bless yours and all our men and women serving.
2007-08-11 06:51:49 · answer #3 · answered by Mommy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The military have some kind of "family kit"....
"Free Kits for Families with Young Children
Sesame Workshop and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. with additional support from the New York office of Mental Health (NYSOMH) and the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), have partnered to produce a new project, “Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families During Military Deployment.” These bilingual kits will help military families and their young children cope with the feelings, challenges, and concerns experienced during various phases of deployment--pre-deployment, deployment and homecoming. Each kit includes: (1) a Sesame Street DVD, (2) a parent/caregiver magazine, and (3) a children's activity poster. To request your free kit or download all the materials, visit the Talk, Listen Connect Website at http://www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc/ on August 1, 2006."
http://www.military.com/MilitaryReport/0,12914,MR_Print_060731,00.html?ESRC=miltrep.nl
2007-08-11 06:08:51 · answer #4 · answered by whathappentothisnation 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I accept as true with people who say the 1st element of do is to get the newborn familiar with the concept that Daddy will could desire to circulate. Have him clarify to the boy that each and all and sundry has to paintings and Daddy's interest ability that staggering now he has to circulate a techniques away and help some human beings there stay secure from undesirable adult adult males. i think of having Junior help Dad p.c.. is a sturdy concept too. It facilitates them take part in something jointly. as quickly as Dad is there if in any respect achieveable, i could attempt to characteristic some form of recurring which you do often, no count if it incredibly is a conventional short cellular telephone call or a weekly letter from Dad (you would be able to desire to help Junior write back) or as numerous others have pronounced the DVD of father examining a e book. something that reminds him that basically because of the fact Daddy had to circulate does not advise that he does not love him or think of roughly him. you additionally can ask another militia different halves you recognize what THEY did whilst hubby replaced into away (or hubbys if their spouse replaced into interior the service. My sister-in-regulation replaced into interior the army temporarily yet replaced into able to return before giving delivery fortuitously.) according to probability they have a reliable concept no person right here has pronounced. it incredibly is achieveable that your boy chatting with different boys whose daddy's went away for awhile could desire to help him. I additionally agree that while you're particular of his return date, marking ruin day on the calendar until Daddy's return will help the teen get by it. If there is the slightest probability his excursion could be prolonged, in spite of the shown fact that, i does not. I teach 3 365 days olds at my church and notice how disenchanted they are whilst the different mom and dad come and that i've got suggested theirs would be there in "purely a minute" and that they are working previous as a results of p.c.. them back up because of the fact service runs long. A promise of "the next day" that replaced into broken by numerous weeks or months could be greater devastating to a sprint one. i could fairly not make the promise...
2016-12-15 12:02:42 · answer #5 · answered by louthan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A very delicate question about a delicate situation. The best way to make these little ones understand is to tell them that their Dad has to go away to help other people and will be back soon!
2007-08-11 06:06:28 · answer #6 · answered by Sami V 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Before I left on deployment, I bought a whole bunch of cards in advance, signed them and gave them to be handed over at the appropriate time to the little one. Pictures, email and cards help.
2007-08-11 06:06:06 · answer #7 · answered by Guessses, A.R.T. 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
one thing I've heard that I thought would be great is to record your husband reading some bedtime stories. Then you can play them back at night while he's gone until he returns. Please thank him for going for us all, and we'll pray for a safe and quick return.
2007-08-11 06:09:38 · answer #8 · answered by David B 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Im glad you asked this one layloolarose, sounds like you've got a lot of time to kill and very little to do. I'd like to recommend that you choose an activity that makes them physically strong, gives them confidence, and discipline. I suggest full-contact bare-knuckle streetfighting. For the present youre going to need something that keeps those two on their toes physically and mentally, because I know their little asses are running you to death. So you give each of those little terrors a Zima, or a Bacardi O, or a Mikes rasberry lemonade (it really doesnt matter as there are many alcaholic beverages that kids would like). Then you tell them that they have to fight so you can decide who youre going to buy some toys for. While all this is going on you tape it on your Helio so you can instantly put the video on MySpace Mobile or YouTube. Then after all this is over you tell the loser that you dont love him anymore and get McDonalds .
2007-08-11 06:19:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 7⤋
be honest-cause later in life they'll find out the truth anyway.
2007-08-11 06:03:42 · answer #10 · answered by almostvoid 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋