141st - Deployment Resources (Ages 8-12) Deployment - Emotional Signs and Coping Strategies 0-3 3-5 5-8 8-12 13-18 Adults Children: Ages 8-12 Pre-Deployment Emotional Signs: More irritability or crabbiness Increased fear for deployed parents safety Increased school problems, dropped grades, unwillingness to attend, odd complaints about school/friends Suggestions for Coping: Praise children for their efforts to cope with the pending separation Listen to your children; ask for their opinions, preferences If possible, show children deployment location on globe or map Brainstorm with children creative ways of keeping in touch...cassette tapes, puzzle letters, encoded messages, etc. While packing, suggest a "swap" of some token, something of the child's that can be packed in your duffle bag in return for something that belongs to the deploying parent During Deployment Emotional Signs: A rise in complaints about stomachaches, headaches, or other illnesses when nothing seems to be wrong More irritability or crabbiness Increased fears for the welfare of deployed parent Suggestions for Coping: Give children a method of measuring the passage of time such as a ceremonial crossing-off on each day on the calendar Talk about the deployed parent often and spend time looking at scrapbooks and photo albums with children Encourage children to write letters to the deployed parent Keep the lines of communication open between you, your children, and the children's teacher. Reunion / Homecoming Emotional Signs: Increased guilt they didn't do enough in the deployed parent's absence Temporary uncertainty regarding the impact of the deployed parent's return Suggestions for Coping: Praise children for their efforts to cope with the separation Listen to your children; ask for their opinions, preferences Review school work with your children Share scrapbooks, pictures, etc.