Children and Youth

Children and Youth

Deployment brings many challenges

to families. One

of the biggest is helping children cope when Mom

or Dad isn’t available. The information provided

here may help you make things easier during a deployment.

Impact

of Separation

• Emotions and Behavior: Children

  will go through emotional and behavioral stages

  of separation such as denial, anger, bargaining,

  and depression. These stages may be difficult to

  accept and experience; however, successful adjustment

  and emotional and spiritual health demands that

  we deal with them.

• Reaction to Change: There will

  be unexpected information flow — both negative

  and positive — that will, in turn, cause

  family members/Guard members to react in various

  ways. Be ready to listen and answer all questions.

• Roles

  and Responsibilities: There will be changes in

  roles of individuals as well as their responsibilities.

  Family members will have to pick up the responsibility

  for the role that the Guard member filled. Don’t

  expect them to fill the role the same way! They aren’t

  the same people.

• Economics: There may be

  an economic change because one family member

  is now out of the home.

Click on a topic on the right for more detailed information. External links to other useful web sites are also provided.