Parenting Tip of the Week - Ways to Support Your Children Through Family Changes
Source: Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP) Weekly eNewsletter
As a parent, how would you describe qualities of military children? Educators working with military children have identified the following as qualities of the military child: strong family bonds, parents who are involved in their children's education, experiences from many different cultures and geographic areas, a cooperative spirit, and independence – to name a few. Here are ways to support your children through family changes and nurture their unique qualities:
- Watch for changes and talk about it. Take notice of mood or behavior changes and provide children with opportunities to talk about their feelings.
- Involve children in the process. Whether it's an upcoming relocation, parent deployment, or other expected change, provide open and transparent information to your children.
- Stick to an existing schedule. Children of all ages thrive on routine, so try to keep bedtime, mealtime, and other routines the same.
- Take advantage of existing supports. The Department of Defense has created multiple websites and publications to provide information about every aspect of moving and relocating children and supporting your family’s needs. You can start by visiting the MilitaryHOMFRONT website.
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