Summary
- A “recognition problem”
- Separation takes its toll
- Look for changes and communicate
What do young children feel when one of their parents is in military service far away? That’s not always easy to answer because they may not be able to put their feelings into words. But a look at the data gives some idea of their challenges.
Researchers looked at health records of over 600,000 military children, ages 3 to 8 and found that children of parents who served in active war zones like Iraq and Afghanistan needed more help with emotional problems. These included mood, worry, and adjustment issues. There also were more doctor visits for problems not clearly about the parent serving away from home, such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Separation takes its toll
Children can become anxious when a parent is away because they don’t know what will happen. Small children think if a parent isn’t visible he is “gone.” It’s like the child has lost that parent. This fear is expressed differently depending on the child’s age.
- Preschoolers may become clingy and afraid of strangers. They may start wetting the bed or having tantrums.
- Kids a little older may complain of headaches, stomachaches, or other pain. They may have trouble sleeping.
- School-age children’s grades may fall, or they may have self-control problems. They may become depressed, be tired all the time, or have trouble sleeping.
Look for changes
The parent closest to the child is likely the best equipped to notice changes. If that parent is the one on deployment, set up video phone calls using Skype or another service.
- The parent closest to the child should be on the lookout for signs that the child seems different. He or she might be able to spot little changes the other parent has missed. Seeing and talking to the absent parent is also great for the kids. It shows that mom or dad is still there for them.
- If there seems to be a change in behavior, make an appointment to bring your child to a doctor.
- At regular checkups, let the pediatrician know that a parent is away so the doctor can look for signs of emotional difficulty.
Resources
The research by Gregory Gorman and colleagues on the effects of deployment on children was published online in November 2010 by the journal Pediatrics. See “Wartime Military Deployment and Increased Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Complaints,” Gregory H. Gorman, MD, MHS, Matilda Eide, MPH, Elizabeth Hisle-Gorman, MSW, PhD, at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/126/6/1058.
For more on the impact of deployment on families, go to the Veterans Administration website at www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treatment/family/pro_deployment_stress_children.asp.
Summary
- A “recognition problem”
- Separation takes its toll
- Look for changes and communicate
What do young children feel when one of their parents is in military service far away? That’s not always easy to answer because they may not be able to put their feelings into words. But a look at the data gives some idea of their challenges.
Researchers looked at health records of over 600,000 military children, ages 3 to 8 and found that children of parents who served in active war zones like Iraq and Afghanistan needed more help with emotional problems. These included mood, worry, and adjustment issues. There also were more doctor visits for problems not clearly about the parent serving away from home, such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Separation takes its toll
Children can become anxious when a parent is away because they don’t know what will happen. Small children think if a parent isn’t visible he is “gone.” It’s like the child has lost that parent. This fear is expressed differently depending on the child’s age.
- Preschoolers may become clingy and afraid of strangers. They may start wetting the bed or having tantrums.
- Kids a little older may complain of headaches, stomachaches, or other pain. They may have trouble sleeping.
- School-age children’s grades may fall, or they may have self-control problems. They may become depressed, be tired all the time, or have trouble sleeping.
Look for changes
The parent closest to the child is likely the best equipped to notice changes. If that parent is the one on deployment, set up video phone calls using Skype or another service.
- The parent closest to the child should be on the lookout for signs that the child seems different. He or she might be able to spot little changes the other parent has missed. Seeing and talking to the absent parent is also great for the kids. It shows that mom or dad is still there for them.
- If there seems to be a change in behavior, make an appointment to bring your child to a doctor.
- At regular checkups, let the pediatrician know that a parent is away so the doctor can look for signs of emotional difficulty.
Resources
The research by Gregory Gorman and colleagues on the effects of deployment on children was published online in November 2010 by the journal Pediatrics. See “Wartime Military Deployment and Increased Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Complaints,” Gregory H. Gorman, MD, MHS, Matilda Eide, MPH, Elizabeth Hisle-Gorman, MSW, PhD, at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/126/6/1058.
For more on the impact of deployment on families, go to the Veterans Administration website at www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treatment/family/pro_deployment_stress_children.asp.
Summary
- A “recognition problem”
- Separation takes its toll
- Look for changes and communicate
What do young children feel when one of their parents is in military service far away? That’s not always easy to answer because they may not be able to put their feelings into words. But a look at the data gives some idea of their challenges.
Researchers looked at health records of over 600,000 military children, ages 3 to 8 and found that children of parents who served in active war zones like Iraq and Afghanistan needed more help with emotional problems. These included mood, worry, and adjustment issues. There also were more doctor visits for problems not clearly about the parent serving away from home, such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Separation takes its toll
Children can become anxious when a parent is away because they don’t know what will happen. Small children think if a parent isn’t visible he is “gone.” It’s like the child has lost that parent. This fear is expressed differently depending on the child’s age.
- Preschoolers may become clingy and afraid of strangers. They may start wetting the bed or having tantrums.
- Kids a little older may complain of headaches, stomachaches, or other pain. They may have trouble sleeping.
- School-age children’s grades may fall, or they may have self-control problems. They may become depressed, be tired all the time, or have trouble sleeping.
Look for changes
The parent closest to the child is likely the best equipped to notice changes. If that parent is the one on deployment, set up video phone calls using Skype or another service.
- The parent closest to the child should be on the lookout for signs that the child seems different. He or she might be able to spot little changes the other parent has missed. Seeing and talking to the absent parent is also great for the kids. It shows that mom or dad is still there for them.
- If there seems to be a change in behavior, make an appointment to bring your child to a doctor.
- At regular checkups, let the pediatrician know that a parent is away so the doctor can look for signs of emotional difficulty.
Resources
The research by Gregory Gorman and colleagues on the effects of deployment on children was published online in November 2010 by the journal Pediatrics. See “Wartime Military Deployment and Increased Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Complaints,” Gregory H. Gorman, MD, MHS, Matilda Eide, MPH, Elizabeth Hisle-Gorman, MSW, PhD, at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/126/6/1058.
For more on the impact of deployment on families, go to the Veterans Administration website at www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treatment/family/pro_deployment_stress_children.asp.