How to Explain Deployment to Young Children: Early Intervention Strategies from a Speech Pathologist’s Perspective

Talking to young children about deployment can be challenging, but with the right strategies, parents can help their children understand and cope with the situation. As a speech pathologist, you have a unique set of tools to support children’s communication and emotional expression during this time.

Here are some speech therapy and early intervention strategies to explain deployment to young children effectively.

1. Use Visual Supports

Visual supports can enhance comprehension and provide a concrete way to understand abstract concepts like time and separation. Create a deployment storybook with pictures and simple sentences that explain the situation. Include photos of the deployed parent, the child, and other family members to personalize the book.

2. Implement Social Stories

Social stories are a great tool for explaining new and potentially stressful situations. Write a social story about deployment, focusing on what will happen, how the child might feel, and ways to cope. Use clear, concise language and include pictures or symbols to support understanding.

3. Incorporate Play-Based Learning

Children learn and process emotions through play. Use role-playing activities with dolls or action figures to act out the deployment scenario. This allows children to explore their feelings and ask questions in a safe, non-threatening way. You can also use pretend play to model positive coping strategies.

4. Facilitate Language Development Through Routine Activities

Maintain consistency in daily routines and use these opportunities to support language development. During meals, bath time, or bedtime, engage in conversations that encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings. Use open-ended questions to promote more elaborate responses.

5. Encourage Expressive Language Through Creative Activities

Provide various ways for your child to express themselves creatively. Drawing, painting, and crafting can be therapeutic outlets for emotions. Encourage your child to create artwork that reflects their feelings about the deployment. Discuss the artwork together, using it as a starting point for conversation.

6. Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Tools

For children with limited verbal abilities, AAC tools can be incredibly helpful. Picture exchange communication systems (PECS), communication boards, or speech-generating devices can assist children in expressing their thoughts and feelings. Ensure these tools are easily accessible and that the child knows how to use them.

7. Read Books Aloud

Choose books that address themes of separation, military life, and coping with change. Reading these books aloud can provide a shared experience and open the door for discussions about deployment. Pause frequently to ask questions and encourage your child to share their thoughts.

Here are a few picture book recommendations:

• “Daddy’s Deployed” by Bridget Platt

• “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn

• “Love, Lizzie: Letters to a Military Mom” by Lisa Tucker McElroy

8. Develop a Communication Routine

Establish a routine for staying in touch with the deployed parent. This might include scheduled video calls, recorded messages, or letters. Help your child prepare for these interactions by discussing what they might want to say or show. This preparation can reduce anxiety and make the communication more meaningful.

9. Use Visual Timers and Countdown Tools

Visual timers and countdown tools can help children understand the passage of time and anticipate the return of their parent. Create a countdown calendar with fun activities for each day, or use a visual timer to show how long until the next contact with the deployed parent.

Our favorite visual time from Learning Resources we use in every treatment room in my clinic at ACCESS Speech Therapy:

10. Promote Emotional Literacy

Teach children to recognize and label their emotions. Use emotion cards, charts, or mirrors to help them identify how they are feeling. Practice using “I feel” statements to encourage them to express their emotions verbally. For example, “I feel sad because Daddy is away.”

Explaining deployment to young children requires patience, creativity, and the right tools. By using visual supports, social stories, play-based learning, and other speech therapy strategies, parents can help their children understand and cope with the challenges of deployment. These approaches not only aid in communication but also support emotional well-being, ensuring that children feel heard, understood, and supported during this difficult time.

This blog post provides practical speech therapy and early intervention strategies to help parents explain deployment to young children, leveraging your expertise in the field to support effective communication and emotional resilience.

~ Tricia Stone-Shumaker, MA, CCC-SLP, CAS, CERT B.B.M.

Award-winning children’s author

www.asmuchasthestars.com

Speech language pathologist

ACCESS Speech Therapy, Inc.

www.stonespeech.com

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Tricia Stone-Shumaker was raised in a military family, and moved throughout the United States during her childhood. She owns a private practice that services children of all ages. She is also the author of the Poppy’s Adventures children’s book series.