grief counseling for an entire family

Posted on: 5 June 2017

For the nearly 2 million children that claim the title of military child, life can be challenging. Frequent moves, deployments and a fear of their parent's safety can cause anxiety and stress. Parents of these brave and exceptional few must be equipped to support their children.

Make Home Everywhere

Constant moving can cause children to feel detached and as if they don't really belong anywhere. Combat this issue by making every place you live "home." Having a strong family bound is a great foundation, but in a more practical sense, you can even do this in terms of home décor and layout.

For example, if your child slept in the bedroom next to you in the last house or all the family photos where hung in the hallway, try to make similar accommodations in the new home. These small steps create a sense of consistency that keeps the core of home the same and makes your child feel more comfortable.

Build A Support Network

If you live on a military installation, use this to your advantage. This type of environment works as a built-in support network. While your child might be dealing with a currently deployed parent, they have a classmate or neighbor who's going through the same thing or has in the past.

Simple interaction with children who share similar struggles will make your child feel a part of something and, most importantly, ensure they understand that they aren't alone. If you don't live on a military installation, there are generally activities that your child can participate in that allow them to exchange with other military children.

Keep Them Active

An idle mind isn't just a dangerous thing in terms of a child being mischievous. For a child that is having a difficult time, a lack of activity or involvement leaves them to wallow in their own thoughts, which is unhealthy. Avoid this scenario by keeping your child actively engaged.

Whether it's a competitive sport or a dance class, these activities give them something to look forward to and keep their mind off the bad. If your budget won't allow for organized extracurricular activities, simply taking your child to the library, playing at the park or going for a walk are also great distractions.

For parents that are concerned about their child's well-being, counseling is another great layer to add to their arsenal. A counselor can assess the situation, help your child understand their feelings, and highlight any areas of concern that need to be addressed. Click here to find out more.