Post on 12-May-2015
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Helping Young Children Handle the Changes of Military Life: The Role of the Early Childhood
Professional
This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture,and the Office of Family Policy, Children and Youth, U.S. Department of Defense under Award No. 2010‐48869‐20685.
TODAY’S TOPICS
• Changes faced by children in military families
• Effects of stress on the developing brain
• Strategies to help children handle the stresses of military life
• Communication with military families
BRAINSTORMING• What do you know about the
experiences of children in military families?
• What changes and transitions do children in military families typically face?
• How might these changes affect young children?
MAJOR CHANGES IN MILITARY LIFE
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS)• Deployment • Reunification• Parental injury• Death of service member• Other changes
CHILDREN IN MILITARY FAMILIES FACE STRESS
is any external stimulus that threatens the normal balance of
equilibrium in the body
THE STRESS RESPONSE• Stressors cause changes in the brain
» Release of cortisol» “Fight or flight” response» Increased heart rate and blood pressure» Highly focused attention
• Primitive parts of the brain take over
LEVELS OF STRESS• Positive Stress
» Everyday experiences• Tolerable Stress
» More challenging stressors» Presence of supportive
adult(s)• Toxic Stress
» Extreme stresses» Absence of support
DANGERS OF TOXIC STRESS
• Fewer brain connections• Persistent hyper-arousal• Impulsivity and aggression• Reduced ability to learn
KEY FACTORS THAT MITIGATE STRESS
• Loving, responsive, consistent relationships
• Safe environments• Consistent routines and
expectations• Experience regulating
positive stresses
ADULT-CHILD INTERACTIONTHE “STILL FACE” VIDEO
(See http://www.zerotothree.org/child‐development/early‐childhood‐mental‐health/to view this video)
STRESS IN CHILDREN FROM MILITARY FAMILIES
• Multiple changes in caregivers• Leaving behind what is familiar• Adapting to new environments
» Family and home» Community» Child care
• Stress in adults• A parent who comes home “different”
CHANGES IN PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AFTER DEPLOYMENT
• Unexpected developmental changes• Changes in family routines• Young children with little memory for
parent• Stranger anxiety• Confusion and stress
HOW CHILDREN RESPOND TO STRESSES OF MILITARY LIFE• All children need extra emotional
support• Each child adapts to change differently
» Withdrawal» Aggression» Regression
• Some children are more resilient than others
STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN IN
MILITARY FAMILIES• Create a positive environment• Provide support for individual children• Build relationships with families• Help connect children
with the deployed parent
CREATING A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT
Establish and follow regular routinesCreate a safe, peaceful environment Choose developmentally appropriate activitiesSet and enforce limitsProvide opportunities to express feelings through play
SUPPORTING INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN
Build a secure attachment Identify and respond to individual needsLabel children’s emotionsBe prepared for a child to enter or leave your home suddenlySupport children through transitions
BUILDING SECURE ATTACHMENT
• Be nurturing• Be respectful• Be consistent• Be dependable• Be patient
LABELING EMOTIONS• Help children identify and name
feelings (sad, angry, lonely, excited, etc.)
• Identify both positive and negative emotions
• Avoid telling children they are “okay”
IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUAL NEEDS
Take time to observe the child’s behavior and moodRespond to non-verbal cuesCommunicate with families
CONNECTING CHILDREN TO A DEPLOYED PARENT
• Ask the parent to record a story for the child before leaving
• Create a photo book of the child with the parent
• Allow for electronic communication
• Encourage the child to create art or stories for the parent
EVERYDAY COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILIES
• Establish a relationship from the beginning
• Have an open door policy• Exchange information
with families• Suggest activities for
parent and child to do together
SUPPORTING FAMILIES DURING TIMES OF STRESS
• Talk with parents prior to deployment• Check in daily during transitions• Get to know grandparents or other
substitute caregiversHelp families seek outside support
FOR MORE INFORMATIONMilitary Families Learning Network blogs.extension.org/militaryfamilies/child-care/
QUESTIONS? IDEAS?
Diane Bales, Ph.D. Cooperative ExtensionHuman Development and Family Science The University of Georgiadbales@uga.edu