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(Unit 4) Topic 6: Operation: Military Families

2 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education

Ways to Support Military Families

Topic 6 Page 11

Here are some ways to support military families:

Be there
As a child care professional you already are there but try to make your program fit the needs of military families. There may be times when things don’t go smoothly or on time and if you can help the family by being available this will mean a lot.

Recognize the contribution
Many classes make crafts, write letters, and send care packages overseas. This is all fantastic, but try to recognize that the family contributes and serves as well.

Many soldiers will tell you that their families need more support than they do. Make deployment and separation part of the normal conversation in your program and reach out to support the families in any way that you can.

Make connections
Children rely a lot on their social or peer groups. Even toddlers and preschoolers can benefit from friends with similar experiences. Connecting military children together is the easiest way to create a support connection for both children. This is especially important for military children who move around a lot.

Volunteer
There are multiple organizations that assist military families. These range from making care packages to putting flags on graves to visiting a veteran’s home. Consider mobilizing your staff and volunteering with an organization.