Deployments: Stressors for children Published March 1, 2007 By Andy Anderson Pope School Liaison Officer POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Many of our local schools have identified parent deployment as a continuing area of concern for school-age children. Deployment, as most military members are well aware, often puts a great deal of stress upon remaining family members. This stress affects children much like it does adults. Children, depending on age, may display regressive behaviors such as thumbsucking or other behaviors, such as complaints of headaches, sleep disturbances, moodiness, anger and irritability, low energy, and may often have more dramatic reactions to minor situations such as stubbing a toe. Additionally, if a child has had psychological issues before the deployment, they may be more likely to have problems as a result of the deployment. Significant stress to a child, because of its impact on concentration, learning, and the controlling of emotional responses, may also manifest itself in the school environment. If there is concern about a child's behavior at home, parents should discuss this with the classroom teacher or other school personnel such as school counselors. Many parents may be reluctant to call attention to their child by discussing such issues with school personnel, but it is important for the school to be alerted to any unusual symptoms and, in working with parents, to intervene when and where possible and appropriate. School-based interventions, depending upon the availability of school resources and the seriousness of the child's issues, can range from the fairly simple (teacher-provided daily feedback to parent, adjusted school workload, etc.) to the complex (group or individual counseling, referral to student assistance teams, etc.) and may or may not be successful. If, after an appropriate amount of time, school and home-based interventions appear not to be working or if school personnel suggest that the child's issues are beyond their levels of expertise, it is important that military parents follow up and address such concerns through other available medical or mental health resources. For more information, call the Pope school liaison officer at 394-2538.