| Stage of deployment | Toddlers and preschool children | School-age children and adolescents |
| Predeployment | - At-home caregiver: Maintain routine and sense of normalcy
- Caregiver being deployed: Provide increased attention to child
| - Encourage open communication
- Develop coping strategies as a family
- Acknowledge the child's or adolescent's feelings
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| Deployment | - Send care packages
- Make a countdown calendar
- Encourage children to act out their feelings through play
| - Avoid or limit exposure to violent or disturbing events in the media
- Let teachers know that a caregiver is deployed
- Encourage peer support groups
- Identify a trusted peer or adult to whom the child or adolescent can express their feelings
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| Redeployment/postdeployment | - Understand that young children may need time to warm up to the returning caregiver, particularly after a long deployment
- Maintain routine but be flexible after return
| - Returning caregiver: Provide additional attention to school-age children
- Understand that adolescents may have difficulty giving up responsibilities they took on during deployment
- Encourage peer support groups
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