The children of our nation’s Veterans sometimes have a hard time understanding the changes in their mom and dad after a deployment. It’s difficult, especially for the very young, to understand why their loving, tender parent came back sad or angry.
We hope to continue adding to this section. If you know of other links we should add, or would like to contribute to this page in any way, please feel free to contact us!
Helping Children Understand PTSD – an article written by FamilyOfaVet.com staff
Explaining Your PTSD to Your Child – A “nitty gritty” look and what a parent struggling
with PTSD can say and how to say it.
Secondary PTSD in Children – what to watch for, what to do
Stress & Secondary PTSD in Children – Coping skills & ideas from an expert on stress and children.
Helping Children Understand TBI – an article written by a former DoDDS teacher that looks at how to talk to children of all age groups about TBI.
TBI Science Experiment – A “hands on” way to help kids understand what TBI is and how it affects their injured parent’s brain.
Web Resources for Children of Veterans
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and The Family – a web booklet from Veterans Affairs Canada. This is an excellent source of information and gives specific tips about meeting the emotional needs of your child and about the signs / symptoms of stress in a child.
Supporting Young Children: Combat Stress, Injuries of War – This is a great PDF booklet (8 pages) published by the National Center for infants, Toddlers, & Families. It has information for a parent experiencing combat stress as well as for others in the household.
The Impact of a Veteran’s PTSD on Children – From the Illinois Warrior Assistance Program, this is a shortened version of the info found in the next link from the National Center for PTSD.
When a Child’s Parent Has PTSD – a fact sheet from the National Center for PTSD. This information is a little “dry” and clinical, but still has some very good background information and specific tips.
Returning from the War Zone – A Guide for Families – a booklet available in PDF format from the National Center for PTSD. It has a small section specifically about children on page 3.
Center of Knowledge on Healthy Child Development – This is a resource listed on the Veterans Affairs Canada site and has a WEALTH of information about parenting and meeting the needs of your child, especially during difficult times.
