Military Children: Books to Help While A Parent is Deployed

Raising kids isn’t easy. As a parent you’re pulled in so many directions as you try your best to help your little ones develop, learn, and navigate their surroundings. As a military family, there is the added explanation of helping children better understand big concepts like duty, deployment, separation, protection and service, just to name a few.

Kristin Ayyar knows this firsthand. As an Air Force spouse for 27 years, with three kids, she decided to share how her family copes with the separations that are part of everyday life by turning her experiences into a children’s book: Countdown ’til Daddy Comes Home.

Countdown ’til Daddy Comes Home is the story of a young boy waiting for his daddy to come home from a trip. To make their separation easier, his family creates rituals to stay connected and make the countdown fly by. Inspired by the actual rituals Ayyar’s family used while her husband flew around the world or was deployed.

A perfect book for military kids who have a parent deployed or kids who have a parent that is a frequent business traveler. The book is also available in a Countdown ’til Mommy Comes Home version as well.

After reading this warmly illustrated story you will find ideas on various Ways to Stay Connected and Ways to Countdown until Daddy or Mommy return. Plus, at the end of the book there are discussion questions to set expectations and alleviate any fears your child may have because of their parent’s deployment or trip.

You can find free resources and activities on on the Countdown ’til Daddy Comes Home website and find out where the book is available.