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Ways To Stay Connected

A soldier in uniform holding a paper doll inside a vehicle.

Body Double

Since your child can't fit in his or her parent's suitcase and go on the trip as well, send a body double. Have your child pick a flat kid or comfort item for their parent that will go on the trip with them. It will be fun for your child to see this item in pictures during the parent's trip as well as give them an idea of their parent's surroundings. This can also make a great scrapbook of the parent and body double's adventures while they are away from home.

A small doll dressed in a blue astronaut suit with a human face.

Daddy Doll

Have your child pick a stuffed animal or doll and have the parent who’s leaving fill it with hugs for their child to retrieve at bedtime or anytime they are missing their parent.

A child holding a tray filled with various small items, looking up with big eyes.

Treasure Box

Have your child decorate a shoe box with markers and stickers. This treasure box will be a special place to keep all the cool things they want to show their parent when they come home.

Decorative board with patriotic and symbolic stickers and a message.

Care Packages

✎ Have a flat rate box open and ready to fill every day. ✎ Mark a date on your calendar to ship routinely. ✎ Pinterest pages for themed packages ✎ Go to www.usps.com and have discounted APO flat rate boxes shipped to your home.

Children happily playing and sharing at a table with an adult.

Write Letters

✎ Have each child pick out their own special stationery ✎ Set a time to write weekly letters. ✎ Keep all letters from Daddy/Mommy in a special place to read when you can't talk on the phone or computer.

Download Mommy Chart

Download For Free! Things You Want To Tell Mommy! Chart

Download Daddy Chart

Download For Free! Things You Want To Tell Daddy! Chart