St Paul, MN: Frequent moves. New friends. New schools. Military children already have to make tough adjustments. With long and frequent deployment schedules pervasive in all military branches, you can add living without a parent to the list of emotional challenges that military children face every day.

“Many military children are living with one parent at home, a parent who is also experiencing the stress of sudden separation, constant worry about a loved one, and single parenthood,” said Rachel Robertson, an early childhood educator and military mom who watched her own daughter struggle when her dad deployed to Iraq and Okinawa. “These children are asked to be brave but have many questions; they need a way to process their unique feelings and experiences.”

After seeing the benefits her daughter received from keeping a journal while her dad was gone, Robertson decided to create a journal just for kids with loved ones who are deployed. “My daughter Hanna was comforted by journaling, writing letters to her dad, and excited by keeping memories to later share with him,” Robertson said. “I wanted to make a book for other kids that would do the same for them.”

Deployment Journal for Kids, to be released July 1, gives children a special place to record feelings and events during a loved one’s military deployment. A variety of proven journaling techniques provide a framework so kids can better understand deployments, express and communicate their feelings, and tell their own story. Writing prompts, interesting facts about common deployment locations, definitions of military terms, and a special section to keep mementos encourage kids to return to the journal time after time. A companion web site, www.deploymentkids.com, offers time zone and distance calculators, games, and tips on getting through the deployment.

"I wrote this book to respond to the specific needs of military children facing a deployment. As a parent and educator, I wanted to find the most effective methods to support and nurture children through this challenging experience,” Robertson said

###

ELVA RESA PUBLISHING LLC is an independent publisher based in St Paul , Minnesota , whose mission is to make a positive difference in people’s lives. For more information, visit www.elvaresa.com.