Parental deployment and frequent relocations exert significant stress on children from military families. This stress can be extremely disruptive to young children's social, cognitive and behavioural development. It can result in negative social, emotional, and physical responses. There are a broad range of programs, resources, and services…

Many military families are experiencing the effects of deployment in an effort to support the mission of the US Armed Forces. The purpose of this descriptive, qualitative study was to provide a description of how families living in the Southeastern United States who have experienced military deployment perceive parental deployment influences their…

Introducing patriotic holidays such as Veterans Day with historical photographs and other primary sources in classrooms can not only spark children's interest, but also promote critical thinking and historical comprehension. Meaningful, hands-on historical lessons can also motivate children to take informed action about issues they care about. We…

Early childhood professionals can provide services and effective support to assist military families with healthy coping and functioning before, during, and after deployment. The purpose of this article is to examine what is known about the effects of stressors associated with the military lifestyle and how they impact returning military members,…

Mission: Readiness, the nonpartisan national security organization of over 500 retired admirals, generals, and other retired senior military leaders has articulated the national security case for investments in education. A successful military needs Americans who have graduated from high school, can pass the military entrance exam, are physically…

Military families face challenges not found in other work environments. Shifting work schedules that are often longer than the typical 8-hour day, as well as the ever-present possibility of being deployed anywhere in the world on a moment's notice, require a child care system that is flexible but maintains high-quality standards. The U.S.…

Does the country's national security rely on top-quality early childhood education? Yes, say the military leaders of Mission: Readiness, an organization led by retired military commanders that promotes investment in education, child health, and parenting support. Actually, the generals are right, but for all the wrong reasons. The generals' aim is…

Military parents with young children report that the need for early care and education services, including high-quality pre-kindergarten, tops their list of day-to-day needs. Frequent relocations and the cycle of deployment--preparation, separation and reunification--all cause disruptions that can have profound emotional and educational…

This article presents an interview with Barbara Thompson, the Director of the Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In the interview, Thompson talks about trends in military child care in the United States. She shares when the military got into the business of providing child care. She also talks…

Military families who have a member with autism would like to have expanded options for providing care, easing financial burden, and increasing the prospect for greater results for their family member. The Department of Defense (DoD) issued a report in July, covering its belief in the efficacy of applied behavior analysis (ABA) as a form of…

In an effort to standardize training delivery and to individualize staff development based on observation and reflective practice, the Air Force implemented the Developmental Training Model (DTM) in its Child Development Programs. The goal of the Developmental Training Model is to enhance high quality programs through improvements in the training…

Military deployment is a temporary assignment overseas or within the United States. During these assignments, families must live apart from their loved one in the service. Many teachers are unfamiliar with the unique lifestyle and challenges faced by families during military deployment. A safe and caring learning environment is essential in…

The statistics of children and families experiencing military life and affected by deployment are astounding. Many children who have an uncle, aunt, brother, or other family member serving in the military live near a military duty station, but others live far from other military families. Caregivers and teachers of young children share a common…

Military families with autistic children are often confronted with a very particular set of challenges. Autism, a neurological disability that causes difficulty with behavior, communication, learning, and social interaction, can create enormous stress on a family--stress that is magnified when one spouse is away for extended periods of time, when…

Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) are one of the major vehicles in the United States for providing training to child care providers. The quality of care children receive in child care settings is due, in large part, to the effectiveness of the training child care providers receive from CCR&Rs and other community…