Successful parenting
can be a challenge for any family but it is usually more difficult when one
parent is not only absent but also in a dangerous location. To address the issues families face during an
unaccompanied tour, FLO is offering an interactive workshop, “Parenting during
an Unaccompanied Tour”. Thursday October 11 at 9 a.m. EST. You may
participate in person (Department of State, room 1239) or virtually.
To participate
virtually:
1.
Dial toll-free 1-800-531-3250 on a US-based
phone line or non-toll-free 1-303-928-2693
2.
Enter 9690198 for the Conference Code
Please direct questions to FLO's Unaccompanied Tours Support Team
at 202-647-1076 or 1-800-440-0397 or email FLOaskUT@state.gov.
Below are some of the ideas and suggestions from past
sessions:
·
Use indirect questioning to allow children the
opportunity to talk
·
Have small children use stuffed toys to act out
their feelings
·
Play manicurist and mother/father paints nails
while asking questions
·
Teens – may take them an hour to ‘warm up’; ask
them “what do your friends think?”
·
Let children’s teachers know what’s going on
·
If you have employee’s cell phone or other
number, make sure kids know that it’s for emergencies only; set time limits on
using phone; if kids want to ‘vent’ or complain about parent at home, encourage
them to email absent parent instead of picking up the phone. (Good advice for adults too!) That way you won’t say something you regret.
Effective communication strategies and mechanisms
§
Use Skype, YouTube, phone, web, Face Book
§
Watch the same TV shows or read same
book/magazine
§
Download the same music, videos, photos, etc
§
Have the child write to the parent; parent keeps
letters and puts in a letter box to give to the child at end of tour
§
Parent at post brings pre-stamped post cards to
post
§
Create your own postcards-you can buy blank
postcards and decorate them
§
USPS has site to make photo postcards: http://www.usps.com/createmail/welcome.htm
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