MSU Extension 4-H Military Family Programs

Daddy's in Iraq but I Want Him Back

• Title: Daddy's in Iraq but I Want Him Back
• Author: Carmen R. Hoyt 
• Illustrator: Carmen R. Hoyt 
• Publisher: Tafford Publishing 
• Date of Publication: 2005 
• Audience Age: 5 years and up 

Summary 

Daddy’s in Iraq but I Want Him Back tells the story of one military family’s experience with deployment. The book attempts to help young children understand the length of a deployment. They’ll see it has a beginning, middle and end.

Pre-Deployment Activities 

Look up facts about your service member’s deployment location including weather, culture, music, time difference and other information. Discuss the similarities and differences between the deployment location and home. Create a poster depicting similarities on one side and differences on the other. Have your service member talk about his or her uniform and special equipment. Make sure you keep topics age appropriate. Have children try on their parent’s uniform and equipment. Talk about what it feels like. Take a photo of your child wearing your service member’s uniform or equipment

During-Deployment Activities 

Write letters and draw pictures for your service member while he or she is gone. Send him or her a monthly update with photos and drawings. Make a care package of your service member’s favorite candy, books or magazines and send it to him or her. Find postal regulations at www.usps.com. 

Post-Deployment Activities 

Write letters to deployed service members. Visit websites such as military.com to find ways you can support deployed service members. Check with your local family readiness unit or family assistance center to see if deployed local units could use support. Write your own deployment storybook. Use plain paper folded in half and stapled in the middle. Draw pictures depicting the experience of deployment. What did you do while your service member was gone? How did you stay in touch? How did you feel? Share this story with other military kids so that they know that they are not the only ones experiencing this.

Supporting Military Families During Deployment with Books & Activities

Deployment involves moving an individual or military unit within the country or to another country. A mission or task might include training, supporting communities during times of disaster, helping foreign countries or fighting in a war. The many changes happening with each departure and return create difficulties for both service members and their families.

Michigan State University (MSU) Extension and Michigan 4-H are committed to supporting the more than 20,000 Michigan military children and youth, and their families, through programming and community education. 

Programs for Military Families Include: 

• 4-H clubs on installations and in communities
• "4-H 101" and "4-H 201" training for military staff
• Operation: Military Kids (OMK) - supporting children of deployed soldiers
• Speak Out for Military Kids (SOMK) - preparing teens to speak on military life and deployment 
• Hero Packs - saying thank you to military children and youth
• Military 4-H Club Grants - supporting 4-H clubs for military youth and integrating them into county 4-H programs
• Community Awareness Training - educating the public on issues facing military families experiencing a deployment
• Special recognition events during Month of the Military Child and Month of the Military Family 
• Educational and recreational events and opportunities for military families 

4-H Military Family Book Sheets

The 4-H Military Family Book Sheets help parents and guardians find books and activities to help their children during various stages of their service members’ deployments. Each book sheet contains a summary of the book, author and publication details, and activities that they can use with their children pre-, during or post-deployment to extend the message of the book. To find each book, check with your local library, bookstore or online retailer. 

• Before reading: Show your child the front and back cover of the book. Ask him or her to guess what the book is about. 
• While reading: Stop at any time if something comes up that you or your child would like to talk about. 
• After reading: Spend time talking about the story. 

Learn More! 

Connect with us on Facebook: Search "Michigan Operation: Military Kids" and "Michigan 4-H." 

For more information on supporting military families, visit the following websites: 

• MSU Extension: (msue.anr.msu.edu)
• Michigan 4-H Youth Development: (www.4-hmilitarypartnerships.org)
• Operation: Military Kids: (http://www.operationmilitarykids.org)