Title

Young Children Coping With Stress and Transition in Military Childcare Settings: A Proposed Early Childhood Education Training Module for Caregiving Staff

Author

Donna Greist, Concordia University, St. Paul

Date of Award

2006

Document Type

Non Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Education

Department

Education

Program

Early Childhood Education

Capstone Instructor

Jackie Mosqueda

Second Reader

Janice Esau

Keywords

child care providers, military children, military families, social and emotional development, coping skills

Abstract

This project presents a training module for care giving staff working in military childcare settings with young children ages birth through five years of age. The focus of this training module is to educate early childhood teachers about the unique lifestyle of the military child, to explain the effects that transitions can have on the social/emotional development of young children and how we as teachers and caregivers can support young children in coping with the stress of transition. Research reveals the need for a basic training tool to help civilians and those new to the military culture better understand the unique lifestyle and challenges of young children of military families.

In developing a training module focusing on children coping with stress and transition in military childcare settings, explanation is given as to the types of transitions military families experience, phases of deployment and separation, stress that children experience, effects stress can have on social and emotional development of young children, and strategies parents and teachers can implement at home and in the classroom to help children develop coping skills. The training module also suggests ways parents and teachers can develop partnerships to support the military child.

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