AFRC helps children cope with parents' deployment Published June 23, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Jamie L. Coggan 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- The Airman and Family Readiness Center held a "Helping Children Cope" workshop here June 18, taught by Judith Fitkin, a military and family life consultant. The workshop was designed to help parents and caregivers talk to children and address the behaviors and emotions they experience during stressful situations such as deployment. It sought to give parents the tools to help their children understand feelings and thoughts regarding significant events in their lives, as deployments affect not only the parent, but the whole family. Among the primary topics taught to parents in the workshop were listening and communicating more effectively, explaining difficult things to children, identifying challenges in their child's coping, and learning about available resources. The AFRC is scheduled to hold another workshop June 16 called "Lunchtime Express: Children learning to express themselves." The focus of the program will be to help children ages 6 to11 learn appropriate ways to express their feelings. Parents must attend with their children, and they will also learn ways to listen and to encourage their children to talk and share more about what is happening in their world. The free workshop is from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. and a light lunch will be provided. For more information or to sign up, contact the AFRC at 228-5690.