Ideas to Help 3 Year Old with Dad Working Away

smileypigface

I wonder if anyone has any ideas, or experience, to share to help my 3 year old cope without his Daddy while he works away in the New Year?


My husband will be going overseas in mid January - we will be having a two week holiday with him there in April and then will be joining him there permanently at the end of July. We will be able to Skype daily (twice a day we hope - there is a 12 hour time difference so fits nicely with our little chap's morning and bedtime routines).


We have put a map on the wall and cut out an aeroplane picture with Daddy on it - but obviously his understanding of distance is a bit limited. I was thinking of doing a 'countdown calendar' so that each night he can tick off a day - but the time is so long before we see hubby again that I think it might actually make things worse for our lad to see a huge number of days that need to be ticked off.


I'm sure forces families must be well practiced at the preparation for and coping with temporary absence of a parent for similar amounts of time ... anyone out there got any tips?


Many thanks.

Tiddlywinks

Skype for daily contact and perhaps bedtime stories.

Regular letters as well as they are more 'tangible' as something to hold and touch.

Just before going, your OH could give him a teddy or stuffed animal as a keepsake and give him the chat about looking after mummy while daddy is gone.

Children adapt - they also need to see that you are happy and coping and will take a lead from you.

OneYorkshireLass

Something that's good for both of them is a scrapbook of things your son has been doing - contributing to it regularly with photos and drawings, any milestones he's reached etc. You can pick up cheap scrapbooks in poundshops/home bargains type places and let your son decorate it and add whatever he wants to it. Then, when your son and his dad meet up they can look at it and talk about the different things in it

maman

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Skype for daily contact and perhaps bedtime stories.

Regular letters as well as they are more 'tangible' as something to hold and touch.

Just before going, your OH could give him a teddy or stuffed animal as a keepsake and give him the chat about looking after mummy while daddy is gone.

Children adapt - they also need to see that you are happy and coping and will take a lead from you.

What about one each for dad and son then when they Skype they'd have that link of each having the teddy with them.

Toto

My husband works away almost all year. We Skype all the time and he speaks to our daughter daily. We also got him a colouring book and crayons to match our daughter's and they get them out on Skype so they can sit colouring together. This also works with things like playdoh and lego. DD loves having playtime with daddy online as much as she does when he's home.

RAS

The other thing to consider is daddy reading a book with child. Or daddy recording himself reading his favourite books before he goes.

jenhug

Disney have brought out a book which tells the story of Mickey going on a round the world trip and Minnie makes him a bear that he takes with him on his journey so he won't be lonely. You can buy the book, the bear and some outfits all in the disney store. Maybe you could read the book to your son, and your husband could take the bear and send lots of pictures of the bears adventure?

jenhug

http://www.disneystore.co.uk/duffy-bear-medium-soft-toy/mp/53647/1000260/#longDesc

MrsDrink

How I know when I'm due on my period. When threads like this make me well up!!




(In a happy way I may add).

kat360

I'm a forces wife and my OH has just spent 4 months away. Thing we did were:
Get a largish box and covered with wrapping paper, any pictures and things you make for daddy can go in here. Then it can be sealed to take with you as a big present.
Monthly "Chuff charts" (countdown calenders) with a special treat at the end of each one
Dress up for when you talk on skype
Getting daddy to read a story over skype

There are a lot of resources for forces family's, have a google and see what suits you.

Most of all don't forget to relax yourself, you will be missing him too.

Dark_Star

Try the recordable books from Hallmark (& elsewhere)


http://www.hallmark.co.uk/All-the-Ways-I-Love-You.aspx


Hear Daddy's voice read the book & you can read the story & look & at the pictures too.


Several stories available.


Also nice for distant grandparents etc.