Preparing Your Child for When you Travel for Work (Part II)

Traveling for work can be hard on you, your significant other, and your child. Although many people think traveling for work is a perk, having a child makes it difficult to just pick up your bags and head out the door. As hard as it may be, sometimes these work trips are company requirements and cannot be avoided. Your child may have strong feelings regarding your work trip. He may feel angry or sad at the idea of missing you and not being able to see you for extended periods of time. Here are tips for preparing your child for when you need to travel for work:

1. Find a symbolic transitional object for your child.
2. Keep consistent routines.
3. Create a visual countdown for your child.

1. Find a symbolic transitional object for your child.

To best ease the transition, you can leave your child with something that reminds them of you. This could include photos, jewelry, letters, clothing, etc.

2. Keep consistent routines.

Children benefit greatly from routines and consistency. Your work trip is a significant change for them and will bring many strong feelings. It is important for you, your significant other, or any other person watching over your child while you are away to keep routines as consistent as possible. Your work trip should ideally be the only drastic change to minimize the number of stressors your child must navigate.

3. Create a visual countdown for your child.

Some children have difficulty understanding the concept of time and the difference between weeks and months. To prevent further confusion, you can make a calendar for your child that clearly shows what day you will return. The calendar can be interactive. Have your child place a sticker each day. Another fun activity for your child is a paper chain. Use strips of construction paper to create a chain. The number of loops should correspond with the number of days you will be away. As each day passes, your child cuts a chain until there are no more, which would indicate the special day that you come home. For younger children, you can refer to the days you will be away as sleeps.” “I will be away for 5 sleeps and then I will be home.” Children can countdown the number of sleeps.