How our Doodle Packs support children of deployed RAF personnel
Deployment away from home can be a tough time for the families of RAF personnel, particularly children, who may not see their parent for months at a time.
To help youngsters deal with being separated from their parents, the Royal Air Forces Association provides free Doodle Packs.
The Doodle Packs contain a range of fun activities for children to complete and share with their parent before, during and after deployment.
These activities include a welcome home poster, fabric pens that can be used to decorate a pillowcase, ‘we miss you’ card, scrapbooks, reading books, outside activities and more. The activities can be completed in school or a nursery, or at home.
Wellbeing Services Officer for the Association, Jodie Richardson said: “The deployment of a parent can be a really tough time for children. Our Doodle Packs play a key role in helping them share their thoughts, feelings and experiences around their parent’s deployment. This in turn helps improve their resilience and mental wellbeing.”
Emma Niblet, who works with children of deployed personnel, said; “Ellie and Harry’s Dad is coming home in three weeks’ time, so they have been working together on colouring in their welcome home poster. This has helped them talk to me about how they are feeling.”
More than 300 Doodle Packs are sent out to families, schools and nurseries across the UK every year, offering an outlet for children to express their thoughts and feelings.
To find out more about our Doodle Packs, please email [email protected]
