Staying connected during deployment takes effort, especially when schedules, time zones, and limited communication windows get in the way. Still, there are many reliable, practical ways for families to stay close—especially during the holiday season. The ideas below will help strengthen your connection, help young children, and keep routines in place even when you’re miles apart.
For
Service Members
Sending pieces of home can mean a great deal to family members. Around the holidays, consider mailing a care package with non-perishable items that travel well—snacks like beef jerky, nuts, hard candies, seasoned crackers, or low-moisture cookies. Many traditional treats, such as shortbread or peanut brittle, ship safely too. A small homemade item, like granola or a family recipe written on a card, adds a personal touch.
If you have children at home, include short notes or simple drawings they helped create. These small contributions anchor kids in the routine of sharing life with you, even from far away.
But it doesn’t have to be simply decorations. Think of other consumables to send, like cosmetics that smell like home. Especially for hot or humid areas, including high quality socks can keep blisters from forming. Lip balm, coffee, or tea are other items that connect people to home.
Before mailing, always check postal or command guidelines for food, liquids, and heat-sensitive items so the package arrives safely.
For
Families at Home
Families often carry the emotional weight of maintaining connection during deployment. This can feel especially challenging with young children, but visuals can go a long way to connecting a child to a parent or loved one.
Give children something tangible that represents the deployed person—a pillow with a photo, a stuffed animal with a recorded message, or a favorite story read aloud and saved as audio. These help create daily reminders of the person they love, ensuring they won’t forget.
Visual tools also help children understand time. A paper chain countdown works well because it gives a clear sense of progress. Children can add a quick drawing, memory, or thought to each link before removing it. These can be collected as a public diary.
A Hershey Kiss jar works in much the same way. Each chocolate candy can represent one day gone. Each day, the child can eat the Kiss, reminding them of their parent.
Photo sharing is also practical and meaningful. A simple online album or shared folder helps the deployed parent stay aware of daily life at home, and it helps children feel seen. Include everyday moments—family dinners, school projects, small achievements—so the service member can step back into the rhythm of home more easily when communication allows. Even daily or weekly pictures of the Hershey Kiss ritual can bond a parent and child.
Creating a “deployment wall” with a map, photos, and a clock set to the service member’s time zone helps the whole family visualize where they are and what they might be doing. It also reminds children why communication windows may be limited.
For
Service Members & Families Together
But the most important thing is to create shared rituals or goals. Just as a family is formed by living life together, so you’ll want to find creative ways to do that when separated by many miles.
Don’t overlook the basics. Regularly written and sent emails and letters still prove to be classics for a reason. They create a space for intentional sharing that shows the other person you’re invested. Tell funny stories of family happenings, the milestones of children, and highlights of a week.
But don’t be afraid to get creative. Find ways to experience life together. Depending on your unique circumstances, you’ll find some of these easier to do than others. Watch a movie together on Zoom or a dedicated website like WatchParty.me. Choose a book to read together and discuss it when you’re able to. Game stream with kids. Share goals and work toward them even if you’re apart. Choose activities that don’t rely on perfect timing or long calls, since deployments often bring unpredictable communication windows.
Digital tools make it easy to record special moments. A brief birthday message, a holiday greeting, or a quick video update can be saved, replayed, and shared whenever time allows. Families at home can do the same—recording little victories, funny moments, or quick messages children want to send.
These routines help maintain emotional continuity. They can give everyone a shared experiences to return to when communication becomes limited. It also means that returning service members will find it easier to integrate when they return.
Deployment brings real challenges, but connections don’t have to fade. Routines, simple shared experiences, and consistent communication help families stay involved in each other’s lives. With a bit of creativity and flexibility, families can continue building strong relationships—one message and one moment at a time—no matter how many miles lie between them.