Dog Tags for Kids Link Children with Their Deployed Parents

Ranked #527 in Nonprofits, #139,153 overall | Donates to Dog Tags for Kids

How Linking Objects Can Help Children Cope with Loss

Dog Tags for Kids is a nonprofit organization created to show support for the troops and their families. They supplying for FREE specially engraved Dog Tags to service members that can be sent home to their children.

These Dog Tags can serve a linking objects to connect children with their deployed parent or parents in the military, much the same way that a teddy bear does.

Image Credit: Image Compilation of Michal Zacharzewski's A Teddy Bear Royalty Free Use and Dog Tags for Kids Tags.

Linking objects are things that symbolically links one person
to another person.
These objects could be a trinket,
a bear, a book, a letter,
a ring or even a dog tag.

Dog Tags for Kids

Mission of Dog Tags for Kids

The Dog Tags for Kids Project is dedicated to helping United States Service men and women in most harm's way connect with their children at home. Specially engraved Dog Tags in the appropriate service color are provided FREE to the service members for their children.

Dog tags are engraved with the "Mom" or "Dad," their military branch and where they are serving.

"With Love From Dad, U.S. Army, Iraq 2008."

Proud Kids with their Dog Tags 

More Information on Dog Tags for Kids

Dog Tags for Kids - From a Parent Overseas to a Child at Home
Help send dog tags to soldiers in Iraq to send to their kids. From a Parent Overseas to a Child at Home.
Dog Tags for Kids - Personalized Photo Tags
Personalized photo tags are available for a $10 donation for the first one and a $4 donation for each copy.

A Featured Lens on Dog Tags for Kids

Created by a sponsor and volunteer of Dog Tags for Kids program.
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Donate to Dog Tags for Kids

You can donate directly to Dog Tags for Kids and help them send FREE Dog Tags to our soldiers.

Help send dog tags to soldiers in Iraq to send to their kids. From a Parent Overseas to a Child at Home. You can help by donating today.

Night Catch in the Amazon Spotlight

Night Catch

Amazon Price: $9.35 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

Night Catch is a timeless story that connects families while they are apart and offers comforting hope for their reunion.

In this story a soldier's work takes him half-way around the world, so he enlists the help of the North Star for a nightly game of catch with his son.

Teddy Bear with a Dog Tag for Kids


Image Credit: Image Compilation of Michal Zacharzewski's A Teddy Bear Royalty Free Use and Dog Tags for Kids Tags.

Happy Kids with their Dog Tags 

The Magic Box in the Amazon Spotlight

The Magic Box: When Parents Can't Be There to Tuck You In

Amazon Price: $5.49 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

"The Magic Box: When Parents Can't Be There to Tuck You in" is an upbeat and delightfully illustrated book contains many valuable tips for families in which a parent is frequently away from home.

Also contains a "Note to Parents".

Examples of Linking Objects or Personal Symbols

Grief Counselor and Author, Dr. Louis LaGrand advises that "Anyone can learn to find comfort through the use of motivating symbols."

Here is a list of suggestions for symbols that could be used. (They have been slightly modified to better fit supporting families facing military deployment.)
  1. A quote from your favorite author.
  2. A favorite memory put on canvas, drawn, or sketched.
  3. Any object that belonged to the person you are wanting to connect with or one that was purchased for you.
  4. An emblem designed with a personal message that only you will know its meaning.
  5. Frame a line or two from a poem to hang in a special place in your home or office.
  6. A quilt (or bear) made of clothing worn by the person who has been deployed.
  7. A heart-shaped stone or other stone.
  8. A photo of a place you visited with your loved one or one cut from a magazine.
  9. A zipper tag clipped on to a coat zipper or a key chain.
  10. A pocket token.

A Personal Symbol is an object originally created to communicate
a particular personal belief, achievement, status
or membership.

If You Listen in the Amazon Spotlight

If You Listen

Amazon Price: $35.54 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

Two-time Caldecott Honor winner Charlotte Zolotow writes this loving tale about loss. The book helps answer the question, "If I can't see him, or hear him, or feel his hugs, how can I know he loves me when he isn't here?"

In it, a mother comforts her daughter about the absence of the child's father by explaining that if she listens hard, she'll feel him far away sending love to her.

Using Personal Symbols to Cope with Loss

How to Use a Personal Symbol to Cope With Your Loss
Everyone has soul needs, especially when grieving. Using a personal symbol will help you fill this deep inner need and have an immense effect on the focus of your thought life.

Dog Tags for Kids - One of the Benefactors of We the People Group

Dog Tags for Kids is one of the Benefactors of the We the People - Support the Troops Group.
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Examples of Dog Tags for Kids 

Deployment Journal for Kids in the Amazon Spotlight

Deployment Journal for Kids

Amazon Price: $7.94 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

The Deployment Journal provides a creative, expressive outlet for exploring thoughts and emotions during such a stressful time in the child's life.

Dr. David Fassler, M.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Vermont College of Medicine finds it to be "An excellent vehicle to help children express their thoughts and feelings, at their own pace, in a safe, supportive context."

I'll be Home for Christmas Featured Lenses

This lens features Josh Groban's beautiful tribute to the troops and also includes resources for coping with the holidays for those who are apart from loved ones.
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Books for Children with Moms in the Military on Amazon

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Dog Tags from Parents 

Books for Children with Dads in the Military on Amazon

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A Featured Lens on Helping Children Cope with Loss and Grief

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Get Your Own Dog Tag to Support the Troops

For a donation of $5 or more you can receive an "I Support Our Troops" tag to proudly wear.

Remember this is a non-profit effort so all contributions are tax deductible.

Donate to Dog Tags for Kids

You can donate directly to Dog Tags for Kids and help them send FREE Dog Tags to our soldiers.

Help send dog tags to soldiers in Iraq to send to their kids. From a Parent Overseas to a Child at Home. You can help by donating today.

Learn How You Can Help Dog Tags for Kids

Although this effort has been widely supported through the generosity of the public, we are experiencing a severe shortage of funds which is hampering our ability to fulfill requests from our military.
How You Can Help Dog Tags for Kids
Learn more about helping Dog Tags for Kids.

More Examples of Dog Tags for Kids 

Custom Tags Support Dog Tags for Kids on eBay

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Image Credits

Images from Dog Tags for Kids, Gallery of Photographs.

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Benefiting Dog Tags for Kids

This lens was especially created to benefit Dog Tags for Kids a grassroots effort to show our support for the troops and their families. All proceeds from sales of books and resources on this lens to to benefit Dog Tags for Kids.

This nonprofit organization was founded to send Free Dog Tags to our troops in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan so they can send them to their kids back home with love from the deployed parent.

by

Comfortdoc

Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT is a respected physician, an expert in life challenges, loss, grief and bereavement, professional health educator, professor,... more »

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