When Dad Was Away
What’s inside...
When Mum tells Milly that Dad has been sent to prison, Milly feels angry and confused. She can't believe her dad won't be at home to read her stories and make her laugh. But soon Mum takes Milly and her brother Sam to visit Dad in prison, and a week later a special package arrives at home - a cd of Milly's favourite animal stories, read especially for her by Dad. At Christmas the family go to a party at the prison, and in the spring there's an even better surprise for Milly and Sam…
Age
5-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Child
Mom
Dad
Discussion points
How do you think the main character felt when her dad was away?
What are some ways the family stayed connected with Dad even though he wasn't there?
If you were in a similar situation, what would you do to feel closer to your loved one?
What do you think is the most important message of this story?
How did the story change your thoughts about families where a parent is away?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by sharing a personal story of a time you were away from loved ones to make the narrative more relatable.
Emphasize the feelings and emotions of the characters in the story to help your child understand and express their own feelings.
Ask your child to draw a picture or write a letter to a family member they miss, leveraging themes from the book.
Encourage your child to think critically by asking them what alternative actions the characters could have taken in the story.
After discussing the questions, engage in a related activity, such as creating a family scrapbook or calendar, to practically connect with the book’s themes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Coping with separation
Explanation: The story illustrates a young child's experience dealing with her father's absence due to his imprisonment. It explores her feelings and adjustments during this challenging time.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by developing emotional resilience and learning to adapt to temporary separations from loved ones, whether due to travel, illness, or other circumstances.
Example Lesson: Importance of family support
Explanation: The book portrays how the family stays connected and supports each other even when physically apart, highlighting the mother's role in facilitating communication between the child and her father.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of maintaining relationships through different forms of communication, reinforcing the importance of supporting family members in any situation.
Example Lesson: Expressing feelings
Explanation: Throughout the story, the child is encouraged to express her emotions about her father's absence, which is crucial for her emotional well-being.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to express their own feelings more openly and seek support from others around them, which is beneficial for their mental health and personal development.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: The book helps children understand and empathize with peers who may be going through similar experiences of separation or loss.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to be more compassionate and supportive towards friends and classmates who are facing difficult times, fostering a more inclusive and empathetic community.
Example Lesson: Hope and resilience
Explanation: Despite the difficulties presented by her father's absence, the story ends on a hopeful note, emphasizing the child’s resilience and the eventual reunion with her father.
Real-World Application: This lesson can inspire children to remain hopeful and resilient in the face of their own challenges, understanding that difficult situations can improve and often do resolve over time.