How to Start Family Storytime Traditions, Even Through Deployment

October 22, 2025

Deployment doesn’t just mean physical distance—it means missing bedtimes, inside jokes, and the small moments that make up childhood. For military families, one of the hardest losses is the nightly ritual of storytime, when parents and children connect over adventures between pages. But what if that connection didn’t have to pause when duty calls?

On October 26th, we observe National Day of the Deployed, founded in 2006 to honor service members who have been deployed and the families who support them. What began as a North Dakota state proclamation has grown into a nationwide observance in all 50 states, recognizing that staying connected to family is part of military resilience. The good news? You can build storytime traditions that transcend distance, creating comfort and continuity for children even when a parent is thousands of miles away.

Start Before You Go

The most powerful thing you can do is begin your storytime tradition before deployment. When children already associate your voice with their favorite stories, those recordings become anchors during separation. Take time in the weeks before you leave to record yourself reading beloved books. Let your children help choose the titles—their favorites, new discoveries, or books that reflect what they’re learning or feeling.

United Through Reading’s free app makes this simple. Record stories anytime, anywhere, and your children can access them from day one of deployment. This isn’t just about reading words on a page; it’s about preserving your inflection, your laughter, the way you do character voices. These details matter immensely to little ones who are missing you.

Make It a Ritual, Not Just a Recording

The magic of storytime isn’t just in the story—it’s in the ritual surrounding it. Help your family create a special routine around your recorded readings. Maybe it’s part of the bedtime routine every night, or a weekend morning tradition with hot chocolate. Encourage your partner to make it special: a cozy reading corner, the same blanket every time, or even a photo of you nearby.

Consider recording a mix of content: favorite stories, but also personal messages, silly jokes, or even you singing a lullaby. Variety keeps children engaged and lets them choose what they need on any given day—sometimes it’s adventure, sometimes it’s just hearing you say “I love you.”

Record for the Milestones You’ll Miss

One of the most meaningful ways to prepare for deployment is by recording books tied to specific occasions. Your child can save these recordings for birthdays, holidays, first days of school, or other milestones, making you part of those moments even from afar.

Consider recording timeless classics tied to the moments you’ll miss:

For Birthdays:
Happy Birthday to You! by Dr. Seuss
The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli
Clifford’s Birthday Party by Norman Bridwell

For Holidays:
The People Remember by Ibi Zoboi (Kwanzaa)
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel
The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh
Llama Llama Jingle Bells by Anna Dewdney

For Milestones:
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn (first day of school)

Timeless Read-Alouds:
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

These aren’t just stories—they’re your presence at celebrations, your encouragement during transitions, and your love made tangible when distance feels overwhelming.

Keep the Library Growing

One aspect of United Through Reading’s program is that every recording you make through the app earns a free book that is sent home to your child. This means your family’s library grows throughout deployment, and each new book represents another connection between you and your family. These books become treasured objects—not just stories, but physical reminders of your presence and love.

With hundreds of story stations worldwide, you can also continue recording throughout your deployment, adding new stories as your children grow and their interests evolve. What they loved at three might not captivate them at four, but your voice always will.

Build Something That Lasts

These traditions are so valuable because they don’t end when you come home. The storytime habits you build during deployment become the foundation for literacy, bonding, and memory-making long after reunion. Children who grow up surrounded by books and the voices of those who love them become confident readers and learners.

This National Day of the Deployed, honor your service by investing in connection. Download the United Through Reading app and start building your family’s storytime tradition today—because love shouldn’t wait for homecoming to be felt.