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April is Month of the Military Child

By Kamlyn Jurgensen April 3, 2015
Since 1986, when April was named Month of the Military Child, the military and DoD have gone out of their way to highlight the special lifestyle that military children live. With over 1.5 million kids living with at least one parent as a military member, these children have a life that includes the words deployment, war, fighting and traumatic brain injury. Not that those are the only words, because homecoming, leave, love and family are used just as often, if not more. 

April is used by many bases to highlight and celebrate their military kids. Make sure to check your Family Services and MWR offices for activities and events on your base. There are usually some at the PX/BX/AAFES and even at the commissary. 

Here are a few more programs that highlight and help our military family members:

National Guard Family Program - This program is to support and educate families within the National Guard. It has family readiness programs to help you tackle anything that may come your way. They also have advisors who will help you learn about and take advantage of military support programs. 

Army Reserve Family Programs - Soldiers and their families can take advantage of this program that will help them find child care, youth volunteer opportunities, family days and much more. Find program offerings at your command here

The National Military Family Association - The association has made it mission number one to help children of military families. They have many programs including family retreats, Operation Purple Camp (a free week of camp), and scholarship opportunities.

Military One Source - This one stop shop for DoD has everything you need for your family. They have articles dealing with deployments, moves, fitness, money and more. They also have web links to branch specific youth services, as well as those dealing with children, like Boys & Girls Club of America, ChooseMyPlate and Military Youth on the Move

United Through Reading - This program helps military families when one parent is deployed for an indeterminate period of time by recording the absent parent read a book aloud. The child is then presented the video so they can have the love one close.  

Sesame Workshop - Sesame Street knows it's hard to talk to your kids about deployments and military life. That's why they have brought the issues to a level that preschoolers can grasp. For military families, topics covered include deployments, military moves, and grief. 

Also, don't miss the "Young Lives, BIG Stories" contest. Your child can submit a story that reflects, "What does it mean to you to be a military child?" and enter to win a prize. This contest is open to military children preschool through twelfth grade. Find out more about the contest here