Families Unite!
April is the Month of the Military Child and that makes me happy!
During the past 12 years of helping military families stay connected and close, I’ve come to meet and cherish many military children. We’ve worked and played together, and I swear, their laughter is louder and their eyes are more “sparkly,” probably because they come from a proud culture.
But, I also know that their tears come from unknown places down deep.
There is a special strength that shows in each child’s face, and I want every family to stay connected by having fun things to do together.
Here are a few of the activities that have been shared with me over the years:
For toddlers and pre-schoolers:
- Get out a sheet of paper and finger-paint. Have each child dip a thumb in the paint and make thumbprints on the paper. Then take a crayon and make little bugs out of them by adding legs. You can cut out these bugs and leave them in happy places around the house, in lunch bags, etc.
- Have everyone in the family make placemats together. Use drawings, photos, stickers, sayings and anything else you can think of. Take them to an office supply store and have them laminated so you can use them at meals.
Children ages 6-12:
- Take your kids out on a treasure hunt in your own yard. Everyone has a list of things to find that most likely will include colorful leaves, small stones, flowers, etc. Have everyone put their “treasures” in a decorated box. Be open to the collection of little things that might not be on the list.
- Spend a day finding amazing ways to spell out the words “I love you.” Write it in shaving cream on a mirror, or spell it out with stones, candies, chocolates or even pennies. You can even draw it on the sidewalk or a piece of paper. Then, go around and take a pictures of each one. Later, you can make a scrapbook or digital slideshow of all the ways your family says, I love you.
For teens:
- Sometimes teens forget how important their parents really are to them. For a few minutes sometime, have them write down a list of “The best advice I got from (Mom or Dad).” They should do this on their own and show it to you at a special time. Knowing you have a positive influence on your children is a wonderful reminder of your relationship, especially at times when you aren’t together.
- As a family, can you work together in a mentoring program like Big Brothers or Big Sisters, or organize other families to work on a project together. Something special happens when you work together for someone else. There are lots of smiles to go around!
Thank you to all our military children for who you are and how you contribute to your family. They are proud of you…and so am I!
