Field Problem: Military Child Resources
Dear, Field Problems:
I’ve heard that the month of April is when the military honors military children. Are there any special things going on at installations? Where can I find out more about resources for my children?
Charlotte; Fort Irwin, CA; Army spouse
Dear Charlotte:
You are correct! The month of April is the Month of the Military Child. This special celebration is a legacy of former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and was established to underscore the important role children play in the Armed Forces community. According to the Military Child Education Coalition, nearly 2 million children across the world are connected to the U.S. military.
We are so proud of you for seeking out things to do with your military child. To answer your question about local activities, we would refer you to your local installation’s Army Community Service and your installation newspaper. Check out the ACS Family Advocacy Programs that include the Exceptional Family Member Program, New Parent Support Program, and parenting classes galore. Many installations have activities going on this month, especially for military children. Do a simple search of your installations Directorate of Family Morale, Welfare, and Recreation website to find out more.
In the meantime, we have gathered some of our favorite resources from the online community.
Books to Help
Here are a few of our favorite books (you can find them wherever books are sold or check your installation library):
• Our 50 States: A Family Adventure Across America by Lynne Cheney
• Night Catch by Brenda Ehrmantraut
• The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
• I’m Red, White, & Blue… Are You Feeling it Too? by Deanna Lynn Cole
• The Blue Day Book for Kids: A Lesson in Cheering Yourself Up by Bradley Trevor Greive
• Dear Soldier: Heartfelt Letters from America’s Children by Barbara W. Baldwin, Amber Baldwin D’Amico, and Heather Baldwin Duff
• The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell
Other Military Kid Support Links
• Military Kids Connect: A Department of Defense resource for kids, tweens, and teens where they can watch personal story videos, view animated graphic novels, post on message boards, play games and communicate with other military kids.
• Our Military Kids: Supports children, ages 5 through 12th grade, of deployed National Guard and Reserve service members and children of wounded warriors from all service branches. Grants pay for participation in activities that help children cope with stress and anxiety while their parents are recovering or absent.
• Deployment Kids: Filled with activities for military kids, including maps, letter writing, journaling, and more.
• Zero to Three: Offers numerous resources specifically designed for military families and those who work with them.
• Talk, Listen, Connect materials from Sesame Workshop: Videos, storybooks, and workbooks to help guide military families through difficult transitions with the help of some of their favorite characters.
• Hug a Hero dolls: More commonly known as Daddy Dolls, kids can choose from a variety of types and sizes of dolls with their own personal hero’s photo!
• Operation Purple Program: Led by the National Military Family Association, these programs are for military kids and include camps, family retreats, education, and information on deployment.
We hope this helps make The Month of the Military Child a special celebration for your military kid.
