April is the Month of the Military Child

contributed by Melissa Lucas, senior staff writer

Purple up, people! April is the Month of the Military Child, and it’s time to celebrate these unsung heroes for who they are: unique, brave, resilient future history makers.

A few facts about military children, courtesy of AASA:

It’s estimated that nearly 2 million military children have been through a parental deployment since 2001.
Currently there are 1.2 million children of active-duty military service members.
Most (roughly 80%) of military children attend public schools, meaning they spend much of their time with children in very different circumstances than themselves.
On average, military families move three times more often than non-military families.

At a young age, military children experience circumstances that most civilians won’t come across in their lifetime. The fear and uncertainty that comes with a parent deploying. Frequent relocations that make it difficult to establish roots in any one place. Overseas PCS moves which plunk military children down in an unfamiliar culture. These experiences, and so many more, can be life-changing for children. Which is why it is so important that we take time to honor military children, just like we do their parents.

The Month of the Military Child was established in 1986, and for the past 35 years, military bases, cities, and school districts have been encouraged to honor our young American heroes with special events just for them.

For the most part, the Month of the Military Child and Purple Up are celebrated within Military Communities, but anyone can take the time to recognize our Nation’s military children. We’ve created a Month of the Military Child activities resource list, to help you find ways to celebrate.

First and foremost, we must say that MilitaryChild.org is definitely a go-to resource, not just for Month of the Military Child 2021, but year-round. Their goal is to ensure all military children are college-, work-, and life-ready. They seek to accomplish this by supporting, educating, advocating, and collaborating with organizations across the country.

Let’s start with a few of the initiatives created by MilitaryChild.org.

This quarter’s On the Move Magazine is dedicated to the Month of the Military Child.
The Military Child Education Commission’s weekly podcast will be taken over by Military kids all month long.
Weekly e-blasts will feature a story about a military-connected child from around the globe who is setting an example as a future history maker.
The annual Call for the Arts campaign offers military children the opportunity to express their creative side and be recognized for their poetry, photos and artwork.
A Month of the Military Child Toolkit is available via MilitaryChild.org and includes a poster which can be printed and displayed or distributed to promote Purple Up day, templates for stickers and certificates, and Month of the Military Child 2021 Purple Up t-shirts for both kids and adults.

Additional resources to help you celebrate Month of the Military Child:

Military Connection’s list of creative ways to honor our military children.
Military Child Education Commision’s 50 ways to celebrate in April.
Sesame Street for Military Families has an entire section of downloadable activities and self expression videos for military children.

And then, of course you have social media. Honor your military child on social media by posting photos and using hashtags to celebrate them all month long. Also note that Purple Up Day 2021 is on April 16th. This year’s hashtags include #FutureHistoryMakers, #MOMC, #MonthOfTheMilitaryChild, and #PurpleUP.

During April’s Month of the Military Child, and every day, Military Connection honors the bravery and sacrifice of our nation’s youngest unsung heroes. Thank you for all that you do.