The Defense Health Agency celebrates Month of the Military Child in April. There are more than 1.6 million military children who face many challenges and unique experiences because of their parents’ service.
This year, to recognize Month of the Military Child in April, the Military Health System is offering recommendations for parents to help their children process loss and adjust to new places during military moves, and other anxiety provoking events.
Message for Communicators
- Military kids are resilient in the face of change.
- Communicating with children is at the root of helping them cope with loss and stress and adjusting to new circumstances.
- The COVID-19 pandemic placed unprecedented stress on military kids.
Celebrating Military Kids
- Military kids are a source of strength and resilience for service members.
- The health and wellbeing of military children is a top priority for the Military Health System.
- The unusual stresses that most military kids experience build resilience and resourcefulness in the face of great challenges.
- Military kids are the cornerstone of military families and display remarkable strength and resilience every day.
- Military kids are faced with unique psychological challenges of military life.
- This includes things like one or both parents deploying, performing temporary duty, concern for the safety of active-duty parents, frequent moves, and more.
- Familiarity with these stresses can actually increase resilience and may help some military children adjust to life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Navigating Military Moves
- Military families move on average every two to three years, impacting military children as they change schools and support networks.
- Part of being a military family is moving. Whether you move a few hours away, or to another country, it can feel like a big deal. The Defense Department is committed to helping service members, their families, and anyone moving with the military plan their move.
- Moving can be stressful and each person in the family may have different feelings about an upcoming move.
- Moving can be hard on military families, and especially on children. Moving to a new home, going to a new school, finding new friends – it can be unsettling for kids of any age. Allow everyone to express their feelings, and try to give everyone the time they need to adjust to upcoming changes.
- Moving to a new area or school may bring up feelings of worry. Listen, support, and be there for your children during the transition.
Coping with Loss
- Communication is key to helping children of nearly all ages.
- Encourage children to share their worries or anxieties with you.
- Answer questions honestly and simply.
- Pay close attention to changes in your child’s behavior or willingness to communicate with you.
- Helping children process grief can be challenging, but it is important for their emotional health and well-being to talk openly and honestly.
- Explain the circumstances causing loss.
- Answer their questions as best as you can.
- Offer reassurance.
- Be patient. Every child processes grief and loss at their own pace.
- Maintaining structure and routine can help children find comfort and stability in times of loss and disruption.
- Routine also gives children something to look forward to and feel normal.
Adjusting to New Normal
- Many of the hardships and losses that children have experienced during the pandemic will come to an end.
- Remind them that the challenges are temporary, and they can look forward to resuming many activities as the pandemic moves into a new phase.
- Be open about how the rules for staying safe have changed, and may continue to change.
- Some rules for staying safe remain consistent – hand washing, cover nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, don’t share food, and stay home when you feel sick.
- Rules also can vary by community. Explain the rules for your local community.
- Help children understand that some people remain at higher risk from COVID-19 and may still choose to wear masks.
- Proactively engage with your children to set expectations about moving to the new phase of the pandemic, and returning to something closer to normal life. When you talk to them:
- Stay Positive about the long-term outcome
- Stay Honest about the challenge
- Stay Active with sports and clubs
- Stay Scheduled with a flexible routine
- Stay Connected to the community with social activities
- Stay Informed about what is happening in your community
- Stay Safe by getting vaccines, washing hands, and staying home when sick
Graphics and Social Media Content
Suggested Social Media Message: “Welcome to #MonthoftheMilitaryChild! This month the #MHS and #DHA celebrate the strength and resilience #MilKids and families show through life changes, like military moves. Moving to a new area or school may bring up feelings of worry. Listen, support, and be there for your children during the transition. https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-housing/moving/pcs-and-military-moves/Military One Source webpage #MOMC"
Use this Month of the Military Child badge as an overlay to create your own local MOMC social media posts.
Purple Up Day: April 15
Suggested Social Media Message: “#PurpleUp today! Wear purple to show support for the military kids in your life today, and to honor the strength, resiliency and sheer might of Military Kids around the globe https://health.mil/MKCHomeMilitary Health Kid webpage #MOMC #CopingWithLoss #MonthoftheMilitaryChild #MilKids"
Suggested Social Media Message: “We can’t promise children that the people they love won’t become sick or that things will get easier by a certain date, but we can provide as much a sense of safety as possible. Here are tips for how to help your children process changes, and ease their worries.
#MOMC #CopingWithLoss #MonthoftheMilitaryChild #MilKids https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/activities/when-children-worry/"
Suggested Social Media Message: “Helping children process grief can be challenging, but it is important for their emotional health and well-being to talk openly and honestly. These resources can help facilitate a conversation. #MOMC #CopingWithLoss #MonthoftheMilitaryChild #MilKids https://militarykidsconnect.health.mil/Caring-for-Our-Youth/Parents"
Suggested Social Media Message: "Change is a constant for most kids. Parents can help them adjust to change by setting expectations, so they can anticipate a new routine and look forward to the end of the disruption. #MOMC #CopingWithLoss #MonthoftheMilitaryChild #MilKids
https://militarykidsconnect.health.mil/Caring-for-Our-Youth/ParentsMilitary Kid Connect webpage"
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Use this Month of the Military Child badge as an overlay to create your own local MOMC social media posts.
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As the COVID-19 pandemic moves to a new phase, it’s important to help children understand what that means in their community. Communication is critical, so talk to your kids about the “new normal” and answer their questions honestly and simply as possible. #MOMC #CopingWithLoss #MonthoftheMilitaryChild #MilKids https://militarykidsconnect.health.mil/Caring-for-Our-Youth/Parents
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#PurpleUp today! Wear purple to show support for the military kids in your life today, and to honor the strength, resiliency and sheer might of Military Kids around the globe! https://health.mil/MKCHome #MOMC #CopingWithLoss #MonthoftheMilitaryChild #MilKids
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