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.
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"