April is recognized as the Month of the Military Child. This recognition creates a specific and special time to acknowledge and appreciate the resilience of students in military families and learn about their experiences. Military-connected students may navigate frequent moves, school changes, and separation from loved ones during deployments. These stressors can contribute to difficulties students may experience in managing or adapting to academic and social environments. Many schools are already aware of these challenges; however, the appreciation that the Month of the Military Child features can offer school professionals opportunities to refresh resources pertaining to military-connected students, focus on education about military culture and the impacts on students, and creatively consider how military-connected students’ experiences can be highlighted and valued in school communities.
While military-connected students often face many challenges, they should never be defined by their limitations or barriers. Military-connected students bring unique perspectives and strengths to school environments, and encouraging them to talk about and share their experiences can be beneficial for them, their classmates, and the school community. Offering these diverse perspectives can build connection and belonging among military-connected students and their peers and foster confidence and resilience in all students.
Schoolwide Opportunities
Observe the Month of the Military Child by holding events such as PurpleUp! Day to raise awareness and show visible support for military-connected students. Schools could create bulletin boards, include special morning announcements, or organize assemblies that highlight student experiences and contributions. Teachers, on a more personal level, could incorporate prompts that invite military-connected students to share their experiences, such as discussing places they have lived, what students want people to know about them, or an event or circumstance that makes them proud, in writing assignments, art projects, or presentations.
Small-Group Interventions
For military-connected students who are new to an area due to geographic transitions, include these students in a supportive small peer group, such as a lunch bunch or a more formal friendship skills group. Students experiencing difficulties due to a parent’s deployment, injury, or death may benefit from participating in a support group or a grief group. Engaging in small groups can help encourage military-connected students to share their experiences and make connections without feeling pressured to share on a wider scale.
Partnering with Families
Families can be valuable sources of information about military experiences and can help schools understand what support might look like for their child. Schools could invite family input through surveys, informal conversations, or participation in school events. Teachers could invite parents to come in and answer student questions about military service, life in other countries, or other topics related to their work experience.
Inviting military-connected students and families to share their experiences and build connections in schools commemorates the Month of the Military Child. School personnel may want to refresh their knowledge of topics related to military-connected students. Informal or formal trainings for teachers and school staff can increase awareness, promote empathy, and highlight strategies that can be used to expand student well-being. Whichever events or activities you and your school choose to engage in to support military-connected students this April, remember, carrying awareness and encouragement forward throughout the rest of the year is the main goal. Creating spaces for military-connected students to share their experiences and ensuring teachers and staff understand the specific needs of military-connected students will build a school community where every student is supported.
More resources on supporting military-connected students can be found here, and a short guide to creating small-group interventions can be found here.