2. Start the month with a breakfast event. Include all parents associated with the armed forces. Don’t forget to invite staff who were once Service children too! 3. The charity Never Such Innocence is running an art competition for Service children throughout #MotMC. Send in entries and each week during April these will be shared online.
4. Look for a link to your local military base/ unit. Many have Unit Welfare Officers or Community Development Officers that organise events for Service families.
5. Highlight April as ‘Month of the Military Child’ on the school’s website, and parent newsletters. Discuss what support you can offer, particularly with families new to the area.
6. Consider hosting a ‘person in uniform day’. Invite a serving mother or father either in class or during an assembly to talk to a class.
7. “Share Your Story” Project: Get children to think about their life experience and how they might share this with the rest of the class. Children can create artwork or a journal about their experiences.
8. Time Zone Wall: A series of clocks on a wall identifying different time zones from around the world, with a focus on where Service children have lived before.
9. Schools can promote the Month of the Military Child on their web sites. Provide links to sites that offer resources for military families. There are several charities that support Service children and produce materials for schools, families and children.
Service children can face challenges with parents in the armed forces. Yet these children are also an amazing asset to families, schools and the local community. The Month of the Military Child helps us remember this and helps us celebrate their achievements.
For further information contact: people-affs-mailbox@mod.gov.uk
April is the International Month of the Military Child. Keep an eye out for updates on events, how to get involved and the latest news and ensure your children's school are aware of the month long celebration of military children worldwide.