Across the country, there are more than a million children growing up in military families. Here in our community, there is a large population of military kids and families who may be your neighbors, classmates or teammates.
Military kids are navigating the joys of childhood alongside the unique challenges of military life, from moving often to missing a parent during deployment. With understanding and support, we can help them thrive.
In honor of Veteran’s Day, the experts at On Our Sleeves are shining a spotlight on this special group of children, sharing insights about their unique mental health needs, and offering ways we can all come together to support them.
What are the unique mental health needs of military kids?
All children have mental health needs, but kids in military families — whether a parent, caregiver, or close relative is currently serving or has served in the past — often face experiences that are unique from their peers.
These experiences could include:
- Visiting or living on a military base, here or overseas
- Worrying and missing a loved one due to deployment
- Moving often and attending multiple schools, sometimes within one school year
- Missing extended family
Facing these challenges can help children grow stronger and more resilient, which benefits their mental health. But it can also lead to some mental health challenges. This can be particularly true if frequent moves disrupt mental health care or distance them from support systems, like friends, extended family or a favorite teacher.
How can I help kids from military families?
Even if you’re not in a military family, you can still support the mental health of children in military households. Here are a few ways you can do that:
- Learn the lingo. Do you know what a TDY is? How about DOD? FRG? The military has all kinds of acronyms and other nicknames for roles and organization. You can always ask a military member about terms you don’t know or look up terms online.
- Don’t assume you know. Take the time to ask a child if they know anyone serving in the military or if they have a family member who has served in the military. Their answer might surprise you.
- Ask how you can help. If a family moves into your neighborhood and you find out they are connected to the military, ask how you can help. They may appreciate recommendations for services (pediatricians, dentists, etc.) in your area, favorite places in the community or a home cooked meal.
You can also connect with the kids by asking fun, open-ended questions about their experiences, such as:
- “What’s your favorite part about being in a military family?”
- “Does your family have any special traditions?”
- “Do you have a favorite place you’ve lived? What did you like about it?”
Find ways to celebrate and support military kids in your community. There are many ways to show military children that you care about them. You might join in celebrations like the “Month of the Military Child” in April, help create peer support networks at school, or simply take a little extra time to check in and listen. Even small gestures — recognizing their achievements, inviting them to participate in activities, or sending a note of encouragement — can make a big difference. Every act of support helps these kids feel connected, valued and understood.
Military related kids are known to be very resilient, showing several mental health strengths but also may have challenges, as well. By taking some of these tips, we can wrap this community in support and help together!
This resource was made possible thanks to the generosity of Bread Financial.
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