The month of April is set aside to honor and celebrate military children and youth for their service, commitment, and sacrifice in support of the military’s mission. The observance reiterates a commitment to provide quality care and positive youth development for a bright future. The April 2025 Month of the Military Child theme is “Celebrating Military Children and Youth: Building Stronger Character and Relationships.”
“The life of a military-connected child is one of constant change. In addition to the typical stressors of being a kid, a military child faces a unique set of challenges, including separation during deployment and being relocated across the country – or even the world,” the DoDEA says on its website. Compared to a dandelion, the official flower of the military child, these young people flourish wherever the wind blows them. Even when uprooted, they replant in new places and thrive. They blossom into many careers in and out of the military community due to their adaptability, global perspective, and innate understanding of sacrifice.
Throughout April, DoDEA will encourage its schools to plan events that recognize and show appreciation for those resilient military children. Sixty-seven thousand children are enrolled in DoDEA schools. They are at 161 schools in 11 foreign countries, 7 states, and 2 territories across 10 time zones.
“We know that military children face many challenges that are unique to their situation, such as having a parent deployed for extended periods of time and moving frequently. Deployments and family separations can be stressful times for children,” the DoD notes on its website. Military children show bravery, fearlessness, and resiliency by adapting and meeting adversity head on in an ever-changing environment. Military children show bravery, fearlessness, and resiliency by adapting and meeting adversity head on in an ever-changing environment.