FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (April 3, 2015) -- There are nearly 2 million U.S. military children who have experienced a parent's deployment, moved in the middle of a school year, and dealt with many other transitions unique to their situation.
To recognize them, the Department of Defense declared April as Month of the Military Child in 1986, and each year, Fort Campbell celebrates the installation's military children to recognize their sacrifices and courage. This year's theme is "Their Lives, Their Stories."
"We want to celebrate the diversity and resiliency of the military child -- children that grow up as military children experience so many changes in their lives," said Joan Nickerson, Watters Child Development Center 2 director.
Fort Campbell CDCs offer a variety of programs for children and Families throughout the month. This year, the month's activities kicked off Wednesday at Watters CDC 1, with one of several Month of the Military Child parades scheduled to take place across post.
"Each center has a calendar with activities for each day that month," Nickerson said. "… every year we have a parent luncheon, ice cream social, book fair and Kidriffic Day with games, bouncers and special treats."
While the month's activities are tailored around the nearly 3,000 children enrolled in Fort Campbell Child, Youth and School Services, CYSS celebrates all military children, said Tammie Heath, Parent and Outreach Services assistant director.
"This lets them know they are a part of the whole. It boosts their self-esteem in a way that is unforgettable -- they matter," said Heath. "They are our present and they are our future."
For the first time during Fort Campbell's MOMC, a Jam Session event will be held specifically for teenagers in middle school and high school beginning at 4 p.m. April 10 at CYSS Taylor Youth Center at 80 Texas Ave., said Heath. "The teens can bring their [instruments] if they want to and they will play music," said Heath.
A free event, open to all military Families is Family Fun Day scheduled for April 11 from 3 until 5 p.m. at the CYSS Taylor Youth Center.
"We are going to have different size bouncers for different ages, professional face painting, professional balloon artists, games … there is going to be food," Heath said. "Any military child is welcome to attend."
The month's events will culminate at the end of April with Kidriffic Day, which is celebrated at each CYSS facility, and is a favorite among the children, said Heath.
"They typically have a bouncer, snow cones -- it is all put on by the caregivers -- they may do face painting," Heath said. "They pull the tricycles out for the preschoolers for their races, and they have bubbles and dancing -- it's all done outside."
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