FORT RILEY, Kan. - Military Families were able to spend the day at Fort Riley's School Age Services and Middle School Teen Center April 25 where activities were available for children of all ages as part of celebrations for the Month of the Military Child.
Children were able to take part in all sorts of activities including face painting, band lessons, arts and crafts, a petting zoo and a large bouncy obstacle course.
As the Families arrived they were to go to the middle of the two buildings to receive a ticket for each child in attendance, the ticket was placed in a drawing. A ticket was drawn every 30 minutes, with winners receiving movie tickets or other small prizes.
Along with activities for the children, parents were able to pick up information from organizations such as the Kansas State University Extension and Research Office, youth church services and the Parent to Parent program.
Bryce, the son of Spc. Kerry and Crystal Lawson won a Pterodactyl toy during the ticket drawings, got a bunny painted on his face and listen to the 1st Infantry Division rock band. Spending time with military children can be a way to keep their minds off of their parents who are deployed, Crystal said.
"Not everyone understands what the kids go through, the military child," Crystal said. "A lot of people thing it's the spouse that suffers the most when the other part is gone with the military but what they don't understand, depending on the age of the child ... they act out because that other person is constantly gone."
This is the first year an event with so much community partnership has been put together for the Month of the Military Child, said Nikki Chrisman, Child, Youth and School Services coordinator.
"As a community partnership we have grown, so we decided instead of having mini-events at each of our facilities, we wanted to have one big event so all the Families can get together," Chrisman said. "We plan on doing this every year, and it will get bigger and better every year."
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