When service members join the military, they know that it comes with a certain lifestyle—deployments, frequent moves, and the possibility that they may pay the ultimate price in their military service. But military members are not the only people who serve. During April, we honor military kids during Month of the Military Child.
One of the biggest challenges that military kids face is the lack of community that they may encounter as they move every couple of years. Many bases and installations put great effort into providing programs to help military kids bond with each other but the reality still exists that military families face relocation every 2 to 3 years.
Military Kids Connect hopes to bridge that gap.
Military Kids Connect is “an online community for military children (ages 6-17 yr old) that provides access to age-appropriate resources to support children dealing with the unique psychological challenges in military life.”
An arm of the Department of Defense’s National Center for Telehealth & Technology, Military Kids Connect uses existing technology to help kids create community in an ever-changing military life.
See how Ava, a @USArmy #MilKid, counts down the days to when her dad returns from #deployment. How does your family track time away from a deployed loved one? #MOMC #USArmy pic.twitter.com/gp3BATuiz2
— MilitaryKidsConnect (@MilKidsConnect) April 16, 2018
Something for Everyone
The online community is set up to cater to specific age groups.
“MilitaryKidsConnect fills a pressing need, providing military youth with emotional support through fun and interactive content, while offering educators smart advice on how to help these kids thrive in the classroom,” said Dr. Mary Keller, President and CEO of the Military Child Education Coalition.
A “kids” section appeals to ages 6-8. There, kids can find out about coping skills, read and share stories about getting through a deployment, print out coloring pages, and play games designed to showcase the fun aspects of military life.
The “tween” section is there for ages 9-12. These years can be awkward time full of personal transition; adding the stresses of military life means a potentially tough time for tweens. Videos focus on making good choices in tough situations, while a message board allows military tweens to connect with others on a safe forum.
Teens, ages 13-17, can access their own section with a more high-tech feel. The focus in the “teen” section is sharing stories. Teens can read advice on getting through deployment or watch videos about coping with tough situations. The teen section also includes information about dealing with injury or death of a service member parent.
Military Kids Connect prioritizes providing age-appropriate resources for military kids. While all military children experience similar challenges, the way that they understand and cope with them can be different.
Parents and educators can also get in on the fun. There are special sections to help them help these special military kids in their lives.
A Youth Resource Guide is also available, with links to other organizations that support military kids. Resources include a deployment-centric board game, Sesame Street resources for military families, and school transition and scholarship information.
Safety in an Online Platform
In today’s world, online sharing communities come with their own set of risks. Military Kids Connect knows this and takes important steps to protect the children it serves.
All online forums are pre-moderated “to ensure no personally identifiable information is present.”
All content complies with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which restricts the gathering and use of personally identifiable information from children. If such information is provided on the website, it is “removed and never stored.”
Military Kids Connect intends to help military children “build and reinforce understanding, resilience, and coping skills” to help them thrive.
The National Center for Telehealth & Technology (T2) agency was formed in 2008 to respond to the need for evaluation and response to psychological health and traumatic brain injury in the military.
