Child Development and Education

A number of child development and educational programs, resources and support services are available to help military-connected children, youth and teens learn and thrive.

Child development

ZERO TO THREE

ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to “promote the healthy development of our nation’s infants and toddlers.” Parents, professionals and policymakers can find research-based information and resources on child development guidance, including brain development, early learning, school readiness, child care, health and nutrition.

ZERO TO THREE has a wealth of resources and programs for military families — and those who support such families — about how to help young children build resiliency and cope with parental separation, relocation and other stressors.

Child development podcast

The Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive! podcast from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Early Childhood Development provides information for parents about celebrating milestones, the importance of health screenings, how to identify delays and early concerns, and how to provide developmental supports for children.

Developmental milestones

Parents can learn more about children’s developmental milestones and consult the Baby Wheels developmental stages products available for download on Military OneSource:

• Baby Wheels — Stages 0-3
• Baby Wheels — Preschool 2-5
• Baby Wheels — Rolling Into Fatherhood 0-3

Early intervention services

If military parents are concerned their child might have a developmental delay, the Exceptional Family Member Program works with other community and military agencies to make sure military parents have the early intervention services their infants and toddlers need.

Thrive

The Defense Department teamed with the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State to create Thrive, a free, online parenting-education program that promotes positive parenting, stress management and healthy lifestyle practices. Thrive can help parents raise healthy, resilient children from birth to 18.

Thrive has four interactive modules organized by age group:

• Take Root: for children ages 0-3
• Sprout: for children ages 3-5
• Grow: for children ages 5-10
• Branch Out: for children ages 10-18

In addition to the regular age-group programming, supplemental modules are added regularly.

Child education

Head Start

The Head Start program is available to families that have low income, a foster child or a child with special needs. The program teaches reading, math and other developmental skills to children ages 5 and younger before they start kindergarten. Children also receive nutrition, health and social services.

Sure Start

The DOD developed the Sure Start program to provide services similar to Head Start to military families living overseas. The full-day preschool program is open primarily to 4-year-old children of eligible command-sponsored service members. It provides hands-on experiences and activities that focus on computer skills, dramatic play, toys and games, sand and water, library, outdoors, music and movement, cooking, discovery, art and blocks.

Military Child Education Coalition

The Military Child Education Coalition is a nonprofit organization that connects military installations with their supporting school districts. The website provides links to their publications and research, education resource center, initiatives and training opportunities.

The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children

The Interstate Compact helps military-connected students moving to new duty stations and schools by streamlining school enrollment, class registration and on-time graduation.

• Read more about how the interstate compact makes changing schools easier for military children.
• The Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission, or MIC3, enforces the Interstate Compact and informs parents about legal protections for their children in the school system as they PCS to new installations and schools. Watch this video to learn how MIC3 and its leaders work to ensure military-connected students have access to quality education and equal opportunities in learning.

Partnership and Resources

The partnership between the DOD and the Department of Defense Education Activity, or DoDEA, supports military-connected students in states and countries that are not directly served by a DoDEA school. The DoDEA parent resources section also offers a wide variety of online educational activities and programs to support children of all ages.

School Liaison Program

School liaisons are available at each installation. These positions were created to provide targeted, professional support at all military installations to assist military families with educational challenges that come with transition, deployment and reintegration. School liaisons help children get settled in new schools so that they can thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

• Contact the installation school liaison office for assistance with K-12 education questions and concerns.
• Watch this video to learn how school liaisons can assist with education concerns for students pre-K through 12.
• Watch this video to explore the Youth Sponsorship Program, how it supports military-connected youth as they transition from one school to the next and how school liaisons can connect students to youth sponsorship.
• Listen to this podcast to hear how school liaisons provide a wide range of support to geographically dispersed families.

Exceptional Family Member Program

The Exceptional Family Member Program can help families navigate the DOD’s network of services and support if they have a child with a disability or special need. Parents can use the EFMP & Me online tool to create an education checklist with information and resources tailored for their family’s needs.

DOD MWR Libraries

DOD MWR Libraries is a free, online resource for service members and their families that offers a wide variety of activities and materials for all ages, including eBooks and audiobooks on virtually every topic. Children can learn to read, explore interests, research school assignments, access professional tutors for homework help and much more.

Sesame Workshop

Sesame Workshop toolkits provide valuable information and support to military families, helping young children handle the challenges of military life. The videos, resources and games help build a strong foundation so children can cope and thrive.