2026 Month of the Military Child Toolkit

For 40 years, the War Department has set aside the month of April to honor the strength, sacrifices and unique challenges that children of military personnel face, a reflection of the important role military families play as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.

The 2026 Month of the Military Child toolkit provides service providers and leaders with key messages, sharable resources, social media posts and ready-to-use materials aimed to support the needs of parents as they care for their military-connected children, youth and teens.

Background

The War Department recognizes that families are the strength of our force, and the department is committed to ensuring military-connected children, youth and teens — and their parents — know support is available for their unique challenges. This year’s Month of the Military Child focuses on the strength and resilience of our military-connected youth, and our unifying theme, Legacy of Resilience: 40 Years of Nourishing Our Military Children’s Future, is woven into our outreach efforts for April and beyond.

Through collaboration and communication, we can amplify the department’s efforts to reach and support military-connected children, youth and teens.

Ready-to-use materials

Show your support for military parents and military-connected youth by downloading and sharing these resources:

• Signature block
• Virtual background
• Social media toolkit (coming soon)

Shareable resources

• Month of the Military Child Savings at the Exchange — The Exchange is honoring military-connected families all month long with added discounts to celebrate Month of the Military Child.
• Military Child Care — Help parents find the most important details about military child care in one convenient location.
• Nutrition and Fitness — From guidelines on developing healthy eating habits and ideas on how to stay fit to strategies for giving your child a happy, healthy start, parents can find practical advice to help their entire family thrive.
• Military Youth and Teen Programs — Programs offer a variety of support, including recreational activities, leadership development, mentorship and more, designed to support military children as they transition from childhood into adulthood.
• Exceptional Family Member Program — Help families with special needs get the support they need to manage education, care and services.
• Pre-K to 12 Education — Help parents learn about education options, including homeschooling, while building relationships with their child’s school and maximizing the support and resources of their military community.
• Morale, Welfare and Recreation — From fitness and sports to tickets and travel, MWR offers an array of options for service members and military families.
• Military OneSource Counseling — Free, confidential counseling supports adjustment difficulties, stress, family dynamics and more.
• New Parent Support Program — Healthy parenting practices and tips help new parents navigate demands of military while helping their children thrive.