Ways To Support Military Youth
Members of the military sacrifice a lot in order to protect our country. They often put their lives on the line and give up many aspects of a normal life. This is a sacrifice that their family members make as well. Military families face many challenges, especially when a family member is deployed. These challenges can be particularly hard for military children, as they often have to move to new areas, leave friends and family behind, start at new schools, move into new housing, and endure many other changes to their everyday lives.
With over 1.6 million military children in the U.S., it’s always important for others to understand how to help the families of our service members. In this article, we’ll highlight some of the top ways to support military children.
How To Support Military Families With Children
Befriend Them - One of the simplest ways to support military families and children is by befriending them. This may sound obvious, but one of the most difficult parts of moving to a new area is not knowing anyone. Introducing yourself and your family to military families that are in your area can provide emotional support when they may not have any. Introducing your own children to military children also gives them a local friend they can relate and talk to, which can make the transition easier. This is especially important as military children have a higher risk of experiencing anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
Help With Errands - Once you’ve met members of a military family, another good way to help both parents and children is by assisting with errands. Maybe you can pick up groceries for them, help clean the house, take kids to or from school, or help with anything else they may need. When a service member is deployed, it is often a single parent at home taking care of the kids and juggling many tasks. Helping with a few of them will make a world of difference for both the parent and the children.
Show Them Around Your Area - Another great way to help military families and children is by offering to show them around your area. They may be in a new place that they aren’t familiar with, so you can act as a tour guide for them and show them some of your favorite local spots for food, shopping, and activities. This will also provide opportunities for your families to spend more time together and continue to bond, which will help military children warm up to the new surroundings and people they are experiencing.
Support Organizations That Help Military Children - There are a number of different organizations out there that help provide resources for military children. The support these organizations offer can vary between things like scholarships, support groups, meals, child care, afterschool programs, and more. Many of these organizations look at the biggest needs of military children and work to fill the gaps so that they can have a normal, happy childhood.
At the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Delta, we do whatever it takes to build great futures. We aim to serve the children in our communities, especially by keeping them safe and healthy while promoting respect and equality. This includes all of the military children living in communities in the Mississippi Delta area. One of the ways we do this is through our afterschool programs, which provide a safe place for all children where they have access to homework help, fitness activities, workforce development, literacy activities, social interactions, and more.
Each of our programs and clubs provides kids with a safe place to play, learn, exercise, and receive nutritious foods. Find out how you can get involved with our organization by signing your child up for a club or afterschool program, making a donation, or volunteering to help our cause today!