Welcome! On this page, you'll find a list of resources for Military Children and Families vetted personally by me. These are worth your time, and I send them to my BFFs without hesitation.
Scroll down to check out my go-to's from the last 16+ years of being a mom and
19+ years as a spouse. The first five have special podcast interviews on Keep Calm Mother On, I'm glad I got the chance to talk with them.
Happy Military Child Appreciation Month. Remember, military kids, are military kids every month of the year. Tell them thank you whenever you meet one.
-Christy Thomas
List Updated on 7/9/2024
Thrivers
Christy's go-to resource for how to raise kids who can Thrive. Written by Dr. Michele Borba after a lifetime of research and talking to kids. Each chapter focuses on a character trait and has activities for kids toddler to college.
BLOOM: The Field Guide to Military Teens
The Field Guide offers advice and tips for serving military teens at the neighborhood, school, and community levels. Hear from teens directly regarding their needs, desires, and pet peeves. Bloom is powered by the National Military Family Association. 4-7-23 Listen to Christy chat with BLOOM
Travis Manion Foundation: Character Does Matter
Character Does Matter Mentors develop character and leadership skills in young adults. Grounded in the evidence-based field of Positive Psychology, they use a strengths-based approach to develop character traits in the next generation through a combination of informal discussions and activity-based learning. Reach out to learn how to bring it to your school with the help of a veteran or active-duty family.
Partners In Promise
The mission of Partners in PROMISE is to Protect the Rights Of Military children In Special Education (P.R.O.M.I.S.E.) & disability communities to ensure they receive equal access to an education. We do this by develop data-informed solutions that equip parents, inform leaders and enable military students to thrive. Parent resources include a Special Education & EFMP binder, videos featuring special education and disability experts and checklists to keep you and your child on track through each military move.
Comfort Crew
This kit will help your child feel seen and not alone. Being a military kid is hard; Comfort Crew and Trevor Romain know that. Cuzzie the bear is a keepsake for my kids. Great for kids 6-12.
Blue Star Summer Museums
Check out this awesome program of Museums free with your military ID from Memorial Day to Labor Day. This partnership is with Blue Star Families and the National Endowment of the Arts. Thanks to this program, I've brought my kids to great art museums, children's museums, and historical sites.
Boys & Girls Club and Military Kids
Boys and Girls Clubs of America offer mentorship for military kids.
Build A Sign
Since 2008, BuildASign.com® has given away more than 337,000 Welcome Home banners and signs. My family has used this, and we've used and reused the banner over the years. A friend has had her kids trace their hands on the back to make it a keepsake to show how big they were at each reunion. As always, be aware of Operational Security and Personal Security to help you decide when and where you hang your banner.
Camp Corral
Camp Corral is a free, one-of-a-kind summer camp for children of wounded, ill, injured, or fallen military service members. My family hasn't used this resource for friends have, they told me it was a must-have for my list.
Christy's Book Lists
Check out my favorite books that I've read over and over and bought for friends. Books are sorted by deployment, submarines, moving, parenting, and more. This is an affiliate link.
Commissary Click2GO
Use your DoD benefits to shop the Commissary online now. It's amazing that you can have a grocery pickup but with the commissary prices. I have used many grocery pickup services in town over the years to maximize family time and stick to my grocery list. This program is worth testing out to save your family time and money.
DCFSA
A Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA) is a pre-tax benefit account used to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after-school programs, and child or adult daycare. It's a smart, simple way to save money while taking care of your loved ones while you are on duty. This care fund is for children under the age of 13.
DoD MWR Libraries
Use your DoD benefits number to access a library, no matter where you are. We love accessing it using the Libby app to listen to audiobooks. They have tons of resources -- including streamable storytime videos for kids and magazines.
Exceptional Families of the Military
Exceptional Families of the Military connects military families with Disabilities, Special Healthcare Needs, or additional educational needs from all branches of the service in order to navigate within the Exceptional Family Member Programs. They also advocate for long-lasting systemic changes.
Fisher House
Are you in need of a home away from home? Fisher Houses provide military families housing close to a loved one in the hospital for an illness, disease or injury.
Five & Thrive
Five & Thrive was created to improve quality-of-life challenges our Air and Space Force families face in five focus areas: Childcare, Education, Healthcare, Housing, and Spouse Employment. My family is a Navy family and I have found this resource to be incredibly helpful. Don't skip it.
FOCUS Project
Families OverComing Under Stress is a great resource, BUT it isn't available everywhere. Please check out the map to see if you have local access to a FOCUS project team.
Headstrong
Confidential, barrier-free, stigma-free mental health
treatment for our military community.
treatment for our military community.
Hidden Heroes
Military caregivers don’t often ask for help, but they deserve our support. Stand by these hidden heroes today. Military kids can be hidden heroes too; don't forget about them.
HSLDA Military Families
HSLDA-- Homeschool Legal Defense Association
Looking into homeschooling wherever the military sends you? As a mom who has homeschooled in 7 states, you must know about the HSLDA help for Military Families.
HugAHero
Go to the place for dolls that have a body-size picture of your service member They don't have to be in uniform-- I suggest you choose a photo in whatever they hang out at home in. They offer a military discount, just email outreach@hugahero.com for more information.
(Not an affiliate link)
Military Aid Societies
Military aid societies help in times of financial need and provide education assistance (grants and loans) for eligible dependents. Kids are expensive ask your aid organization if it offers a budgeting for baby class to help you with that transition. Aid societies also help create connections to your local by having ample volunteer opportunities. Personal note, I took a budgeting for baby class with NMCRS in 2006, it helped us go from two incomes to one.
Military Child Education Coalition
This is where you can read about the interstate compact and gain access to amazing webinars about study skills, emotional intelligence, and transcripts. They also host an art contest for military kids every year.
Military Kids: Going, Growing, Gone
This page is for parent(s) who are currently serving on Active-Duty, Guard, Reserve, or Retired and their spouses. Widowed and divorced parents are also welcome. Together we work to provide a place for our parents to discuss all aspects of parenting military teens (middle school, high school), college kids and young adults. You might even see questions that I ask.
Military 1 Source
The go-to place for free non-medical therapy, tax help, and great resources. The chill drill is a family favorite.
Military Wild
We’re here to connect military families with each other and the wild places we live through community and adventure in the outdoors. If you don't have a local chapter, consider starting one!
Operation Child Care Project
Operation Child Care Project helps military families find childcare and offers case management services to ensure that families have access to the support they need.
Operation Purple
Operation Purple® Camp offers military kids a free week of camp where they connect with other kids just like them.
PJ Library
Are you Jewish and have newborn to age 12 children? This is a great resource to have age-appropriate books and music mailed to you-- even at an APO/FPO address!
Sesame Street & Military Kids
Elmo talks about deployments, moving, and more. Sesame Street created content to help the younger military kids talk about big feelings that also comforts their adults. I really enjoyed these resources when my kids were pre-schoolers.
TAPS
Tragedy Assitance Program for Survivors
I hope you never need this, but you should know about it. TAPS cares for the families of America's fallen heroes. If you experience the loss of a child while being military-connected, reach out to TAPS. TAPS will help connect you to local support groups and counseling.
24/7 Hotline at 800-959-8277
Tutor.com for Military Families
Moved too many times and can't figure out how to help with homework? Access this great resource with FREE SAT Prep and On-Demand Tutors that can help with tonights homework. Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
USO for Military Kids
Check out 5 ways the USO Supports Military Kids. My kids have enjoyed using the USO lounge and events at local branches. Great opertunites service hours for teenagers too!
United Through Reading
United Through Reading connects the service member and child together with the magic of reading aloud no matter the distance.
Wounded Warrior + Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop and Wounded Warrior Project have created a special guide for Military caregivers. This guide offers simple ideas to support the whole family’s emotional well-being. You’ll find activities to help strengthen your family’s emotional awareness, social connections, mind-body connection, and compassionate mindset.
Military & Veteran Crisis Line
The place to go when you don't know what to do next.
