Let’s get prepared!
As the world prepares to celebrate Christmas and welcome in the New Year, Forces Children’s Education is looking further ahead to Month of the Military Child 2026.
The annual month-long celebration in April is a chance to shine a spotlight on Forces families, raising awareness about the positives and challenges of life in and around the Armed Forces.
Being a child or young person from a Forces family can be lonely. Relocations can make it hard to keep in touch with friends and family, as well as the absence of parents or carers during deployment. However, there are also many wonderful and unique aspects that should be celebrated.
Throughout April, events and activities will happen across the country to honour Military families, including Wear it Purple Day on 24 April when everyone can show their support by wearing purple.
Forces Children’s Education will be sharing resources and information about Month of the Military Child to help you prepare.
Competition time!
Let’s start with Never Such Innocence (NSI) – a charity aiming to provide tools for children and young people to reflect on the realities of war and conflict – which has released a number of resources to support the 2026 celebrations. These resources can be accessed through this form on the NSI website.
Youngsters can join in NSI’s Month of the Military Child poetry and art competition 2026, which will focus on the Winds of Change, and run from 1 April to 1 May.
Each participant will receive a personalised certificate of commendation, while the winners will be invited to London for a special award ceremony. All winners will have their work published in a digital booklet and displayed at the Ministry of Defence, have a special trip to the Tower of London and receive a goody bag of prizes.
There will also be a bonus category of Best Display for a school or group. The winner will receive a £250 book voucher from the Armed Forces Education Trust.
Share your events
Look out for more events and information as we get closer to Month of the Military Child 2026. And if you have events planned across Month of the Military Child, let us know by emailing info@forceschildrenseducations.org.uk.