April is Month of the Military Child, a moment each year to pause, reflect and celebrate the extraordinary children and young people at the heart of our Armed Forces community. Across 20 Defence Children Services (DCS) Schools and Settings worldwide, communities came together to celebrate each and every Service child, through creative and joyful activities.
Leigh Drummond, Head of Defence Children Services captured the spirit of the month perfectly:
“Our Service children are a valuable part of our Armed Forces community. Giving them a stable, supportive environment isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s critical to Defence’s operational effectiveness. When families are in good hands, personnel can serve at their best. Service children continue to prove their resilience and adaptability, whether it’s moving schools, relocating, or managing time apart from a parent on deployment.”
While celebrations took place across all 20 DCS schools and settings worldwide, here is just a glimpse of just some of the wonderful ways our communities marked the month.
Cyprus
At Queen Berengaria School (QBS), children arrived with huge smiles on their faces, walking through a stream of bubbles in the spirit of this year’s ‘Winds of Change’ theme. They took part in a ‘bubbles extravaganza’ and wrote their wishes for Service children and families around the world.
Julie Hemsley, Head Teacher at QBS reflected on the day:
“Purple Up! Day is a powerful reminder that, like dandelions that can thrive wherever they grow, our children show incredible resilience, adaptability, and strength no matter where life takes them.”
The dandelion is the international symbol of the Month of the Military Child; a fitting emblem for children who put down roots and flourish wherever their family’s service takes them.
Parents were warmly welcomed to share in a series of thoughtfully planned activities with their children at Early Years settings at Dhekelia and Ayios Nikolaos. Families came together to celebrate through a variety of sensory and creative experiences, all centred around the symbolic colour purple.
Children eagerly explored purple coloured Oobleck (a cornflour and water mixture that shifts between solid and liquid in their hands), delighting in its unusual texture, while water stations encouraged pouring, splashing and imaginative play. The gentle scent of lavender added a calming element, with children and parents working together to create small lavender bags to take home. Creative, purple-themed painting activities gave children the freedom to express themselves, with parents joining in alongside them. Both the front entrance and outdoor areas were filled with bubbles, creating a joyful and welcoming atmosphere from the moment families arrived.
At Episkopi Primary School, many children submitted thoughtful entries to the Never Such Innocence Poetry and Art Competition, inspired by the ‘Winds of Change’ theme. Year 4 pupils also led whole-school assemblies, sharing their personal experiences of growing up as Service children with confidence and honesty, helping others to better understand both the challenges and the opportunities that come with life as a military child.
Gibraltar
Children at St Christopher’s EYFS have been busy collaborating to design a display representing their military family and community. Through meaningful discussions about their role as Service children, the children have shared a deep sense of pride in their parents’ service across the Army, Navy and RAF.
Living in a transient community, they particularly connected with the Dandelion Song, which helped them to explore how the dandelion reflects their own experiences. Following listening and movement activities, the children painted their own dandelions, now proudly displayed against the iconic backdrop of The Rock of Gibraltar. On Purple Up! Day, parents were invited in to celebrate, the children wore purple, and the atmosphere was lively and full of meaningful conversation between families and staff.
Falkland Islands
In the Falkland Islands, Mount Pleasant School enjoyed a truly special celebration. The Never Such Innocence (NSI) charity visited to deliver poetry, songwriting and art workshops, culminating in a wonderful assembly for parents and special guests. The performances were deeply moving, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the school hall.
Children also made beautiful Month of the Military Child bracelets which NSI brought back to the UK and present to members of Parliament , the school are thrilled to report they are already being worn.
In preparation for Purple Up! Day, parents were invited into school to help create dandelion-inspired tie-dyed t-shirts. The results were fantastic, and every child wore their unique creation with pride on Friday 24 April. The school was also supported by military chefs, who came in to help the children make the dough and demonstrated how to shape the pizza and load their toppings, which was a delicious addition to the celebrations.
To round off the festivities, every child received a very special keepsake: a handmade wooden postcard crafted by a local carpenter using pyrography. Each postcard featured a Month of the Military Child poem and dandelion illustration, to stand as a lasting reminder that they celebrated MotMC 2026 in the Falkland Islands!
A celebration to remember
As the Month of the Military Child draws to a close, the creativity, resilience and spirit shown across DCS Schools and Settings worldwide stand as a powerful reminder of the remarkable qualities Service children bring to our community. From creative workshops and meaningful displays to community events and classroom conversations, each activity highlights not only their individual talents but also the shared identity and pride that connects our global community.
While this dedicated month provides a special opportunity to celebrate, the commitment to supporting and championing Service children continues throughout the year. Whether in a DCS school or the wider Military family, Service children continue to show remarkable adaptability and courage, and it is our commitment to ensure that every one of them feels valued, supported and empowered, wherever in the world their journey takes them.