Military Child month kicks off with pasta dinner

  • Published
  • By Sarah Olaciregui
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  April marks the Month of the Military Child and many activities are planned throughout the month to celebrate military children. The kickoff event here is the Family Pasta Night on March 31 and the festivities will end with the Walk n Talk event on April 30.

Family Pasta Night takes place in the Youth Center gym from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is free for all Hanscom families, but donations will be accepted. Tim the Storyteller will be on hand to entertain the younger children.

The Walk n Talk event takes place in Castle Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will feature many base agencies providing information about the programs and services they offer.

"Walk n Talk is exactly what it says," said Courtney Cann, Family Child Care coordinator. "Parents and children are encouraged to walk around the park and talk about things in venue that is fun, free and family oriented. Many stations will be set up around the walking path that will present information and activities."

According to event organizers, Walk n Talk is a program that gets parents and kids out and on their feet talking and interacting together, all while exercising. Families walk a designated path with manned station tables set up around the venue that present information and questions that encourage discussion between families. Each participant receives a free T-shirt and a small gift. The event culminates with a free barbecue for all families.

Overall, more than 20 events are planned throughout the month, from seminars at the Airman and Family Readiness Center, to a bowling tournament for youth at Hanscom Lanes.

"As a tribute to the joys and challenges of raising a military child, we're offering a special menu of workshops for parents of toddlers to teens that we hope will meet everyone's needs," said Dawn Andreucci, Community Readiness Consultant team leader at the A&FRC.

According to the Department of Defense website, April is designated as the Month of the Military Child to underscore the important role military children play in the armed forces community. The month is an opportunity to recognize military children and youth for their heroism, character, courage, sacrifices and continued resilience.

Supporting military families is a top Obama Administration priority, as well, according to the White House's website. There are 1.7 million American children and youth under 18-years-old with a parent serving in the military and approximately 900,000 children and youth with one or both parents deployed multiple times.

"We are fortunate to have abundant resources to nurture, grow and support our military children at Hanscom as they transition to young adults," said Dr. Sondra Albano, acting Airman and Family Services flight chief. "We go one step further during Month of the Military Child with extra events and activities to encourage parent and child interaction and youth activity."

A listing of Month of the Military Child events are below. For more information about activities at the Airman and Family Readiness Center, call 781-377-4222. For Youth Center events, call 781-377-3739.

April is Month of the Military Child
March 31: Family Pasta Night, Youth Center, 6 to 8 p.m.

April 1: Fashion, Fad and Fitting In: The Tween Years, A&FRC, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

April 5: Raising a Child with a Special Need, A&FRC, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

April 5: Parent-Child Communication, A&FRC, 2 to 3 p.m.

April 6: Taming the Dragon in Your Child, A&FRC, 10 to 11 a.m.

April 6: Preparing for Homecoming: Reunion Briefing for Spouses and Children, A&FRC, 3 to 4 p.m.

April 6: Preschool Story Time, Library, 10:15 to 11 a.m.

April 8: Parents' Night Out, CDC, $35 per child, 6 to 10 p.m.

April 9: Spring Soccer begins

April 13: PJ Story Time, Library, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

April 18: Chunky's Movie Theater Trip (movie TBD), pre-teens, depart Youth Center at 10 a.m.

April 19: World Wide Bowling Tournament for Youth Center children and School Age children

April 20: Preschool Story Time, Library, 10:15 to 11 a.m.

April 20: Roll on America Roller Skating Trip, pre-teens, depart Youth Center at 11 a.m.

April 21: CDC Parade of Floats

April 21-23: Teen camping trip on the Cape

April 22: Earth Day Clean Up at the Youth Center, 2 p.m.

April 23: Minor League Baseball begins

April 25: Building your Child's Self Esteem, A&FRC, 1 to 2 p.m.

April 26: How to Live Almost Happily with a Teen, A&FRC, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

April 27: Hearts Apart Spring Fling at the Library, 5 to 7 p.m.

April 27: Preschool Story Time, Library, 10:15 to 11 a.m.

April 30: Walk n Talk, Castle Park, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.