Month of the Military Child

That the Parliament acknowledges April as Month of the Military Child, which celebrates the remarkable positivity, bravery, courage and adaptability that more than 13,000 babies, children and young people from forces families in Scotland show every day; considers that being a child from an armed forces family offers unique experiences that shapes their character and worldview in profound ways, including by showing incredible adaptability as a result of regular relocations, which it considers teaches children to adjust to new environments, make friends quickly and find their footing in unfamiliar situations; believes that this demonstrates their open-mindedness and cultural sensitivity, developed from first-hand experience of global postings, and fosters independence, leadership skills and maturity beyond their years through their additional responsibilities experienced during deployments, sometimes as young carers or as their parent transitions to veteran status, which it considers are skills that will serve them well throughout life; commends what it sees as the immense contribution that they make to society and their communities; believes that being a child from a forces family should not be a barrier to having an equal opportunity in learning and attainment, or being able to participate and get on in life; understands that being a child from a forces family can mean additional responsibilities at home and that worries about a deployed parent can mean that they feel overwhelmed at having to juggle their responsibilities with their school work and social life; notes that Forces Children Scotland co-produced the Forces Children’s Rights Charter to show what the babies, children and young people from forces families need from adults and decision makers in order to understand their life and mitigate any impact of their sacrifice; understands that babies, children and young people from forces families want lasting meaningful change to take place to ensure that now, and in the future, they remain at the forefront of policy development and have access to the support that they believe they are entitled to and deserve; notes the view that, alongside their strengths and contributions, they can experience barriers to their educational attainment and can at times feel overwhelmed by their additional responsibilities, coupled with the uncertainty of their parents’ safety while deployed; believes that all babies, children and young people from an armed forces families deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated, and wishes all involved in Month of the Military Child 2025 the very best in their celebrations.