Transitioning From Military to Civilian Life & The Effects of PTSD
June 17, 2022
Many people know an active-duty service member or a veteran. They may have heard their stories and know about their struggles, especially regarding the challenges associated with transitioning from military to civilian life. And often, PTSD in veterans is brought to the forefront of conversations about returning to civilian…...
June marks the kickoff to summer break for many families, but did you also know itโs the month to celebrate our female veterans? June 12 is Women Veterans Day. While we take time to honor them on that day specifically, there are many ways we can and should support…...
Military life is gratifying, but it's not for the faint of heart. New military families have to quickly learn how to get comfortable with the unpredictability of the lifestyle, and a PCS move is one of the most common (and sometimes unpredictable) changes a family can undergo. Most military…...
Military Teens: 5 Signs of Mental Health Struggles & Resources
April 27, 2022
Military life can be hard on the entire family unit. But it can be especially difficult for military teens who understand the complexities of moving and really feel the stress of constant changes in cities, schools, and social life. Military teens worry โ a lot. While itโs already challenging…...
Operation Heroย is a freeย military after-school programย for kids in grades 2-8, designed to help students cope and adjust to the unique challenges they face. Nicole, a military spouse and teacher forย Operation Heroย in Ft. Bragg, shares four ways the program helps kids and their parents. Aย Military After-School Programย Provides Stability for Kids…...
The Effects of Military Life on Child Development and Mental Health
March 4, 2022
Children who grow up in military families have unique experiences compared to their civilian peers. They move frequently, spend extended periods of time away from their parents during deployment and training periods, and get indirect exposure to war, conflict and violence, often at a young age. So what does…...
It is fairly common knowledge that military families relocate more often than most other families. But how often do military families move? According to the U.S. Department of War, military families move about every two to four years โ sometimes even more frequently. What is rarely talked about is…...
Fostering Resilience: How Operation Hero Makes a Difference
February 16, 2022
ย Military life comes with its difficulties, and one major challenge is deployment. Deployments can have a significant impact on kids, highlighting some of the negative effects of growing up in a military family. When a parent is absent due to deployment, children can experience a range of emotions, including…...
Moving From Place to Place and the Effects of Military Life on Families
November 23, 2021
As military families struggle to provide normalcy for their kids, Operation Hero is here to help. There was a little boy. His name was Silas,ย and Silas was painfully shy. โThis is the first time Silas has ever had friends,โ said his dad. โWeโre a military family and while we were…...
6 Simple Outdoor STEM Activities to Engage Your Child
August 11, 2016
ย When the weather is nice, kids have a fantastic opportunity to dive into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) activities. These activities are not only fun but also incredibly helpful for learning. They teach kids how things work and spark their curiosity about the world around them. When kids…...
When Maya accepted her placement in the Early Childhood Education Fellowship, she thought she was simply stepping into a professional development program. What sheย didnโtย realize yet was that she was beginning a transformative journeyโone that would shape not only her career,ย building portable skills and opening doors to new opportunities,ย but also the lives of countless young children and families.
On her first day, Maya entered a brightly litย child developmentย center filled with small tables, colorful books, and the joyful hum of children discovering the world. But the fellowship quickly proved to be more than classroom exposure. It was a structured, immersive experience that combined hands-on teaching, mentorship, coursework, and leadership development.
Each week, Maya worked side-by-side with a lead teacher who guided her through the complexities of child development, how to recognize emerging language skills, how to support emotional regulation, and how to design learning experiences that spark curiosity. In the afternoons, she experienced and explored topics with her cohort like equity in early childhood education, trauma-informed teaching, and family engagement. These experiences didnโt just build knowledge โ they challenged assumptions and inspired purpose.
Midway through the fellowship, Maya began to see the impact of her growth. She noticed how a child who once struggled to communicate now eagerly shared stories, or how a small adjustment in her teaching approach created a more inclusive environment for a child with sensory needs. These were not just successes; they were life-changing moments.
Equally powerful was the community. The fellowship created a network of passionate peers who shared ideas, challenges, and encouragement. Through collaborative projects and reflective discussions, Maya developed both confidence and a sense of belonging in the profession.
By the end of the program, Maya had not onlyย developed andย refined her teaching practice but also discovered her voice as an advocate for early childhood education. She left the fellowship ready to contribute to systemic improvements in the field.
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