(BPT) - Every November, the nation celebrates the Month of the Military Family - a time to recognize the service, sacrifice and strength of the families who stand behind our nation's heroes. Many military families face unique situations, from frequent relocations and school transitions to long periods of separation. While sometimes challenging, military life also fosters admirable life skills such as resilience, adaptability, commitment and relationships that can endure change.

At Bright Horizons, military families are an integral part of the community and are celebrated and supported not only in November but throughout the year through partnerships, programs and recognition events. This November, Bright Horizons' child care centers and offices across the country will partner with Support Our Troops to write letters of thanks to service members and host visits from military officials. Throughout the year, teachers encourage the children to learn about the military through discovery with toy airplanes and ships, camouflage fabrics, and children's books focused on stories about the military experience that are age appropriate.

"We know that military families experience change," said Rachel Robertson, Chief Academic Officer at Bright Horizons. "At Bright Horizons, we support children and their families as they navigate these experiences and build their adaptability and resilience, skills that serve children for life."

Robertson believes that supporting military families starts with understanding - and small gestures can make a big difference. "Teachers, neighbors and friends can all play a role," she said. "This help can come in many formats: asking a child to share their favorite things about their last school after a move, helping them collect artwork to send to a deployed parent or jumping in with a few household to-dos during a separation."

For children, separation from a parent, even for a short time, can be difficult. Robertson encourages parents and caregivers to create consistent rituals that help children feel connected. Activities can include:

• Journals or portfolios: Fill with drawings, photos, notes or "treasures" to share when a parent returns.
• Countdown calendars or paper chains: Help children visualize when their loved one comes home.
• Letters, emails or recorded messages: Maintain regular communication, even across distances.
• Shared activities: Read the same book, tell bedtime stories by phone or plant a garden together to nurture and watch grow.
• Keepsakes and mementos: Display photos, small objects or gifts from both parent and child to create a sense of connection.

Bright Horizons participates in the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) program, which provides eligible military families access to tuition assistance at participating child care centers when on-base care is unavailable. Bright Horizons centers also partner with Child Care Aware of America and Navy Children and Youth program to help military families access high-quality child care and educational support, ensuring that every child - no matter where their family is stationed - has the opportunity to thrive.

"Military families are the heroes behind the heroes," Robertson shared. "When we take time to understand their stories, support their children and celebrate their strength - not just in November, but all year long - we strengthen our communities as well."

Visit www.brighthorizons.com for more information.