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Purple Up! Day

Celebrating unity and support by donning purple in solidarity with children whose parents serve in the military.

Children Clothing & Accessories Family Military Parents45

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Drive purple apparel and accessory sales while positioning your brand as a supporter of military families through community-focused Purple Up! campaigns.

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Show your support: Purple Up! for military kids this April with exclusive purple collections
Schools & communities wearing purple—feature customer stories of families honoring military kids
Partner with military nonprofits: co-branded Purple Up! campaigns that drive awareness and donations
Behind-the-scenes: how military families celebrate and what purple means to them

History

Purple Up! For Military Kids Day was started in 2011 by the New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Military Youth and Family Program as an education activity for the children of people who serve in the military. Later it was adopted by the entire Department of Defense.

The idea behind the day is for everyone to take part by showing support and appreciation for military kids through wearing purple. The color purple is meant to acknowledge the strength military children have and the sacrifices they make because of the lifestyle of their military parent.

In the military, the color purple can have some different meanings but, in this case, it is likely related to the connection with all branches of military and inclusive of civilians as well.

The idea is that all of the service colors are represented, including Army green, Navy blue, Marine red and Coast Guard blue – combined together to make purple.

This day is part of a larger campaign to acknowledge these kids during the month of April, known as the Month of the Military Child.

This event was established as a Defense-wide commemoration in 1986 and has grown to include Purple Up! For Military Kids Day as well as various other events.

How to celebrate

Purple Up!

This is the day to get dressed in purple in honor of all families with military kids. Wearing purple might simply mean donning a purple t-shirt or purple ribbon on a jacket. Or it could certainly mean going all out and wearing purple head-to-toe. Kids, teachers, parents, grandparents and anyone who wants to show support for military kids can enjoy this day simply by wearing purple and using it as an opportunity to talk about how great military kids are!

Host an Assembly for Military Kids

Schools, youth clubs and other community groups can get involved with Purple Up! For Military Kids Day by creating opportunities for gathering and publicly acknowledging the children of military families in their community. This might mean hosting an assembly at school where military children are honored and their parents are also invited to participate. Or it could mean asking the whole school to get involved by wearing purple on this important day.

FAQ

What unique challenges do children in military families often face compared with their civilian peers?

Children in military families are more likely to experience frequent relocations, separations from a deployed parent, changes in schools, and exposure to parental stress related to service. Research has linked these stressors to higher risks of emotional and behavioral difficulties, academic disruption, and challenges maintaining friendships, although many military children also show strong resilience when well supported.

How do frequent moves and school changes affect military-connected students academically and socially?

Military-connected students may change schools many times, sometimes across states or countries, which can lead to gaps in curricula, lost credits, and difficulty accessing advanced or special education services. Socially, repeated moves can disrupt peer relationships and support networks, so schools that actively identify and support military-connected students can help ease transitions and improve outcomes.

Are military children at higher risk for mental health problems?

Studies show that children with a deployed parent can face higher rates of anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues than their non-military peers, especially during and immediately after deployments. Risk is influenced by factors such as the length and number of deployments, the mental health of the at-home caregiver, and access to supportive services, which means early identification and family-focused support can significantly reduce negative effects.

What types of support programs exist specifically for military children and teens?

Military children can access a range of dedicated supports, including on-base youth centers, school-based military family life counselors, peer support groups, and programs from organizations such as the Military Child Education Coalition and the US Department of Defense Education Activity. These services may offer counseling, tutoring, transition support, mentoring, and recreational activities that help young people cope with moves and deployments.

How can schools better support students from military families?

Schools can support military-connected students by asking families about military affiliation in enrollment forms, training staff on military culture, and designating a point person or team for these students. Practices such as flexible enrollment, timely record transfers, counseling access, peer “buddy” systems, and participation in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children help reduce academic disruption and social isolation.

Do military children generally adapt well to all the changes in their lives?

Many military children demonstrate strong adaptability, problem-solving skills, and maturity, partly because they learn to manage change, diversity, and responsibility at an early age. However, resilience is not automatic; it tends to develop when children have stable, nurturing relationships with caregivers, predictable routines where possible, and access to school and community supports that validate their experiences.

How can friends, neighbors, and community members provide meaningful support to military kids?

Friends and community members can help by maintaining consistent relationships, being sensitive to deployment-related stress, and including military kids in activities even when they are new to the area. Offering practical help to the family, checking in with the at-home caregiver, honoring important milestones around deployments, and connecting families to local resources can all contribute to a stronger support network for children.