Precious’ Perspective, Edition #5: Summer’s Here, Let’s Make It Count!
Can you believe it’s already summertime? Another school year has come and gone, which affirms that our babies are growing fast. Whether your little one just finished preschool or your teen wrapped up senior year, it’s time to exhale and celebrate all the growth, hard work, and milestones.
This is the time for fun, rest, and making lasting memories. But let’s be honest, moms: it can also be a time when our kids fall out of routines and lose momentum with learning. The “summer slide” is a real concern, but the good news is, keeping your child’s mind engaged combats the slide to be less of a bumpy road. Whether your child is stacking blocks or writing college essays, summer is a golden opportunity to explore learning in creative, engaging ways, beyond the classroom.
Learning happens everywhere: on playgrounds, at the park, in a library, during a nature walk. It’s in the questions they ask, the responses they receive, learning takes place as they watch us interact with the world, it’s in their own social experiences, and in the independence they begin to build. Development doesn’t take the summer off, and this is something that, as moms, we can lean into and nurture. Sharing my personal story is with the intent to positively flame the fuel you need to successfully support development in your child.
For our high school-aged children, I can not stress the importance of enrolling in college courses. They will not regret it when they are seniors and when it shortens their time in college. My daughter was able to advance her high school and college career, finishing a double major in three years from the university, so believe me when I stress this topic.
This summer, you can find my toddler and me soaking up all the amazing free experiences our city has to offer. Long Beach truly delivers for families:
Music in the Park – Dance, picnic, and spend quality time under the stars.
Parks & Rec – From toddler classes to teen sports leagues, there’s something for every age.
Library Events – Storytimes, STEM activities, teen clubs—many scheduled all summer long.
Lakewood Barnyard Camps – Affordable and educational.
Nature Hikes – Explore the trails at the El Dorado Nature Center.
Train Rides – A toddler favorite, right across from the Nature Center.
Beyond academics, summer is a tremendous time to nurture your child’s empathy, curiosity, and sense of community. The world needs good people with an open mind to be considerate and respectful to the diversity that we live amongst, so this is an opportunity to shape the kind of individuals that we are proud to see in our son(s) or daughter(s).
Additionally, if your child is attending summer school or qualifies for Extended School Year (ESY), don’t be discouraged, as many summer programs wrap up early, so encourage your child to save space for late-afternoon or evening adventures by attending some of the later-scheduled events offered locally. The city of Long Beach truly plans organized and engaging opportunities wrapped up in a lot of social experiences for our youth.
Use social media to stay connected with what’s happening locally or in the nearby cities. Also, social media is a great way to identify free rewards available to all, such as ice cream specials, because who doesn’t love ice cream?
Mom’s remember that the goal isn’t perfection -it’s encouraging thinking, wondering, and connecting ideas.
Lastly, please don’t forget to check out Long Beach Mom’s business directory on our website for our summer+ education guides for additional tips.
Sincerely,
Precious Young
@erinshugsfoundation
