Practically everyone is pumped as we head into the bright, sunny days of summer after the Memorial Day weekend.

What is more appealing to a child than that savory and unrivaled treat, summer vacation? A well-deserved reward for all the hard work and irreplaceable time invested in the previous school year.

As adults, we can look back fondly on those golden days with a warm sense of nostalgia and a longing to return to the carefree days that linger now only in our memories. And yet, we can live those times again vicariously as we engage with the present younger generation that will be making its own special memories.

Parents need to take as much time as they can to help make the summer break special and meaningful for their kids. Planning and taking a family vacation can forge stronger bonds and create everlasting memories that could never be bought or traded with gadgets, games, or videos. Community activities such as the upcoming SomerStreets events are valuable, too, in making vacation time a rich and rewarding experience for all.

We should encourage our youngsters to seek out those activities, on their own, that keep them engaged and active. Whether it is sports, arts activities, taking up a new hobby, or any number of other options that kids are able to enjoy. They should be made aware of how precious this time is and urged to make the most of it. It’s the least we can do for them.