Give your children a ‘real summer’ this year

The break from the school year offers your children the chance to do more than playing video games and text messaging friends. Rather than a ‘virtual summer,’ I encourage you to make these months about activities out in the real world where our children can make lasting memories with their families.

Time spent with their families is vital to every child’s emotional health. It also gives each child the chance to build a real relationship with the role models who may matter most their entire lives: their parents. Model the behavior you want to see in your children.

Get engaged this summer in local activities. Plan trips together as a family, even if these are day trips or weekend visits to other areas of our Gulf Coast.

When it comes to local activities, there are so many simple ones, such as picnics in Heritage Park or riding bikes on Tammany Trace. There are also some great local activities in St. Tammany Parish coming up in early summer, including:

• Visit Camp Salmen Nature Park in Slidell every Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and explore the park’s interpretive hiking trail system
• Louisiana Bicycle Festival, June 15, downtown Abita Springs, a laid back celebration of the fun of biking
  
• Kids Fest, June 16, which is a free arts encounter for the whole family in Slidell
  
• Sunset at the Landing Concert, June 21, a free concert by the City of Covington
  
• Moonlight Hike and Snow and Ice, June 22, a unique chance to experience Northlake Nature Center’s walking trail at night on a guided short hike followed by cooling refreshments
  
•  Lacombe Crab Festival, June 28-30, at John Davis Park
  
• Slidell Heritage Fest, July 4th, a traditional celebration featuring music, booths and fireworks centered around Heritage Park
  

Be involved in your child’s life all through the year. In the summer, find the experiences that can keep you close to each other, while enjoying whatever adventures you find along the way.