Summer is upon us, yet our vacation plans are disappearing like letting go of a helium balloon. With so much uncertainty, many families are staying put and calling 2020 the year of the summer staycation. Check out these five ways to make the best of your summer staycation right here in Northeast Ohio.

This month, we focus on ways families can make the most of their summer, with articles on backyard games, sand and science, inspiration for a staycation, and how to help your teen make summer plans. We also feature educational advice to avoid the summer slide, expert tips to keep your family safe this summer, and more.

The summer slide — when kids lose knowledge during summer break — is a perennial concern for parents and teachers. This year, with 55 million children in the U.S. out of school since March, the academic slowdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic presents new challenges. Learn tips and resources to foster your child’s learning throughout the summer in a low-stress way.

Now that school is over — and despite the recent reopening of businesses in the state — typical summer hotspots will be limited. Parents need to help their tweens and teens transition into this new summer break routine — one that doesn’t include self-isolating in their room.

GLSC is reopening June 19 with the premiere of the special exhibition, Body Worlds Rx. The anatomical exhibition reveals the marvels of the human body and the dramatic effects of disease. The specimens on display show comparisons of healthy organs and diseased organs, to reveal the physical impact of disease on the body’s systems.

Father’s Day is a great opportunity to spend family time together while honoring dad. Whether your usual activities are canceled or you’re just looking for new ideas, check out these 50 ways to celebrate dad. Most can be enjoyed in your home or backyard; others can be done while following social distancing guidelines.

Juneteenth, which takes place annually on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States, is garnering more attention this year in light of ongoing Black Lives Matter protests. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. There are several Juneteenth events taking place Friday and into the weekend in the greater Cleveland/Akron area.

While backyard games were once a summer mainstay for neighborhood kids and their families, cell phones, smart devices and hectic schedules provide some stiff competition for attention these days. Whether it’s a casual game of tag or something more strategic or team-oriented, look no further than the backyard for opportunities to get active, bond with your children and create lifelong memories.

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