School’s out, the sun is blazing, and your kids have already asked to watch “just one more video” approximately forty-seven times. Sound familiar? Here’s your practical guide to a screen-light summer in Whittier.

Every June, Whittier parents face the same challenge: three months of unstructured time, a device in every hand, and the creeping feeling that summer is slipping by without much to show for it. Screen time has a way of filling every gap — and before you know it, your kids have spent more time on a couch than on a field.

The good news? Whittier is full of ways to flip the script. Here’s how to build a summer your kids will actually remember — one that keeps them moving, growing, and genuinely engaged.

1. Get Them in the Water

Swimming is the ultimate summer activity — it’s physical, it’s fun, and in Southern California, it’s practically a life skill. If your child doesn’t yet know how to swim, summer is the perfect time to fix that. The YMCA of Greater Whittier’s aquatics program offers structured swim lessons for kids of all ages and ability levels, taught by trained instructors who make learning feel like play.

Even for kids who already swim, the pool is a natural screen replacement. When there’s a pool, a kickboard, and a few friends involved, no one is thinking about a tablet.

2. Sign Them Up for a Sport — Any Sport

Youth sports aren’t just about athletics. They teach kids how to work as a team, handle disappointment, celebrate others, and show up consistently — skills that follow them well beyond the playing field. Whether your child is naturally competitive or just getting started, the YMCA of Greater Whittier’s youth sports programs offer age-appropriate options focused on participation, confidence, and good sportsmanship over winning at all costs.

The best part? Organized sports come with a built-in schedule, which means less time for your child to drift toward a screen out of boredom.

3. Send Them to Camp

There’s nothing that cures screen dependence faster than a week in the woods with no Wi-Fi. YMCA Camp Arbolado, nestled in the San Bernardino National Forest, offers campers ages 8 to 16 an immersive outdoor adventure — hiking, cabin life, new friendships, and the kind of independence that only comes from being away from home. When kids are surrounded by nature and peers, screens simply stop being interesting.

If a full week away feels like a big step, Family Camp at Camp Arbolado is a wonderful way to ease into the experience as a whole family.

4. Explore Arts, Music, and STEM Activities

Active doesn’t have to mean athletic. Keeping kids engaged and away from passive screen consumption also means giving their minds something interesting to chew on. The YMCA of Greater Whittier offers youth activities including guitar classes and STEM and arts programming — activities that promote self-expression, creative thinking, and a genuine sense of personal achievement.

A child who is learning to play a song on guitar or building something in a STEM activity is just as “active” as one running laps — they’re just using different muscles.

5. Make the Y Your Summer Home Base

One of the simplest ways to keep kids off screens this summer is to give them a place they actually want to be. The YMCA of Greater Whittier serves as exactly that for thousands of Whittier families — a welcoming, safe, activity-filled environment where kids can show up, move around, make friends, and come home genuinely tired in the best possible way.

For middle schoolers, Club NOW Recreational Enrichment offers structured after-hours programming specifically designed for tweens who need more than just a place to sit. For younger children, School Age Childcare and recreational programs keep the summer full and purposeful.

A Screen-Free Summer Starts With a Plan

Kids rarely choose activity over screens on their own — they need opportunities placed in front of them. The more their summer is filled with structured programs, outdoor time, and social connection, the less room there is for passive scrolling.

The YMCA of Greater Whittier has programs designed for every age group and every interest — and financial assistance is available to make sure every Whittier family can participate.