How to get kids to read more this summer
ast County children who want to read more can join the county library system’s summer reading program, ‘Level Up at the Library.’
Beginning June 2, sign up with Beanstack to track your participation. Or print your own reading passport at home or visit your local library – in Brentwood at 104 Oak St. to pick one up. The whole family can have an adventurous summer of reading, activities, and events. Everyone who completes summer reading wins prizes, including a free book and a pin or sticker,, and is entered into a drawing for a chance to win more prizes.
The program lasts through Aug. 2. For details, visit https://ccclib.org/summer/
From improving mental health to fostering stronger memory to teaching a person new things, reading offers many benefits. Reading also can boost creativity and help expand vocabulary. Despite these amazing perks, data indicates reading for fun has become less common among American children.
Parents who want their children to read more can consider these strategies to foster a love of reading in youngsters.
Set limits on using digital devices
Scholastic’s report indicated children’s digital activities have risen since 2018 among all age groups studied. Children are increasingly participating in digital activities that include going online for fun and watching videos or using apps. By setting limits on screen time for children, parents may increase the likelihood of diverting youngsters’ attention to other activities, such as reading.
Become a reading role model
One of the biggest predictors of reading frequency has to do with perceived importance of reading. If children see their parents frequently reading for pleasure and finding it important, and having access to a wide variety of books to read, then they may be encouraged to read for fun as well.
Make reading accessible
Parents can facilitate opportunities for kids to read by getting their children library cards, frequently taking them to bookstores, participating in school-run book fairs, and participating in other activities that prioritize book access, such as sales at the local library.
Reading is beneficial for people of all ages, but modern kids are not reading enough. Adults can explore the various ways to encourage children to read more. The county’s library system, including the Brentwood library at 104 Oak St., is offering a summer program to ‘level up’ kids’ reading.
Furthermore, since children are so in tune with digital devices, offering access to an e-reader or digital reading app on a tablet will enable children to tap into the vast digital library of books.
Don’t stress about the content
Experts note that parents should not stress about what kids are reading. Many times parents worry that their kids aren’t reading the classics or hard-hitting novels. As long as kids are reading age-appropriate material, the genre does not make a world of difference. From comic books to newspapers, kids can read anything so long as it’s appropriate for their age.
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How to stay safe in the water
Fun in the sun often involves playing in the water.
Water-based recreation makes especially warm days more comfortable, but it’s best to be cautious playing in the water.
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance offers the following safety tips to lower the risk of water recreation accidents:
♦ Brush up on your swimming skills
The NDPA reports that learning how to swim can reduce drowning risk by 88 percent. Adults and children alike are urged to go over the basics of swimming before getting in the water to ensure their skills are up to the task. If possible, practice the basics in the shallow end of a pool to reacclimate your body to swimming.
♦ Never swim alone. Swimming with a partner is a fun way to stay safe. The buddy system ensures someone is there to look after swimmers and offer help if a swimmer is struggling. A buddy also can call for help by alerting a lifeguard when swimming in a public place such as a beach, lake or community swimming pool.
♦ Stick to designated swimming areas. The flag system is often employed at parks, beaches and lakes to indicate when and where it’s safe to swim. A red flag typically symbolizes swimming is unsafe, whereas a green flag means conditions are welcoming for swimmers. Stick to areas desig-
nated as safe. The NDPA notes it’s always preferable to swim under the supervision of a lifeguard.
♦ Err on the side of caution. The NDPA notes it’s best to get out when in doubt. If water conditions don’t feel right, get out of the water. Falling rain, rough currents, muscle cramps, and/or physical fatigue can quickly transform a fun swimming session into a dangerous situation. You can always return later if your physical condition and/or the conditions in the water change.
♦ Be an educated swimmer. Savvy swimmers know to check the local forecast, including water conditions, before getting their toes wet. The NDPA notes it’s unsafe to swim in the rain, particularly if there is thunder and lightning. That’s true whether you’re swimming in an ocean, a lake or a backyard pool. A wetsuit can help keep the body warm when water temperatures are low, but the NDPA notes such swimming sessions should be brief. In addition, the NDPA notes that swimming in a wetsuit when water temperatures are between 75 and 80 degrees could lead to heat exhaustion.
♦ Don’t swim after consuming alcohol Swimming and alcohol are a bad mix, as the NDPA notes that alcohol impairs balance and coordination, each of which are vital for swimming. Alcohol also increases the likelihood of risky behavior, which can be hazardous when in the water.
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How to keep cool during East County’s hot summers
Brentwood offers various water features and resources, such as cooling centers, to combat the heat during the summer.
Dolphin Park, located in Brentwood’s Prewett Ranch housing complex, has been open since 2016 and offers a splash pad for residents. Three other local parks also offer water play features: City Park on Second Street, Blue Goose Park on Adams Lane and
Rainbows End Park on Marina Way.
The Brentwood Police Department
Facebook page lists these rules for Brentwood parks:
♦ Park hours are sunrise to sunset (except by permit or posted otherwise)
♦ Jump houses are prohibited
♦ Properly dispose of all trash
♦ Alcoholic beverages by permit only
♦ Barbecues are allowed only in parks with barbecue pits (you cannot bring your own
♦ No glass containers
Summer Camps
♦ No amplified music
♦ Park legally and courteously
♦ Follow all posted park rules
“In regards to cooling centers, we continuously monitor the forecast and weather conditions and have cooling centers that open in response to excessive heat warnings,” City of Brentwood Recreation Manager, Thien Nguyen, said. “According to the National Weather Service the criteria for excessive heat warning is a heat index of 105° Fahrenheit or greater that will last for two hours or more. Because of this, it depends on the forecast, time of day of excessive heat, and duration all playing a factor in opening a cooling center.”
Rachel Owen, Recreation Coordinator for Aquatics, said they are proud to offer a variety of programs at theBrentwood Family Aquatics Complex at 195 Griffith Lane, that is open weekdays from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. The entry fee is $5 per person, according to the aquatic center’s website at https://bit. ly/42IjzCc. For details, visit the website or call 925-516-5430.
“Our programs are designed to provide a safe, fun and engaging family-friendly ways for our community to cool off during the summer months,” Owen said. “Our most popular offering is recreation swim, which is open to the public and surrounding
‘We also offer a comprehensive swim lesson program for all ages, from infants as young as six months to adults.’
– Rachel Owen, Recreation Coordinator for Aquatics, City of Brentwood
communities. This program runs Monday through Friday, from 2-6 p.m., starting June 9 through July 25 as well as on weekends and holidays from noon-6 p.m., beginning May 17 through Sept. 7.”
Owen added that they are open for recreational swim on Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the Fourth of July and Labor Day.
“During this program, all of our amenities, including our water features, water slides and diving boards are fully available, making it a perfect way for families and friends to enjoy a day of fun and relaxation,” she said. “Another exciting event we host is the Boat Box Derby [on June 28], a free and unique competition open to all. Participants
TAYLOR SHEPHERD
The Brentwood Family Aquatics Complex at 195
Beat the heat from page 4B
create boats using only cardboard and duct tape, then race their boats in our pool. Every participant receives a certificate to commemorate their experience.”
Registration is available at https://bit. ly/4m67VKy.
“We also offer a comprehensive swim lesson program for all ages, from infants as young as six months to adults,” Owen said. “These lessons focus on teaching essential swimming skills and promoting water safety across all types of aquatics environments. These are just a few of the programs we are proud to offer our community each summer and we are excited to welcome everyone to the Brentwood Family Aquatics Complex for a safe and enjoyable summer to cool off.”
Oakley
Oakley also has a few water features and resources, as well. “The City of Oakley has two splash pads, one at Creekside Park located at 3900 Creekside Way and one at Nunn-Wilson Family Park, located at 1000 Oxford Drive,” Oakley City Manager Joshua McMurray said. McMurray said the splash pads will open Memorial Day Weekend.
“For cooling centers, we open it when the temperature exceeds 100 degrees and we have a facility and staff available,” he said. “We have used both the Oakley Recreation Center and the City Hall City Council Chambers in years past as cooling center locations.”
To find out more about the Brentwood
Summer Activities Guide, visit https://bit. ly/4itU2Tk.
For more information, about the Oakley Summer Recreation Guide, visit https://bit. ly/444OECx.
Discovery Bay
Discovery Bay offers a dual-purpose cooling center at their Community Center at 1601 Discovery Bay Blvd. The facility will be open Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., according to The Town of Discovery Bay website.
The town also offers a splash pad at Ravenswood Park from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., according to the town’s website. There is also a pool available at the Community Center.
“All users entering the pool area must pay an entrance fee,” according to the website. “Children who are not potty trained must wear a swim diaper.” There is a daily entrance fee of $3. Children age 2 and younger are admitted free, spectators or non-swimmers are $2, and there is a fee of $1.50 for the last 90 minutes of any recreational swim session. Seniors age 62 and older pay a fee of $2.
There is a $20 fee for “10 Punch Pass.”
According to the website, this is a “discounted rate for entries bought in bulk; may use any day the pool is open for recreational swim. Can be used for multiple users, such as a family, one punch per person.”
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Griffith Lane is just one of the local options residents can take advantage of when trying to beat the heat.
Mussels force park officials to change their watercraft inspection requirements
The East Bay Regional Park District has announced changes to its boat inspection and banding policies effective May 7 in response to increasing concerns about invasive mussel species.
The district has long required watercraft inspections to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species into local lakes and reservoirs, the park district said in a press release. To simplify re-entry for frequent visitors, park staff have used tamper-proof bands placed between the watercraft and trailer when the boat leaves the lake. These bands serve as proof that the vessel hadn’t launched in other waters. Boats returning with an intact band have not required re-inspection when entering any lake in the Park District or the East Bay Municipal Utility District.
What’s new for summer 2025 is that the park district’s banding program is transitioning to color-coded, lake-specific bands and is no longer accepting utility district bands, effective May 7. Watercraft returning to the same lake or reservoir with an intact lake-specific band and a copy of the prior inspection form will receive an abbreviated inspection and will not be subject to another inspection fee.
Entrance and launching fees still apply.
Boats without a band for that specific waterbody will require a full inspection before each launch and pay the inspection fee again. Boaters coming from a different waterbody should plan on additional time needed for re-inspections, the press release said.
The inspection process for car-top watercraft such as kayaks, canoes, and inflatables has not changed. These types of watercraft are inspected each time they enter a lake, but the inspection fee is charged only once every 30 days. The owner must provide a copy of the initial inspection form, with the receipt dated within the previous 30-day period.
The policy change is in response to the detection of the highly invasive golden mussel in the Delta at the Port of Stockton in October 2024. This discovery is the first known occurrence of golden mussels in North America and is believed to have been introduced by a ship traveling from an international port, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The species is native to rivers and creeks in coastal Asia and parts of South America. Golden mussels have not been detected in waters managed by the park district.
Inspection fees are $7 for motorized vessels, $4 for car-tops or inflatables. Inspection fees partially offset the cost of the inspection program.
For tips on passing inspections, visit ebparks.org/mussels.
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Invasive mussels are prompting changes in boat inspection
Sports are fun, and young athletes may want to keep playing all year long. But parents must take steps to protect young athletes’ bodies and avoid overdoing it with sports throughout the year.
How to avoid overdoing it with youth sports participation
Youth sports are wildly popular. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, about 61 percent of children ages 6-17 participated in a total team sport at least once per week in 2023.
Participation in sports can pay a number of dividends for children. Youngsters who play sports are physically active, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted can lower risk for disease and decrease the likelihood children are overweight or obese. Sports participation also encourages social interaction, which can help children develop their interpersonal skills and provide opportunities to build lifelong friendships.
With so much to gain from participating in sports, it’s no wonder that parents often encourage their children to get involved in local athletic leagues. But it’s important that parents recognize how easy it can be to overdo it when it comes to youth sports. Some youth sports leagues now offer travel teams for children as young as six, and such leagues may require kids and their parents to commit several days per week to practice and games. That might be too much for some young athletes, and the following are some strategies parents can employ to ensure their kids are not overdoing it when it comes to sports participation.
♦ Delay starting children in organized sports. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends waiting until children are fully ready before starting them in organized
sports. That time may be different for all kids, even siblings. But the AAP recommends parents wait to enroll children in organized sports until around age six. Free play, which is not governed by rules the ways organized sports are, can be just as effective as team sports at helping children develop their muscles, bones and balance.
♦ Allow youngsters’ ages to guide training time. The AAP suggests a good rule of thumb is that kids should not train more hours each week than their age. Under that guideline, an eight-year-old should not be spending more than eight hours per week practicing and playing a sport.
♦ Avoid focusing on a single sport. Sports specialization is a term now used to described intensive training or competition in a single organized sport for more than eight months per year by children who are 12 years old and younger. The AAP advises against sports specialization. According to the sports medicine experts at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, children who specialize in playing one sport early on have an increased risk of overuse injuries, which can develop due to intensive training. Such youngsters also are more likely to experience burnout and stress from playing the sport. Mixing up sports throughout the year reduces the risk for burnout and overuse injuries, as children likely won’t grow bored and will be exercising in unique ways for each sport they play.
♦ Take time off. Time off is another way to avoid overdoing it with young athletes. The AAP advises young athletes to take at least two to three months off from organized sports participation each year. Time off can be divided into one-month increments.
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