As parents, we worry a lot about street safety when it comes to our children. Can you imagine how it must be in the animal kingdom? Temescal Gateway Park explores this topic with the program Crossing Los Angeles on Four Legs: Wildlife Commuting Strategies in a Complex Landscape. An afternoon hike, picnic dinner, and a nature lecture make this a perfect summer evening.

The Studio City Library Science Program has Little Bits, a newish toy that introduces kids to working with electronic components, and the no-legged grunion run again in the wee hours of a summer night. A Gene Kelly/Judy Garland classic rounds out the week at El Segundo’s Old Town Music Hall; introduce the kids to a good old-fashioned musical in a good-old fashioned setting, where every show begins with a comedy short and an audience sing-along accompanied by a live pipe organ. Of course, if a brand-new movie is more your speed, be sure to enter our contest for a chance to win free tickets to a sneak peek screening of Minions!

Summertime and the living in Southern California is easy. While parents all around the country are looking for seasonal vacation destinations, those of us lucky enough to live in SoCal are already here. There is nothing quite like our local beaches, and no better way to spend the summer months than on our shores.

Of course, taking very young ones to the beach can feel like a lot of work. Vigilance is especially necessary when the ocean looms, and keeping the kids in shallow waters is a full-time job, albeit a fun one. Who doesn’t love digging for sand crabs, building drip castles, and running screaming from the surf? Sometimes, though, it is nice to enjoy the beach in a more relaxing, contained manner. Fortunately, many of our beaches from Santa Barbara to San Diego have playgrounds, which is the perfect way to experience the beach without even needing to get your feet wet.

When a new month starts, chances are lots of things will be free. First Tuesdays, in particular, offer many gratis admissions. There is nothing wrong with paying for the activities we enjoy with our children; sometimes you have to, and sometimes it is truly worth it. Sometimes, though, if you plan well, it is possible to pay for nothing.

The library is almost always free and often has something fun scheduled, like the Pajama Storytime in Silver Lake on Monday. The first week of the month also brings no-cost LEGO fun and free admission to some of our fabulous museums, like The Huntington. Finally, and this only happens a few times a year: on Friday Krispy Kreme is giving away doughnuts. Believe it or not, this is a national and significant holiday. May the culture surpass the calories.