It’s 10 a.m. Do you know where your children are?

Are they sitting inside, on the couch, watching television, playing video games or messing with an electronic tablet?

It’s summer. The weather is gorgeous. Albert Lea offers plenty to do. They ought to be outside playing. That’s how they make summertime memories and learn to be sociable outside of a school setting.

Take them for a bike ride. Bring them to the city pool. Explore the trails at a county or state park. Visit the City Beach. Find a ball and play catch. Draw on a sidewalk with chalk. Drag out that remote control toy gifted at Christmas. Swing in a hammock. Shoot some hoops. Go boating. Visit a nearby playground. Just play with the neighbor kids. Why not even go all out and take them camping, even if it is in the backyard?

Put down the iPad. Drop the video game controllers. Leave the cellphones behind. Get offline and get outside.