As summer approaches, many parents of young children find themselves asking a quiet but important question: What does my child actually need from summer this year? For children in preschool through elementary school, summer isn’t just time off from school. It’s a different developmental season altogether. Some children need space to move their bodies and burn energy. Others need slower days to recover from a busy school year. Many need both, along with opportunities to play,

Each year, as we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., our school community comes together for a Day of Service. While the projects themselves take place in a single day, the learning behind them stretches far beyond it. At United Friends School, service learning is not a one-time event. It is woven into how children come to understand their place in the world, as capable, compassionate people who can notice needs and respond with care. What Service Learnin

Every day, children are making small decisions that shape how they learn. They decide how to begin a task, how to stay focused when distractions arise, how to remember instructions, and what to do when something doesn’t work the first time. These moments don’t always stand out, but they are essential to lifelong learning and to becoming confident, capable students. The skills behind these moments are called executive function. They help children manage attention, organize ide