Summer is supposed to be laid back, and sometimes downright lazy.

But for some kids, who finally have an opportunity to spend big blocks of time freely playing, summer also can be a time of academic regression.

That is not a warning issued by the fun police. No one wants to put a stop to free play and lounging on hammocks.

Instead, parents need to be sneaky and slip skill-sharpening activities into their kids’ days, even if it’s a spoonful at a time. Read a book around the campfire (the page turner should put the s’more down). Find some creepy, crawly bugs, put them in a jar and then find books or Web sites that help identify them. Grocery shop with a young assistant figuring out which can of baked beans is the better deal.

Organized activities also are offered through community education programs, nature centers and libraries. Libraries offer summer reading programs in which kids earn prizes depending on how much time they spend reading. They also suck kids through their doors by offering special events and guests, and afterward the kids often want to check out a new book (those sneaky librarians).

In the community education reading programs, older children act as mentors, reading to or tutoring younger children. And park and school-site programs offer science themes, field trips and reading time.

In St. Peter, a summer Read-N-Feed program is open to all students up to 18 years old — including non-district residents and preschool-age children. Literacy activities are planned for each age group and every student receives a free meal.

Along with keeping school-age kids’ skills sharp, parents need to remember the younger set needs to be involved in play that emphasizes language and learning. Studies show that birth to age 5 is a critical time to expose children to reading, music and language.

The Mankato community is organizing efforts to reinforce the importance of both formal and informal early childhood education. The Greater Mankato Early Learning Initiative is a nonprofit formed by community members working to establish a sustainable early learning culture in our community. Its goal is that every Mankato area child arrive at kindergarten ready to learn.

A report recently released by the Educational Testing Service reinforces earlier findings that achievement gaps start at birth. The study cited that minority parents are less likely to read to kids, more likely to put them in front of a TV and less likely to have two parents in the household, which often results in lower income levels. Until these parenting and class issues are resolved, the report gives little hope to closing gaps.

As Denny Dotson, president of Dotson Iron Castings and board member of the Greater Mankato Early Learning Initiative, said in a column published in The Free Press last week, it’s up to the community to push for funding of early education programs and parent education. The future success of our young people affects everyone’s quality of life.

The Mankato region has made a point of recognizing the value of early childhood education and teaching that to parents. Now that summer is here, that goal can’t take a vacation.