Features Include Screen-Time Controls, Offline Access and Research-Backed Content in an Ad-Free Play Experience.

PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS station, today announced the launch of the new FAMILY MATH Play & Learn app, a fun and free digital learning tool designed to help young children explore foundational math concepts. The app expands upon PBS SoCal’s acclaimed multi-platform FAMILY MATH initiative with interactive learning experiences in both English and Spanish. Featuring research-based, ad-free content with no surprise in-app purchases, the app builds early math skills for children from three to five years old in a safe, playful setting that makes learning fun. The FAMILY MATH app is now available nationwide for download on iOS and Android devices and on web-based platforms at pbssocal.org/familymathapp.

“Our research shows children thrive when learning is fun and engaging,” said Rosemary Miller, Senior Director of Early Learning. “This app brings proven FAMILY MATH tools to families nationwide in a way that is accessible and easy to use.”

Highlights from the app include interactive games, music videos and more, organized into themed packages that align with foundational early math learning concepts, such as Measurement, Number Sense, Patterns, Shapes, Sorting, Collecting and Spatial Sense. Existing content will continue to grow with new topics for early learners to explore. Designed in both English and Spanish, a simple toggle of a button allows users to seamlessly explore early math concepts in both languages.

Resources and functionalities are also available for grown-ups to support their child’s learning. Parents, caregivers, and educators are provided with tips for co-play, guidance on learning goals and controls on screen-time for play duration. The app also includes brain breaks, which are short social-emotional learning experiences built into the gameplay that aim to help learners reset and recenter. These brain breaks include three types of experiences: Breathing & Mindfulness, Movement, and Math Missions. The Family Math app integrates social-emotional learning into the gameplay, helping children build these skills (like self-regulation) and encouraging healthy use of screen time. To learn more and access additional FAMILY MATH materials, visit pbssocal.org/familymath.

First announced in 2021, PBS SoCal’s FAMILY MATH initiative helps close the achievement gap for young learners by supporting school readiness for children from under-resourced communities. The initiative has expanded through free workshops and community events, offering resources and bilingual assets that support families and educators across Southern California and beyond recognizing math in everyday life.

The PBS SoCal Family Math Play & Learn app was made possible, in part, by Heising-Simons Foundation, Overdeck Family Foundation and PNC Grow Up Great.

About PBS SoCal
PBS SoCal uses the power of public media for good, strengthening the civic fabric of Southern California and providing our community with an essential connection to a wider world. As a local, donor/member-supported non-profit organization, PBS SoCal is available to stream on the PBS app and the PBS Kids App and reaches 22M viewers across 7 Broadcast channels — including 2 primary channels, PBS SoCal and PBS SoCal Plus and 5 digital subchannels. Select programming is also available on PBS SoCal’s YouTube channel. With a commitment to make content available anytime and anywhere for free, PBS SoCal offers programming that reflects the diversity of Southern California and showcases the full schedule of beloved and trusted PBS content spanning Education, News, Environment and Arts & Culture. PBS SoCal also sparks the sharing of ideas at in-person cultural events and community conversations as well as prepares children for kindergarten and beyond by bringing bilingual, hands-on learning experiences to the community for free. 

Credit: PBS SoCal.

There’s a moment most parents know well. Your toddler spots you wearing the same color shirt as them and lights up like you’ve just handed them the moon. It seems trivial. It’s not.

The repeated moments of daily life, the inside jokes, the Sunday pancake ritual, the matching outfits on a cold morning walk are quietly doing something profound. They’re telling your child: you belong here. This is your people.

What Psychologists Actually Say About Family Identity

The concept of family identity has been studied seriously for decades, but one of the clearest frameworks comes from Dr. Marshall Duke and Dr. Robyn Fivush at Emory University. Their research on what they call the “Do You Know?” scale found that children who have a strong knowledge of their family history show higher self-esteem, greater resilience, and better outcomes when facing adversity.

The key insight? It wasn’t the big formal conversations that made the difference. It was the accumulative effect of small, repeated interactions. Stories told at dinner, phrases passed down, shared experiences that become part of how a child understands themselves.

Family identity, in other words, isn’t built in a single defining moment. It’s built Tuesday morning. And the Tuesday after that.

Why Young Children Are Especially Receptive

Before kids can articulate who they are, they feel it. Toddlers and young children operate almost entirely through sensory and emotional experience. They absorb belonging long before they can name it.

This is why the early years are so powerful. A child who grows up with consistent rituals, shared symbols, and visual cues of togetherness internalizes a sense of security that psychologists call a “secure base”. A foundation from which they can explore the world with confidence, knowing there’s somewhere they fundamentally belong.

Dr. John Bowlby, whose attachment theory remains one of the most influential frameworks in developmental psychology, argued that this felt sense of security is not a luxury. It’s a developmental need, as essential as nutrition.

The Overlooked Role of Visual Belonging

Here’s what the existing conversation around family identity tends to miss: the visual and sensory dimension.

Most articles on the subject focus on values, storytelling, and faith traditions, all genuinely important. But there’s a quieter layer that rarely gets discussed: the physical, visible markers of “we’re a unit.”

Think about what makes a sports team feel like a team. Partly it’s shared goals and history. But it’s also the jersey. The uniform. The visual signal that says: we go together.

For young children, who think in images and feelings long before they think in concepts, these visual anchors matter enormously. Shared objects, consistent environments, and yes, clothing participate in building that felt sense of family.

This is part of why the “mini-me” dressing trend resonates so deeply with parents. It’s not vanity. It’s instinct. When a parent and child wear matching outfits, they’re creating a small, joyful visual ritual that says: we’re together. Collections like family matching sweatshirts tap into exactly this, giving families a simple, tangible way to express togetherness. Whether it’s for a holiday photo or just a regular Saturday at the park.

And the beauty of it is that children notice. They remember. Ask any parent, and they’ll tell you their kid asked to wear the matching hoodie again. Not because it was cozy, but because it meant something.

Small Rituals That Build Big Identity

The good news is that building a strong family identity doesn’t require grand gestures or elaborate planning. It asks for consistency and intention in the ordinary.

Here are some of the most effective small rituals families use to reinforce belonging:

• A signature phrase or greeting, something only your family says, even something silly. Repeated often, it becomes a marker of “us.”
• A weekly ritual tied to a day. Friday pizza, Sunday morning cartoons in pajamas, a monthly hike. The predictability itself is the point.
• Shared physical objects. A mug you always use, a blanket everyone fights over, matching pieces of clothing for special occasions or everyday wear.
• Storytelling at the table, not formal family history lessons, but casually sharing “remember when we…” moments. Duke and Fivush’s research shows these stories are among the most powerful identity-builders available to parents.
• A family “thing”. A sport you follow, a board game you play obsessively, a garden you tend together. It doesn’t matter what it is. What matters is that it’s yours.

None of these cost much. Most cost nothing. But over time, they accumulate into something children carry with them for life.

When the World Pulls Hard, Identity Holds

There’s a reason this matters beyond warm feelings and cute photos.

Children with a strong sense of family identity are better equipped to handle peer pressure, navigate conflict, and recover from setbacks. Duke and Fivush’s research found this directly: kids who could answer questions about their family (where their parents grew up, how their grandparents met, what the family went through in hard times) were measurably more resilient.

That resilience doesn’t come from abstract knowledge. It comes from the emotional security underneath it. The bone-deep sense that they are part of something larger than themselves.

You’re Already Doing More Than You Think

If you read this and felt a little overwhelmed, take a breath. You don’t need to overhaul your family life.

The Saturday morning ritual you already have? That counts. The nickname only you call them? That counts. The matching outfits you put on for the holidays and then wore again just because everyone liked them? That counts too.

Family identity is rarely built consciously. It accumulates in the margins in the small, repeated acts of showing up together, looking alike, laughing at the same things, and coming home to the same place.

And one day, when your child is grown and building their own family, they’ll reach for those same small things, a phrase, a ritual, a way of doing Sunday mornings. Because somewhere along the way, it became part of who they are.

The little things aren’t little at all. They’re the whole thing.

Victoria Gardens invites the community to attend Summer Movies in Town Square every Tuesday beginning June 2 through July 21*. The free, family-friendly movie series is returning with nostalgic favorites like Back to the Future and Angels in the Outfield, as well as newer classics like Shrek and Cars. Grab a blanket or lawn chair and head to Chaffey Town Square with friends and family for a movie under the stars in a charming atmosphere.

Summer Movie Schedule:

• June 2: Cars
• June 9: Coco
• June 16: Sing 2
• June 23: Angels in the Outfield
• July 7: Planes
• July 14: Shrek
• July 21: Back to the Future

All movie showings begin at dusk. 

*No movie showing on June 30. 

WHERE:

Chaffey Town Square at Victoria Gardens

12505 North Mainstreet, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739

WHEN:

Every Tuesday from June 2 to July 21, 2026. All showings begin at dusk. 

*No movie showing on June 30.

RSVP:

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP on Eventbrite.

This summer, Santa Monica Place invites families to enjoy a season of engaging, kid-friendly programming designed to spark creativity, connection and fun. From interactive museum experiences and hands-on cooking camps to live performances and Kids Club events, the open-air destination offers something for every age all summer long

Creative Play and Weekly Programming at Cayton Children’s Museum

Families can explore hands-on exhibits and imaginative play experiences at Cayton Children’s Museum, which will continue its regular programming cadence throughout the summer alongside extended seasonal hours.

New this season, Cayton will debut Drive-In Movie Nights every Thursday beginning April 30, offering a fun, family-friendly evening experience. The series kicks off with Akeelah and the Bee and will run through the end of summer.

Throughout the season, Cayton will also host its BIG FEELINGS Weekends, a monthly program designed to help children explore emotions and character-building through play-based experiences. Each weekend is centered around a unique theme, including Expression & Voice (May 23–25), Belonging (June 19–21), Joy & Wellness (July 3–5) and Remembering & Reflecting (August 14–16). Each BIG FEELINGS Weekend invites families to engage in storytelling, interactive play and hands-on activities that support social and emotional development.

Learn more about upcoming programs and plan your visit at caytonmuseum.org.

Hands-On Summer Camps at The Gourmandise School

Young chefs can build confidence in the kitchen at The Gourmandise School’s popular weeklong summer cooking and baking camps, beginning June 15. Designed for kids (ages 8–11) and teens (ages 12–16), these immersive programs offer hands-on instruction in a fun, professional kitchen setting.

Campers can choose from a variety of rotating themes, including:

• Cooking the Classics
• Global Street Food
• Classic Bakeshop
• Baking Fundamentals
• World Cuisines
• Great British Bakeoff
• Sweet & Savory Skills (new)

Led by expert chef instructors, students work collaboratively to develop culinary techniques while building confidence, creativity and teamwork skills. Each participant receives recipe packets to recreate their favorite dishes at home.

Weeklong camps range from $625 to $695. Learn more and register at thegourmandiseschool.com/summer-camps. 

Sounds of Santa Monica: Kids Club Edition at Santa Monica Place, courtesy of Santa Monica Place

Sounds of Santa Monica: Kids Club Edition

Multiple Dates | Center Plaza, Level 1

Families are invited to enjoy Sounds of Santa Monica: Kids Club Edition, a free weekly event series featuring live entertainment and interactive fun.

Each event includes:

• Live music, singing and dancing
• Hands-on crafts and activities
• Giveaways and surprises

The series is currently scheduled for April and May, bringing families together in Center Plaza for engaging weekly programming. Additional Kids Club dates will be announced for later in the season.

For event dates and details, visit santamonicaplace.com/events.

Camarillo is welcoming a major new attraction for families with the grand opening of kidSTREAM Children’s Museum on May 21, 2026 – marking the only children’s museum in Ventura County. As a first-of-its-kind destination for the region, kidSTREAM is expected to draw visitors from across Southern California, further strengthening Camarillo’s position as a go-to destination for family-friendly travel.

Designed as more than a traditional play space, kidSTREAM offers an immersive environment where children explore science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, and math (STREAM) through hands-on exhibits and programming. Rooted in early childhood development, the museum’s mission is to inspire young learners to become critical thinkers, innovators, and lifelong learners – blending play with purpose in a way that resonates with modern families seeking meaningful travel experiences.

“kidSTREAM is a transformative addition to Camarillo and a powerful draw for families across the region,” said Yuliana Garcia, Executive Director of Visit Camarillo. “As the only children’s museum in Ventura County, it not only enhances our destination’s family-friendly offerings, but also creates a compelling reason for visitors to stay longer and explore more of what Camarillo has to offer.”

Located at the former Camarillo Public Library site, the 21,000-square-foot campus features interactive indoor and outdoor exhibits inspired by Ventura County’s landscapes and industries – from agricultural experiences with edible gardens to engineering challenges in a dedicated makerspace. The museum is guided by core values including play, community, sustainability, and inclusion, creating a welcoming space for children and caregivers alike.

“kidSTREAM was built with the belief that children learn best through curiosity, creativity, and connection,” said Barry A. Van Deman, interim Chief Executive Officer of kidSTREAM Children’s Museum. “We’re excited to open a space that not only supports early learning and development, but also brings families together through shared discovery and meaningful experiences.”

To celebrate the opening, kidSTREAM Early Explorers memberships are available now, offering families exclusive access to special events, previews, and year-round programming.

The museum’s debut further complements Camarillo’s growing portfolio of family-friendly attractions, from outdoor recreation, local beaches to shopping at the Camarillo Premium Outlets and nearby adventures in the Channel Islands National Park – rounding out a well-balanced destination for multigenerational travel.

The grand opening will begin with a private morning ceremony for supporters, followed by a public opening for families later in the day.

For more information, visit www.kidstream.org.

As LA Fleet Week approaches, CODEPINK San Pedro announces the 11th Annual LA Harbor Peace Week, offering a series of events from May 21 to May 25, 2026, promoting peace and community engagement at the San Pedro Waterfront.

This initiative provides an alternative perspective to the traditional military displays of Fleet Week, emphasizing peaceful solutions and community solidarity. With over 30,000 attendees expected at Fleet Week, Peace Week offers a platform for dialogue and reflection on the impacts of militarization.

Event Highlights:

• Friday, May 22: Weekly Rally for Peace at Vons, Gaffey St. & 13th St., 5-6pm, followed by a Car Caravan to Wilmington’s Fleet Week Welcome Party.
• Saturday, May 23: Flyering at the USS Iowa, 11am-2pm, and a screening of “Earth’s Greatest Enemy” at United Methodist Church, 2-5pm.
• Sunday, May 24: International Peace Prayers at Garden Church, 3-6pm.
• Monday, May 25: Memorial Day Veterans for Peace Rally at the USS Iowa, 3-6pm.

CODEPINK San Pedro is collaborating with San Pedro Neighbors for Peace and Justice, Military Families Speak Out, and Veterans for Peace LA to present these events.

Credit: CODEPINK

 CASA of Los Angeles (CASA/LA), the nonprofit organization that recruits, trains, and supports volunteer advocates for children in foster care, today announced the appointment of Shakoya Green Long, MSW, ACSW, as its new Chief Executive Officer. Green Long brings more than 26 years of executive leadership experience in nonprofit management, social services, and child and family advocacy to one of Los Angeles County’s most critical child welfare organizations.

“Every child in foster care deserves to know they are seen, heard, and supported—and CASA’s volunteers make that a reality every single day,” said Shakoya Green Long, CEO, CASA of LA. “I am humbled and honored to lead this incredible organization. My own experience in the foster care system has never left me. It drives everything I do. I look forward to working with CASA’s dedicated staff, volunteers, and community partners to deepen our reach and ensure that every child who needs an advocate has one.”

Green Long’s appointment reflects CASA/LA’s commitment to centering community voices and fostering leadership grounded in empathy. A former foster youth raised by her grandmother in Compton, she brings lived experience alongside professional expertise—a rare combination that positions her to lead with both credibility and compassion on behalf of the children CASA/LA serves.

Most recently, Green Long served as Chief Executive Officer of Thomas House Family Shelter in Orange County, where she accelerated the organization’s revenue from $1.3 million to $2.5 million—a nearly 92 percent increase—while spearheading the rollout of a $1.2 million CALAIM Community Supports Program and securing a transformative strategic partnership with CalOptima. She also raised $250,000 in 24 hours for the organization’s Help Them Home Initiative. Under her leadership, Thomas House earned her a promotion from Executive Director to CEO within two years and a Chase ICON Award for Nonprofit in 2025.

Prior to Thomas House, Green Long held senior leadership roles at the National Health Foundation, where she doubled the budget of the Recuperative Care program from $1.1 million to $2.7 million, and at Los Angeles Brotherhood Crusade, where she served as Senior Vice President of Programs. She began her career at Los Angeles Job Corps, developing workforce readiness and case management programs for young adults. Green Long holds a Master of Social Work from California State University, Dominguez Hills, a Master of Arts in Human Behavior from National University, and a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development from San Diego State University. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Pacific Oaks College.

A recognized leader in the nonprofit and social services sectors, Green Long currently serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the National Women’s Shelter Network and as a member of the Orange County Continuum of Care Board, where she chairs the Domestic Violence Committee. She is also a 2025 participant in Coro Southern California’s Women in Leadership Program.

What They’re Saying:

“On behalf of the Orange County Community Foundation, we extend our deepest gratitude to Shakoya Green-Long for her exceptional leadership and steadfast commitment to unhoused families,” said Tammy Tumbling of the Orange County Community Foundation. “During her tenure as CEO of Thomas House, Shakoya led with vision, compassion, and an unwavering dedication to creating lasting pathways to stability for those in need. Her impact will be felt for years to come—not only through the lives she has touched directly, but through the strengthened foundation she leaves behind. While we will miss her leadership in Orange County, we are excited to see her continue this important work in Los Angeles County.”

“Having worked alongside Shakoya, I have seen firsthand how she translates her personal history into professional excellence,” said Kellie Hawkins, Managing Partner at EKA. “Her appointment is a win for the entire child welfare community. By building on the essential advocacy of CASA/LA, Shakoya brings a rare depth of perspective that honors the resilience of foster youth while navigating the complexities of the system with seasoned authority. I have watched her lead with both heart and logic, and I am confident that her leadership will further elevate the standard of care and advocacy our youth deserve.”

“Shakoya Green Long is a passionate, powerful, and effective advocate for the safety, economic security, health, and wellbeing of women and children in the Los Angeles community and, in her leadership of the National Women’s Shelter Network, across the nation,” said Constance Collins, President of the National Women’s Shelter Network, Inc. “Her tireless commitment to advancing the cause of the most vulnerable in our country shines brightly.”

“Shakoya Green Long leads with a rare blend of vision and heart, grounded in authenticity, guided by integrity, and driven by accountability,” said Curtis R. Silvers, Jr., Managing Principal of The Silvers Group. “Her commitment to respecting every individual fosters a culture where teams feel valued, empowered, and united in purpose. Through her leadership, CASA Los Angeles will not only be strengthened internally, but positioned to create deeper, more meaningful impact across the communities it serves.”

About CASA of Los Angeles

CASA of Los Angeles (CASA/LA) recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates for children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are in the foster care system. CASA/LA volunteers speak up for the best interests of children in the courtroom and in their daily lives, helping them find safe, permanent homes and the support they need to thrive. For more information, visit casala.org.

To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, MESH Helps is launching its first national Play for Resilience™ initiative, bringing resilience-building play experiences directly to families through community-based activations across the country. MESH Helps is an organization that launched in October 2022 to address the growing concern of kids’ mental health in an increasingly challenging world. 

From May 1-8, families visiting more than 450 Chuck E. Cheese locations across the United States will experience how play builds resilience. Curated video messaging will be featured on screens every hour, highlighting the importance of social-emotional development through play. 

Additionally, throughout May, MESH Helps resources and MESH-Accredited products will be featured in approximately 300 American Library Association member libraries nationwide, expanding access to resilience-building play in local communities helping librarians and caregivers discover tools that support emotional growth, storytelling, problem-solving, and connection. MESH Accreditation is a distinction recognizing products that help children develop coping skills, confidence, communication, and emotional understanding through play.

I received the following fun toys:

• Plus-Plus
• Mindware
• Magna-Tiles
• The Calm Caterpillar
• Jelly Blox from Goliathgo
• Shashibo from Fun in Motion
• Invent kit from Makedo
• Refillable Cup from Chuck E. Cheese

Thank you to @chuckecheese, @funinmotiontoys @goliathgamesus, @magnatiles, @makedo, @mindwaretoys, @plusplususa, @smarttoysandgames @thecalmcaterpillar

Visit your local library to see Play for Resilience in action in your community! Find a list of participating libraries at MESHhelps.org.

More of my favorites:

Self Disclosure: I participated in a nationwide initiative from MESH Helps (Play for Resilience). I received free MESH-Accredited products.

#PlayForResilience #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #MESHToys

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