We’re only a month into summer break, but many Iowa parents are likely counting down the days until kids return to school and get back into a routine.

Even though students aren’t in a classroom, summer break is actually a great time to engage kids in a fun, less formal way to boost their reading and writing skills, says Emily Hayden, an assistant professor of literacy at Iowa State University and a former K-12 teacher.

When parents encourage kids to continue reading and writing for fun, it helps prevent the dreaded...