COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Now that school’s out it’s time to relax and have fun, but don’t forget to keep reading. 

One Worthington pediatrician said how kids spend this time out of school could affect how they ease back into the classroom in the fall.

Dr. Sean Gallager, a pediatrician with Central Ohio Primary Care at Worthington Pediatrics, said reading is key to keeping your kids’ brains active. 

“The issue with summertime when kids are out of school, if they’re not actively reading, they can actually back slide on some of those skills,” Gallager said.

He suggested picking up a book during summer break can help bridge that gap in between school years. 

“The importance of summer reading is so your child continues to maintain their skills that they accumulated,” Gallager said. “I mean, a nine month school year, right? We want to maintain those skills so that the next school year is a little more seamless.” 

While reading is often educational, it can also be fun, especially if you are reading about something you like.

“I just say, hey look, alright, you like superheroes, let’s go to the library and get books about superheroes or dinosaurs or sports or anything the child is interested in,” said Gallager.

Gallager said don’t just wait until your kids are school aged, but get started on reading early with your kids under five and as young as newborns.

“It’s really one of the best things that parents can do, reading to their under fives everyday,” Gallager said. “It really kind of maximizes their child’s chance for success.” 

Gallager said parents and guardians can read to their child, with their child, or if families are looking for some more structure, they can try enrolling the kids in a summer reading challenge. He said either way, just make sure your kids are picking up the books this summer.