Keep Kids Learning Over Summer (without all the work)
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I always think I’ll fill our summer with read-alouds and fun learning activities. The truth is, by the time it rolls around, I am more than ready for a break from teaching.
Summer in our house is not a free-for-all, but it’s also not school. I need the break. My kids could probably keep going, but for the sake of everyone…I put the brakes on.
However, I’ve also learned that my kids don’t do well without a little bit of structure and continued learning. So, how do I facilitate that?
What I’ve landed on is something in between. Rest is something I take, but my kids also do well with some light review.
IXL is what we use. We already use it for some fun extra practice during the year, but it’s the perfect tool to keep learning going over the summer break.
Why You Should Keep Kids Learning Over Summer
I know, I know. We homeschool. We don’t follow the traditional school calendar. Kids learn all the time, right? Yes and no.
Kids’ brains still benefit from consistent use. Skills that sit untouched for weeks or months get rusty. Reading fluency, math facts, and writing stamina take time to build, and they can quietly erode when we stop practising.
It doesn’t mean you need to keep doing school all summer. It means a little intentional practice goes a long way. And the keyword there is little. Short, low-pressure sessions are enough to keep things ticking over without turning summer into another whole term of school.
Remember, the goal is rest for mom and gentle review for the kids.
How We Use IXL Over the Summer
My three kids are in 6th, 4th, and 2nd grade. They’re at very different levels and have very different learning needs. What works for one does not automatically work for the others.
So our summer learning has to be flexible. It has to be independent (because this is not something I want to oversee). I also like for it to feel a bit like a game.
IXL is great for this. It’s an online homeschool program that covers math, language arts, science, and social studies from Pre-K all the way through high school. All three of my kids can use it at the same time, each working at their own level, without me having to teach them.
That last part is important. Over the summer, I am not in teacher mode. I want them learning, yes. But I want it to happen without me standing over them, directing every step.
Why My Kids Actually Like It
I could sell you on IXL with stats all day. Over 160 billion questions answered. More than 17 million students. 17,000+ interactive skills. But honestly, what makes me keep it in our rotation is that my kids like doing it.
They like competing against themselves. IXL tracks their progress and shows them how they’re improving, which means they’re not comparing themselves to anyone else. They’re just trying to beat their own score. For my son, especially, that click-over into a higher SmartScore is super motivating.
The sessions are short, which is perfect. You don’t need to sit down for an hour. You sit down for fifteen or twenty minutes, work through some skills, feel accomplished, and move on with your day. My kids don’t feel like they’re doing school because it looks so different from the rest of our year.
It’s great for the time of day when it’s too hot outside to play. They can chill out in the cool of the house, but without unproductive screentime in the mix.
They can also explore topics that interest them, or topics we didn’t get to during the regular school year. That’s actually one of my favourite things about it. Summer is a good time to follow a rabbit trail without it throwing off our whole plan.
How the Platform Works
- It meets your child’s learning level
IXL uses real-time diagnostics to identify where your child is and what they need to work on next. It adapts to their level and guides them forward without you having to figure out the sequence. That’s huge when you’re managing multiple kids at multiple grade levels.
- It gives you the data
If you like to know how your kids are doing without hovering, IXL’s analytics give you a clear picture. You can see what they’ve been working on, where they’re strong, and where they still have gaps. That kind of insight is very useful when you’re planning the year ahead.
I personally love this aspect. It gives me great feedback to know where it is that my kids need a bit more practice.
- It works anywhere
IXL works on desktop, tablet, or mobile. So whether your kids are doing their twenty minutes at the kitchen table or in the back seat on a road trip, it works. For travelling families, especially, this makes it one of the easiest ways to keep kids learning over summer without any extra planning on your part.
Get 20% Off an IXL Family Membership
The core subjects plan covers math, language arts, science, and social studies for your whole family. Right now, you can get 20% off an IXL Family Membership here. That discount is already built into the link, so no code needed.
If your kids are anything like mine and do better with some structure in summer rather than none, I highly recommend you take a look. You can start light. You’re the one in control. You get to decide how often and for how long.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to choose between a full rest and keeping your kids sharp. A good learning platform for students makes it possible to do both.
IXL is the one we keep coming back to. My kids open it without a fight, work through something useful, and close it feeling good about themselves.
Summer doesn’t have to mean losing everything you built. And it doesn’t have to mean grinding through curriculum either. There’s a middle ground, and this is how we find it.
Take a look at IXL here.
