While the summer holidays are just around the corner, probably a lot of parents already thinking about educational games and fun learning activities that are handy and useful to be used during no-school weeks and ideal to bring with while traveling with the whole family.

Preparing your luggage and being savvy enough to bring only the NECESSARY (you should definitely check out my post – “What do you find in my family luggage? Hacking ideas”) is almost every time a big internal fight with yourself and each family member. Because come on! Don’t you think the enormous transformer wouldn’t fit in your handbag or a backpack full of LEGO is necessary to be carried overseas!? Poor you!

Well, even if I already won the prize for the best-packed family luggage 3 years ago with only 1 big and 1 small trolley, there is always something that I could work on to be better with! For instance, I was just told to deeply consider taking only cabin luggage this year…ha ha ha… Not gonna happen…

As Achilles started school 2 years ago, he was quickly introduced to kids-friendly educational games and learning platforms. The comfort of this kind of classroom resources is incredible. Even if you are far away the only thing you need is iPad and wifi to keep your kid busy with some maths or English exercises.

The good stuff is that there is a possibility to have a continuous eye on it as parents and teacher. Homework set to meet the classroom or individual pupil academical needs. Generally, tasks are put together leveled by school year. You can prepare your own personalized list of goals as well.

Here are some used by us learning platforms we can hugely recommend.

IXL – our absolute No. 1. Which this personalized learning platform we started out digital study experience. It’s super flexible in terms of individual educational planning and offers numerous and amazingly designed explorable environment. Real-time monitoring and the possibility of choosing your own learning path are the top options.

IXL provides a precisely aligned curriculum of 12 different nationalities including USA, Germany, and Spain.

There is a possibility to became a member paying a monthly rate of £12,99 for one child (each additional kid is £2 more) for both, maths and English. The annual option is for £99 where each additional child is £20 more). If you are not satisfied or the platform doesn’t meet your needs, you will have your money back. Fair enough.

Nessy – a learning program made for those kids with dyslexia and those who just learn in a different way. Through spelling, phonics, reading and writing, Nessy offers a lot of fun games and multisensory activities for any different individual with any difficulty level.

Can be used as a tutor only or as a full learning path. Research-proven and educational awards winner.

There is a possibility to try it out with a free trial option.

Nessy Reading and Spelling Packet cost €9 per month, an annual subscription costs €67. If you add more students the price goes down consideribly.

Mathletics – maths maths maths, from developing core basic maths skills for those kids who need to practice the essentials. And numerous opportunities to explore maths for those who want the challenge mode. Great kid-friendly design, simple and distraction-free user experience.

Aligned curriculum and age-appropriate content. Stimulating, engaging and boosting curiosity for further exploration. Great tool if you need special support for the kid who needs to be motivated and entertained at the same time.

Free 48 hours trial available also for home learners.

Spellodrome is a sister of Mathletics and could be tried out along with Mathletics during your 48 hours free trial. Spellodrome is a learning platform dedicated to giving support for those working on spelling skills. The big fun of this web application – you come up with your own words’s list and you are ready to put them into play. Games and educational activities does’n feel like hard work at all!

MathsChase is a completely free site where you can quickly test your times tables. A simple game modus that invite kids to try the challenge and exercise their skills and became faster and faster. Really easy and clear. No subscription needed. Choose your character (there is also Super Mario!) and level (from the slowest one up) and enjoy!