Best Summer Learning Resources [ Free Resources Included ]

If you're looking for a way to keep your children learning over the summer, look no further! Below we've rounded up the best selection of free summer learning resources to make sure your little ones don't fall behind in essential reading and maths skills.

When it comes to the summer learning slide – the academic loss that can happen over the summer break – reading and maths are the biggest concerns for parents and educators. Studies show that learning loss in these two key areas can have a snowball effect if children experience subsequent loss each year. That's why it's crucial to find reliable, engaging learning resources that are easy to use at home during the summer months.

The resources provided below can be downloaded as PDFs and printed at your convenience. Best of all, they've been created by experienced primary educators to make sure your children are learning the skills they need for school success.

Summer Learning Resources (Free PDFs)

Our free resources for summer learning at home cover literacy and mathematics for preschoolers to Year 6. There are downloadable PDF booklets on the alphabet, phonics, handwriting, reading comprehension, spelling, grammar, as well as fractions, multiplication/division, geometry, and more. Download here

Why it's important to find the best summer learning resources

Programs like ABC Reading Eggs and ABC Mathseeds not only supplement a child's learning during the school year, but also enable a seamless transition into the summer months. Kids can continue learning over the break in an engaging and playful way. They won't even realise that they're doing 'school'!

Summer learning resources – what to consider

Regardless of the platform chosen, parents who are looking for quality online programs for their children should consider Slavin's QUAIT model of effective classroom practice which looks at these four main factors:

1. Quality of instruction – lessons are organised and interesting.

2. Appropriate levels of instruction – lessons fit the student's current knowledge level.

3. Incentive – students want to engage with the platform.

4. Time – how long it takes them to complete the course.

Online programs like ABC Reading Eggs and ABC Mathseeds should also allow parents to get involved, encouraging them to cheer on their children and celebrate their successes. With lessons taking the pressure off parents to teach their children, they can relax and do what they do best – support and encourage their child's achievements.

Learning through play

With hundreds of fun summer learning resources and exciting activities for kids to enjoy, both ABC Reading Eggs and ABC Mathseeds encourage vital learning through play. Free Trial

According to the CER, “education is the pathway to the American Dream. Done right, it provides all students with an equal opportunity to participate in the future.” That's why it's so important to find quality summer learning resources that make learning not just educational but fun too.

Through our work developing the online learning resource ABC Reading Eggs and its partner program ABC Mathseeds, we've completed extensive research on how children learn and how best to engage them at home. While some children learn best through a kinaesthetic approach, others learn through song and verbal‑linguistic approaches – the common denominator being that children learn best through play. If the information is presented in an engaging way with fun games to keep them motivated, children are more likely to hold onto key concepts and continue with their studies.

High quality online programs

Check out hundreds of free summer learning resources with a free trial of ABC Reading Eggs and ABC Mathseeds, the multi‑award winning learning programs for ages 2⁠–⁠13. Free Trial

To successfully continue educating children throughout the summer, parents are looking for high‑quality online programs that combine traditional ways of learning with the demands and expectations of 21st‑century students. Today's world is far more information‑rich and fast‑paced. As a result of this digital‑first climate, children can't just learn to read anymore, they must also learn how to interpret, connect with, and use their new‑found digital literacy skills. By approaching these concepts in a way that encourages play, children become more engaged with the material and actually look forward to participating in lessons rather than pushing back against a "boring" activity.

Avoiding the summer slide

According to Harris Cooper's 1996 study, children could lose around 20% of their gains in reading and 30% of their gains in maths during summer break. Parents can combat this with just 15 minutes a day of an engaging online program, which is enough to help keep children actively learning while avoiding the summer slide. They'll go back to school with more confidence in their abilities while still enjoying their summer months – it's a win‑win!

One key reason for the success of online learning is that students are able to go at their own pace, revisiting or accelerating through concepts as needed. In ABC Reading Eggs and ABC Mathseeds, we put an emphasis on colourful graphics and high‑quality animations to help hold students' attention, and we have carefully constructed the programs to easily match children's learning levels from ages two through 13. Our goal is to make the lessons highly motivational and rewarding so students are not only engaged with the material, but also maintain comprehension. As everyone learns differently, it's especially important to find a learning tool that fits each child's unique approach.

Check out our article on how to prevent summer reading slide to learn more.

Set your children up for success

Let's invest in our children's futures. Through the power of technology, we are able to invest in our children's futures and continue educating and setting them up for future success. With resources that offer playful respite from traditional learning, families are able to continue to boost their children's education throughout the summer months, keeping them on track for the coming school year.

Looking for more inspiration for summer learning? Try these virtual summer camp ideas.