Gimkit Join for Parents: Complete Homeschool Setup Guide (USA 2025)

Gimkit is a game-based learning platform that transforms studying into an engaging experience for homeschool families. Parents can create or use existing quiz games (“Kits”) where children earn virtual currency for correct answers, which they spend on power-ups and upgrades—making review sessions feel like gameplay rather than homework.

This guide shows USA homeschool parents exactly how to set up Gimkit, create effective learning games, and integrate this tool into your daily curriculum without technical confusion or wasted time.

What Makes Gimkit Different for Homeschoolers

Unlike classroom-focused tools like Kahoot that require live multiplayer games, Gimkit offers solo and asynchronous play modes specifically designed for home use. Your child can complete assignments independently while you track their progress through detailed analytics.

Gimkit was created by a high school student in 2017 and has grown into one of the most engaging educational platforms available. The platform is COPPA-compliant, meaning it meets federal privacy standards for children under 13.

Key features for homeschool families:

• Solo practice mode (no live classroom required)
• Thousands of pre-made Kits covering K-12 subjects
• Custom Kit creation for your specific curriculum
• Cross-device compatibility (laptop, tablet, phone)
• No app download needed—works in any web browser
• Progress tracking and performance analytics
• Multiple game modes to prevent boredom

Gimkit Pricing for Homeschool Parents (2025)

Understanding Gimkit’s pricing structure helps you choose the right plan for your homeschool budget.

Free Account (Gimkit Basic):

• Create up to 3 Kits
• Access to featured game modes (rotates periodically)
• 5-player limit per game
• Basic performance reports
• No credit card required

Gimkit Pro Individual:

• $4.99/month or $59.88/year (saves nearly $20)
• Unlimited Kit creation
• All game modes unlocked
• Unlimited players
• Assignment feature for scheduled practice
• Image and audio uploads
• Advanced analytics
• 14-day free trial for new educator accounts

Group Plans (for co-ops or learning pods):

• Department: $650/year (up to 20 teachers)
• School: $1,000/year (unlimited teachers at one location)

Most homeschool parents find the individual Pro plan sufficient. The free trial lets you test premium features before committing.

Step-by-Step Setup Guide for Parents

Step 1: Create Your Parent Account

Visit gimkit.com/signup and click “Sign Up.” You’ll have two options:

Option A: Sign up with Google

• Click “Continue with Google”
• Select your Google account
• Choose “Educator” as your account type (even as a parent)
• Complete the registration form

Option B: Sign up with Email

• Enter your email address
• Create a strong password
• Select “Educator” account type
• Enter your name
• Check your inbox for a verification email
• Click the verification link to activate

Important: Select “Educator” not “Student” even if you’re a parent. Educator accounts let you create games and track progress. Student accounts can only join games.

New accounts automatically receive a 14-day free trial of Gimkit Pro with full access to premium features.

Step 2: Set Up Your Homeschool “Class”

After logging in, create a class to organize your children:

1. Click “Classes” in the left sidebar
2. Select “Create Class”
3. Name it (examples: “Smith Homeschool,” “Math 5th Grade,” “All Kids”)
4. Choose grade level
5. Click “Create”

Classes help you organize Kits and track each child’s progress separately if you have multiple learners.

Step 3: Add Your Children

You have two options for adding children:

Option A: Student Accounts (Optional)

Children can create their own accounts to earn XP and unlock cosmetic upgrades:

• Go to gimkit.com/signup
• Choose “Student” account type
• Use their email or Google account
• Join your class using the class code you provide

Option B: No Account Needed

Children can play without accounts by:

• Visiting gimkit.com/join
• Entering the game code you provide
• Choosing a display name
• Playing immediately

For homeschool families, Option B is simpler and avoids managing multiple accounts.

Step 4: Find or Create Your First Kit

Using Pre-Made Kits:

Gimkit has thousands of ready-to-use Kits created by teachers:

1. Click “Discover” or “Explore Kits” on your dashboard
2. Search by subject or grade level
3. Browse topics like “5th Grade Math,” “American History,” “Spanish Vocabulary”
4. Click any Kit to preview questions
5. Select “Copy to My Kits” to save it
6. Edit questions if needed to match your curriculum

Creating Custom Kits:

For specific textbook chapters or personalized review:

1. Click “My Kits” then “New Kit”
2. Name your Kit (example: “Chapter 3 Review – Fractions”)
3. Choose your subject
4. Add questions one by one:
   • Type the question
   • Enter the correct answer
   • Add incorrect options for multiple choice
   • Optional: Include images or explanations
5. Save the Kit when complete

Quick Import Methods:

• Import from Quizlet using the Set ID
• Upload questions from a CSV spreadsheet
• Use Questionwell to convert from other platforms

Aim for 15-25 questions per Kit for effective 15-20 minute practice sessions.

Step 5: Launch Your First Game

For Live Play (Parent and Child Together):

1. Open your Kit from “My Kits”
2. Click “Host Live Game
3. Choose a game mode (start with “Classic” or “Team Mode”)
4. Adjust settings:
   • Time limit (10-30 minutes recommended)
   • Starting money ($500 is default)
   • Power-ups enabled or disabled
5. Click “Create Game”
6. Share the join code displayed on screen
7. Child visits gimkit.com/join and enters code
8. Start the game when ready

For Solo Practice (Assignments):

This requires Gimkit Pro but is ideal for independent homeschool work:

1. Open your Kit
2. Click “Assign”
3. Select your class
4. Set a deadline
5. Choose “Solo” mode
6. Click “Assign”
7. Your child logs into their account (or you share the assignment link)
8. They complete it at their own pace

The Assignment feature works like digital homework—kids can start, pause, and return to complete it before the deadline.

Game Modes Explained for Parents

Gimkit offers multiple modes to keep learning fresh:

Classic Mode

• Individual gameplay
• Answer questions to earn money
• Buy upgrades between questions
• Best for: Review and assessment

Team Mode

• Multiple players work together
• Combine scores
• Great for: Siblings or learning pods

Trust No One

• Social deduction game (like Among Us)
• Players identify imposters while answering questions
• Best for: Older kids (10+) who enjoy strategy

Fishtopia

• 2D game where kids catch fish by answering correctly
• Engaging visuals
• Best for: Visual learners and younger children

The Floor is Lava

• Survival game with time pressure
• Answer to stay alive
• Best for: Fast-paced review

Start with Classic for your first few sessions, then experiment with other modes to discover your child’s favorites.

Daily Implementation Tips for Homeschool

Morning Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Use Gimkit as a quick brain activator before formal lessons. Create a Kit reviewing yesterday’s content.

Subject Review (15-20 minutes)

After teaching a concept, assign a Kit for immediate practice. Research shows game-based review improves retention by 42% compared to traditional worksheets.

Friday Fun Review (30 minutes)

End the week with a longer game session covering the week’s topics. Use more engaging modes like Fishtopia or Trust No One as a reward.

Supplement Workbooks

For math, science, or vocabulary workbooks, create Kits matching each chapter. Kids complete the Kit after finishing the workbook section.

Troubleshooting Common Parent Issues

Issue: Child Can’t Join Game

Solutions:

• Verify they’re at gimkit.com/join (not the login page)
• Check the join code for typos
• Ensure stable internet connection
• Try a different browser or device
• Regenerate a new game code from your dashboard

Issue: Game Feels Too Competitive

Solutions:

• Disable power-ups in game settings
• Use Team Mode so everyone wins together
• Turn off leaderboards in settings
• Focus on personal progress rather than scores
• Play cooperatively sitting together

Issue: Child Rushes Through Without Reading

Solutions:

• Enable “Answer Streak” requirement (must get 3+ correct before buying upgrades)
• Add explanations to wrong answers so mistakes become teaching moments
• Use text-input questions instead of multiple choice (requires typing correct answer)
• Reduce time limits to encourage careful reading

Issue: Limited Free Features

Solutions:

• Maximize your 14-day Pro trial by creating multiple Kits
• Share an account with homeschool co-op families to split costs
• Use the free version for occasional review (3 Kits is enough for weekly rotation)
• Focus on featured game modes that rotate into free access

Issue: Managing Multiple Children

Solutions:

• Create separate classes for each child or grade level
• Use Team Mode to have siblings work together
• Assign different Kits simultaneously (Pro required)
• Schedule individual game time for each child
• Review analytics to address each child’s weak areas

Privacy and Safety for Homeschool Families

Gimkit is compliant with COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act), the federal law protecting children under 13 online.

What this means for parents:

• No ads or third-party tracking
• Minimal data collection
• Parent control over student accounts
• Secure data encryption
• No social media integration

Safety tips:

• Children don’t need email addresses to play (can use parent’s account)
• Display names can be first names or nicknames (no last names required)
• Games are private unless you share the code
• You control who can access your Kits

If your child has a student account, you can review all stored information by logging in and visiting Settings > Account Information > Support.

Integrating Gimkit with Curriculum

For Math

Create Kits for:

• Times tables (1x through 12x)
• Fraction operations
• Word problem practice
• Geometry vocabulary
• Algebra equation solving

Pro tip: Use text-input questions for math to require exact answers rather than multiple choice.

For Science

• Vocabulary terms with definitions
• Parts of diagrams (cells, plants, solar system)
• Scientific process steps
• Element symbols and names
• Life cycle stages

Pro tip: Upload images of diagrams and ask students to identify labeled parts.

For Language Arts

• Spelling words from your curriculum
• Vocabulary definitions
• Grammar rules (parts of speech, punctuation)
• Literary terms
• Book comprehension questions

Pro tip: Add audio recordings of spelling words for auditory learners.

For History/Social Studies

• Timeline events and dates
• Historical figures and achievements
• Geography (states, capitals, countries)
• Government structures
• Document excerpts and analysis

Pro tip: Use images of historical documents, maps, or artwork as visual prompts.

For Foreign Language

• Vocabulary translations
• Verb conjugations
• Common phrases
• Grammar rules
• Culture facts

Pro tip: Upload audio pronunciations to help with speaking practice.

Comparing Gimkit to Other Homeschool Tools

Feature	Gimkit	Kahoot	Quizlet	IXL
Solo practice	✓	Limited	✓	✓
Live games	✓	✓	✗	✗
Free option	Limited	Limited	✓	Trial only
Cost (annual)	$59.88	$59.88	$35.99	$129+
Custom content	✓	✓	✓	✗
Game variety	10+ modes	4 modes	Flash cards	Skill practice
Analytics	Detailed	Basic	Limited	Comprehensive
Best for	Engagement	Group play	Memorization	Skill mastery

Gimkit excels at making review engaging for homeschool settings where traditional classroom competition isn’t available.

Real Homeschool Family Example

The Martinez Family (Ohio, 2024):

Sarah Martinez homeschools her three children (ages 8, 11, and 13). She integrated Gimkit into their routine by creating weekly Kits for each subject.

Monday-Thursday: Each child completes one 15-minute Gimkit assignment per subject after lesson time.

Friday: 30-minute family game where siblings team up in Trust No One mode reviewing the week’s content.

Results after 3 months:

• 11-year-old daughter improved multiplication speed by 65%
• 8-year-old son increased spelling retention
• 13-year-old enjoyed history review (previously his least favorite subject)
• Family bonding through educational gameplay

Sarah’s advice: “Start simple with Classic mode. My kids now ask for Gimkit time instead of traditional worksheets. The investment is worth it—we spend less on supplemental workbooks.”

Advanced Features for Experienced Users

KitCollab

Allow children to contribute questions to Kits. This deepens their understanding by requiring them to create quality questions.

How to use:

1. Create a new Kit
2. Enable “KitCollab” mode
3. Share the Kit link with your children
4. Review and approve submitted questions
5. Use the collaborative Kit for family game night

Smart Repetition

Gimkit Pro includes adaptive learning that automatically focuses on questions your child misses most frequently.

Benefits:

• Efficient review of weak areas
• Less time spent on mastered content
• Personalized learning paths
• Data-driven instruction

Image and Audio Integration

Enhance Kits with multimedia for different learning styles:

• Upload diagrams for visual learners
• Add audio pronunciations for language learning
• Include historical photos for context
• Use charts and graphs for data interpretation

Analytics Dashboard

Track detailed performance metrics:

• Accuracy rates per topic
• Time spent per question
• Most missed questions
• Progress over time
• Comparison across children

Use this data to identify specific concepts needing reteaching.

FAQs