Some children pop out of the womb eager to recite the alphabet, while others would rather eat a crayon than pick up a book. If your child falls into the second category, you’re not alone—and no, you’re not failing as a parent.
In fact, making learning enjoyable for kids who find it tough might be the parenting superpower you never knew you needed.
Let’s look at how to bring a little joy—and maybe a bit less drama—to learning time.
Reimagine What Learning Looks Like
There’s a persistent rumour that learning must involve sitting at a tidy desk, using freshly sharpened pencils, and maintaining total silence. That rumour is absolute twaddle.
Learning happens everywhere: in the garden, the supermarket, even in the car when you’re stuck in traffic.
Think of everyday activities as mini-lessons. Measuring ingredients while baking, sorting socks by colour, or counting red cars on the way to school all sneak in literacy and maths skills.
Children who struggle in the classroom often come alive when learning feels practical and physical.
Lean Into Movement
Some kids’ brains switch off the moment their bottoms hit a chair. If your child can’t sit still, why not make movement part of the lesson?
Try spelling words by jumping from letter to letter chalked on the driveway. Maths facts become more memorable when you hopscotch out the answers.
Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that physical activity improves focus and cognitive function. If anyone asks why your child is galloping around the living room, just tell them it’s science.
Let Curiosity Take the Lead
Prying a child away from their current obsession is a bit like taking a bone from a bulldog. Instead, use their passions as an entry point.
Dinosaurs? Build a volcano and count how many toy dinos escape the lava. Football-mad? Set up spelling challenges with their favourite players’ names.
Children engage best when learning feels relevant to their world—even if that world is entirely made of Minecraft blocks.
Game On
Board games and card games aren’t just for Sunday afternoons when the wi-fi goes down. They’re secret weapons for learning.
Games like Uno, Scrabble, and even classic Snakes and Ladders teach maths, reading, problem-solving and—crucially—how to lose with grace. (Or at least how not to flip the board into the next postal code.)
There are also tons of educational apps that turn reading, spelling, and maths into playtime. Apps such as Reading Eggs and Prodigy Math Game mix colourful graphics and silly challenges to keep kids hooked.
Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself sneaking in a few rounds after bedtime.
Make It Social
Many struggling learners just need a little more encouragement from peers. Try creating a mini book club with a couple of friends or cousins, or let siblings team up for a science experiment (yes, volcanoes in the kitchen count).
Group projects don’t need to be elaborate. A scavenger hunt with clues based on spelling words or maths problems can get everyone giggling—and learning, almost by accident.
Praise Effort, Not Perfection
Children who find learning hard often get used to hearing what they’ve done wrong. Flip the script. Celebrate persistence, resilience, and progress—no matter how small.
If your child writes “cat” when the word was “hat,” notice the effort, the CVC word structure, the neat handwriting—anything you can find.
According to Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck’s research, praising effort over achievement helps children develop a growth mindset. That’s psych jargon for “My brain gets better when I practise.”
Break It Down—Way Down
Struggling learners can feel overwhelmed by big tasks. Chop up challenges into smaller, bite-sized pieces.
If the assignment is to write a paragraph, start with a single sentence.
Reading a chapter book? Try one page (or one paragraph) at a time. Celebrate the finish of each little section. A sticker chart, silly dance, or even a “Mum’s Special High Five” can work wonders.
Read, Read, and Read Some More—But Make It Fun
Reading is the gateway skill, but forcing a child through dry, difficult books rarely inspires a love of stories. Choose books that make your child laugh—yes, even if it’s the same one about a flatulent dinosaur, every single night.
Audiobooks can be a game-changer. Hearing stories read by enthusiastic narrators helps struggling readers develop comprehension and vocabulary, all while giving frazzled parents a break.
The UK’s BookTrust provides free online storybooks and games, and your local library likely has a treasure trove of audiobooks for free.
Let Them Teach You
Children love to play grown-up. When your child explains how to solve a maths problem or “reads” a story to you (even if it’s mostly improvisation), those skills stick better.
Teaching someone else is the fastest way to reinforce learning.
Ask questions about how they figured out an answer or why they chose a particular word. Don’t worry about being confused—it’s all part of the show.
Don’t Be Afraid to Get Silly
Laughter lowers stress and makes tricky things less intimidating. Invent silly songs to remember spelling rules, act out stories with sock puppets, wear a mad scientist wig for science day.
The more you join the fun, the more your child learns to associate learning with positive feelings.
If your neighbours hear you belting out the times tables to the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” just tell them it’s cutting-edge pedagogy.
Technology That’s Actually Useful
Screen time gets a bad rap—and sometimes rightly so, when YouTube’s algorithm has taught your child to say “hit that subscribe button” before they’ve mastered the alphabet. But the right tech can turn learning into a treat.
Voice assistants like Alexa or Google Home can quiz your child on maths facts. Educational YouTube channels such as Numberblocks or Crash Course Kids offer bite-sized lessons designed for short attention spans.
Set limits, but don’t be afraid to embrace technology if it keeps your child engaged.
Routine, but Make It Flexible
Predictability helps struggling learners feel safe. A set learning time each day (even just ten minutes) can work wonders. But don’t go down with the ship if today’s session is a total flop.
Switch gears, have a snack, come back later—or not at all.
Consistency helps knowledge stick, but flexibility keeps the peace.
Watch for Hidden Struggles
Sometimes, learning is tough for reasons that have nothing to do with motivation.
If your child still finds reading or maths painful after all your inventive efforts, consider asking a teacher or GP about possible learning differences, like dyslexia or ADHD. Early support makes a world of difference.
You’re not looking for a label, just a little insight and maybe a new toolkit.
Nourish the Relationship, Not Just the Brain
At the end of the day, your child’s confidence comes from feeling loved and understood, not from acing a spelling test. If learning time turns everyone into grumpy ogres, drop the books and go build a pillow fort together.
Children remember how you made them feel—especially when they’re feeling stuck. Celebrate the wins, shrug off the flops, and remind your child (and yourself) that there are many ways to be smart.
Finding the Fun Again
Learning shouldn’t feel like a root canal for anyone involved. For struggling kids, fun is the secret ingredient that helps lessons stick and confidence bloom.
Try a little movement, add some silliness, keep expectations realistic, and don’t be afraid to switch things up. You may just find that the giggles and “aha!” moments start to outnumber the groans.
And if all else fails, there’s always chocolate.
