10-Year-Old Struggling at School: How to Help Them Organize Their Study Time

Your child is bright — so why are school revisions so hard?

If you're reading this, you're probably watching your 10-year-old child struggle to get through homework, revision sessions, and school preparation without tears — theirs or yours. Maybe you’re wondering if it’s laziness, a lack of focus, or something deeper. It’s not always easy to tell. But one thing is usually true: kids rarely struggle alone. They carry the weight home, and parents carry it with them.

At this age, kids are expected to take on more responsibility — to plan reviews, juggle various subjects, keep up with assignments. But executive functioning skills (like prioritizing, organizing, or managing time) are still developing. For a child with school-related stress or learning difficulties, even opening the notebook to start revising can feel impossible.

The hidden struggle behind "just revise your lesson"

We often assume kids know how to revise. You might say, "Sit down and go over your lesson," only to discover they have no idea where to begin. Does that mean reading the entire textbook again? Copying notes? Memorizing word-for-word?

One parent I spoke with told me how her daughter would spend hours "reviewing"—only to realize later she hadn't understood a thing. Her method? Rewriting her notes over and over, hoping it would click. It didn’t. What clicked finally was a shift in how they reviewed: shorter, focused sessions, active methods, and most importantly, a sense of progress.

Start with structure, not pressure

Your child isn’t lazy — they’re likely overwhelmed. Introducing a light structure can make reviewing feel human again. Rather than pushing from above, try sitting beside them (literally or metaphorically) as a team.

Here are quiet ways you can support structure without turning into the revision police:

• Chunk the information. Ten-year-olds manage best when lessons are broken into short, manageable bites. “We’re just reviewing this one concept today” is less threatening than “Let’s do all of Chapter 3.”
• Use their rhythm. Some children think better in the morning; others come alive after dinner. Respect their natural rhythm when you schedule revision time.
• Alternate learning methods. Reading isn’t the only gateway. Some kids retain information better through listening. Try recording the lesson or using tools that turn written content into audio — even adventures, when possible.

The joy of reclaiming agency: give them tools, not orders

Children who struggle academically often feel helpless. When they begin to organize their own study time — even in small steps — the sense of control can be transformative. One father told me how his son began to flourish once he had a clear, repeatable method for self-testing after reading a lesson. "He wasn't just reading anymore — he was checking if he got it. That changed everything."

If your child resonates more with listening than reading, you might turn their written lessons into audio files they can play during downtime — in the car, before sleep, during a walk. Some tools go even further by turning a photo of a lesson into a 20-question quiz — or even into a personalized audio adventure, starring your child as the hero. Skuli, for instance, offers this sort of interactive, immersive experience — and using your child’s name in a story makes it feel intimate and motivating rather than academic and dry.

Rituals make learning feel safer

Children struggling in school often dread the unpredictability of what's coming next. Creating small rituals around review time — light a candle, put on the same music, work at the same time — gives the brain a signal: you are safe, you're supported, and you're not alone.

One mom I spoke to created a "review tray" with snacks, post-its, colored pens. They’d sit together for 20 minutes at the same hour every day. “It felt like tea time, not school,” she said. The act of showing up like that, again and again, eventually lowered her child’s resistance to the work. Sometimes, what matters more than the content is the quality of the moment around it.

Better to go slow than to go wrong

If revision turns into a battleground every night, take a step back. Consistent, small actions lead to real changes. Pick one subject, once a week, and focus on growing your child’s confidence — not testing their capacity. Progress in one area often spills gently into others.

You might also want to explore whether your child needs professional support. If motivation remains low despite your best efforts, outside help could provide new paths forward. Here's a helpful read on knowing when it’s time to consider outside help.

Your love is the biggest support tool of all

At the end of the day, your child doesn’t just need a better memory or sharper logic—they need to believe they are capable, safe, and not alone. That belief is something you can offer daily, even in the smallest actions.

And if you worry that you're not doing enough, let me gently offer this: the fact that you're here, reading this, asking questions — that matters more than any school result. You're already making a difference.

If you’re still looking for practical strategies to develop your child’s independence, check out our article on tools to build academic independence at age 10. And for moments when your child freezes in front of a teacher or resists getting help, it might help to understand why some 10-year-olds are afraid to ask questions in class.

You're not alone on this road — and neither is your child.