Can Video Games Help Your Child Review Their Lessons?

Rethinking Screen Time: Can Games Be More Than Just a Distraction?

You've likely had this internal debate before: "Should I limit video games altogether, or can I somehow use them to help with homework?" If your evenings look a bit like mine used to—battles over math sheets, a child zoning out by question five, and everyone exhausted by bedtime—then you know how difficult it can be to make learning less of a fight.

But what if that same device your child begs to game on could assist them in remembering their multiplication tables, understanding grammar, or even staying engaged during tricky revision sessions?

Understanding the Learning Potential Behind the Joystick

We often view video games as the enemy of study time, a guilty pleasure that steals hours from more "serious" tasks. But the science emerging over the past decade paints a more nuanced picture. Certain games—particularly those with puzzles, strategy, or storytelling—can improve attention span, memory, and problem-solving skills.

For example, games that require players to manage resources, remember sequences, or make quick decisions can actually support the kinds of executive functions needed for schoolwork. This article goes into more depth on the cognitive benefits video games can offer.

Even more striking is how the immersive nature of games can boost intrinsic motivation. Children don’t just passively listen—they interact, they choose, they explore. These are the very ingredients missing from many traditional revision sessions.

Turning Games Into Learning: Practical Ways to Make It Work

I’ll admit, not all games are created equal. A fast-paced shooter or an endless runners game usually won't help your child study their geography facts. But games specifically designed for learning—or even non-educational games with open-ended mechanics—can be powerful tools if we’re intentional.

Here are a few stories and strategies from real parents I’ve worked with:

1. The Quiz Challenge: A mom I spoke to, Chloe, was struggling to help her 10-year-old revise for history tests. They tried flashcards, worksheets—nothing stuck. One evening, she snapped a photo of his lesson summary and, using a tool that transformed it into a 20-question quiz, turned review time into a game show-style competition—even timing each question. Something clicked. Her son was suddenly asking, "Can we do another round tomorrow?" (By the way, this feature is available in the Skuli App, along with a few others that help turn lessons into play.)

2. Turn-Based Learning: Another parent, Joel, alternates activities: 20 minutes of Minecraft, followed by 15 minutes of homework questions tucked into a scavenger hunt. He recreates some of the lesson’s theme inside the game—once building a medieval castle to discuss feudalism. This blend of playful learning and curriculum content helped his 9-year-old son retain concepts much, much longer. You can read more about this kind of approach in this breakdown of playful vs. passive gaming.

What Makes a Game Educational?

Sometimes it’s obvious—a spelling game, a math drill disguised as an adventure. But sometimes the lines blur. How do you decide what’s genuinely helpful and what’s just a distraction in disguise?

It might help to look at three factors:

• Does it adapt to your child? Games that respond to their answers and level offer better engagement than one-size-fits-all content.
• Is there a challenge? Games need some stretching—your child shouldn’t breeze through without thinking. But frustration shouldn’t be constant, either.
• Does your child create or explore? Building, choosing paths, experimenting—these are signs of active engagement, closely linked to deeper learning.

To find games that balance these elements, this curated list is a great resource: Top educational games that still engage kids.

Using Screens Without Guilt: Finding the Balance

We’ve all asked ourselves: Do video games really take time away from learning? It’s a valid concern, especially when screen time stretches into hours. But not all screen time is created equal. It’s helpful to think in terms of purpose rather than minutes.

If your child plays an adventure where they solve language riddles or follow scientific clues, and they come away knowing more than they did before, that wasn’t wasted time—it was learning through a new format. If this feels like a breakthrough, this reflection piece might speak to you.

There’s also room for variety. Maybe one day your child listens to their lesson transformed into an audio adventure where they’re the main character—great for car rides or winding down before bed. Other times, they might take a picture of their notes and turn them into a quiz show. The point is not to game instead of learning, but to game as learning.

You’re Not Alone—And You’re Doing Your Best

If you’ve read this far, you’re clearly a thoughtful, engaged parent who doesn’t want to just “get homework done,” but to help your child love learning—even if it's just a little more than they do right now.

Video games won’t be the magic solution for every child. But in the right context, with the right tools, they can absolutely be part of your child’s learning journey. Don’t be afraid to invite your child into this conversation. Ask what they’d find fun. Try different formats. See what sparks their interest.

And remember: playful learning is still learning. Sometimes, it’s just the kind our kids need the most.

Curious about the intersection of games and literacy? You might like this deeper dive on how gaming and reading can complement each other.