How Often Should Your Child Review What They’ve Learned?

Understanding the Role of Review in Your Child's Learning Journey

You're juggling dinners, dentist appointments, and deadlines—and somewhere in the mix, there's the daily question: “Did you go over your schoolwork today?” If you're parenting a child aged 6 to 12, you've likely faced resistance around reviewing class material. You’re not alone. Many parents wonder how often review should actually happen, especially when their child is already tired, struggling, or just plain uninterested. The answer? Not every day… but more often than most families realize. And how it’s done makes all the difference.

The Forgetting Curve—and Why Timing Matters

There’s a scientific reason your child forgets what they learned in school, even just a few days ago. It’s called the “Forgetting Curve.” Shortly after learning something new, the brain starts losing that information unless it’s reinforced. A basic fact learned on Monday might be half forgotten by Thursday if it’s not revisited.

So how often should kids review? Think of review as exercise for the brain—it’s not just about doing it frequently, but about doing it smartly. You don’t need an hour each night. What you need is a rhythm that makes sense:

• Quick Review Within 24 Hours: Reinforces what was just learned before it starts slipping away.
• Short Sessions Every Few Days: Revisiting material every 2-3 days helps shift it from short-term to long-term memory.
• Weekly Consolidation: Spending 15-20 minutes going over the week’s highlights builds comprehension and confidence.

That might sound like a lot—but if done right, it can be fun, interactive, and even something your child looks forward to. Yes, really.

What Review Actually Looks Like—for Real Kids

Meet Maya, an 8-year-old who loves animals but zones out during math. Her mother, Sara, tried re-reading worksheets with her after dinner, but Maya’s eyes glazed over. Then one day, Maya's spelling words were turned into a story where she was the hero, dodging dragons and solving puzzles using silent letters. Suddenly, she was sitting up straight, excited to practice.

Her mom used an app to turn written lessons into personalized audio adventures—ones where Maya’s name was woven into the narrative. Review didn’t feel like review anymore. It felt like play. (For parents interested, the Sculi App offers this kind of feature in a remarkably intuitive way.)

Why Re-Reading Isn't Enough (and What to Do Instead)

One of the biggest traps parents fall into is asking their child to just re-read notes or worksheets. It feels productive, but often isn't.

Instead, active recall—where your child actually pulls information from memory—is far more powerful. That can happen through:

• Mini quizzes (even just five questions at dinner)
• Teaching the concept to a sibling or stuffed animal
• Playing a memory game about what they learned that day

We explored how to make effective personalized quizzes in another article—which helps bring fun and relevance into review time.

But What If Your Child Hates Reviewing?

First off—you’re not doing anything wrong. Many children resist revision because it feels like the opposite of what they want after school: freedom and relaxation. So framing matters.

Turn reviewing into an everyday moment: go over vocabulary during a walk, have your child listen to an audio version of their lesson during a car ride, or make a game out of flash cards while prepping snacks. If your child learns better through sound, technology can help convert written content into audio. (This comes especially handy with auditory learners or distracted learners.)

And if motivation is a bigger hurdle, you might find helpful insights in our guide on getting your child motivated to study—without nagging or bribing.

Tailoring the Frequency to Your Child’s Needs

No two kids are alike. Some may need to review math daily but can go a week without revisiting science. Others might need extra support because of learning challenges or attention issues. If you've seen signs like sudden frustration with school, forgetfulness, or poor retention, you’re not imagining it. Here’s how to spot the signs your child is struggling—and what steps to take.

As a rough guideline:

• A child who’s confident and thriving may just need review 2–3 times a week.
• A child with learning difficulties might benefit from short, daily touchpoints (10–15 minutes).
• Kids in between can hover around 3–4 days a week, focusing on subjects that challenge them.

Make Review Part of Life—Not the Enemy of It

Just like brushing teeth, reviewing what’s been learned works best when it becomes part of the rhythm of life—not a punishment, not a lecture. One family I spoke to has a 10-minute review tradition in the kitchen while dinner is simmering. Another uses Sunday mornings to re-read stories and practice math facts with pancakes and music in the background.

You don’t have to overhaul your schedule or act like a tutor. Just think small, frequent, personalized, and fun. For more ideas, check out these fun ways to review schoolwork without the stress.

After all, review isn’t just about improvement—it’s about helping your child feel capable, steady, and proud. That’s more important than any grade on a test.