How to Explain a Lesson Your Child Didn’t Understand in Class

When Your Child Comes Home Confused

It usually starts with a sigh as they drop their backpack by the door. A half-eaten sandwich is still in their lunchbox. You ask how school went, and they murmur, "Fine." But sometime between dinner and starting homework, you hear it: "I don’t get it. I didn’t understand what we were supposed to do." And you feel that now-familiar wave of concern. You’re not a teacher—but tonight, you have to become one.

You're Not a Teacher, But You Are Their Best Coach

Before you dive into trying to explain fractions or the phases of the moon, take a breath. One of the most powerful things you can offer your child is belief in their ability to get through it. If they froze in class, got lost halfway through the lesson, or even zoned out entirely, they had their reasons. And now they're looking to you with hopeful eyes, wanting help without judgment.

Start with connection, not correction. Ask them to walk you through what they do remember. Say something like, "Pretend I missed class too—what do you remember about what the teacher said?" This isn't just about content. It gives you a glimpse into where their understanding dropped off, and it helps them reconstruct that moment in a safe, low-pressure space.

Re-Teach in Their Language

Once you've scoped out what’s missing, your first goal isn't to repeat the lesson exactly—it's to retell it in their language. Let’s say your child didn’t understand multiplication with regrouping. Rather than jumping into formulas, step into a story. Use counters, draw pictures, or build the problem with blocks. One parent I worked with used cookies to show 3 trays of 4 snacks each. Her son went from confused to delighted (and full!) in under ten minutes.

Different children absorb things differently. Some kids freeze when lessons are repeated in the same way they didn’t understand the first time. If that sounds familiar, you might find this piece helpful: How to Repeat a Concept Without Boring Your Child.

Helping Without Hovering

There's a delicate balance between guiding and overpowering their process. If you find yourself doing all the explaining, pause. Ask questions like, "What part of this seems confusing?" or "What do you think happens next?" Give room for mistakes—they're often the doorways to real understanding.

And remember: some kids get stuck not because the content is too hard, but because something else is going on. Maybe the pace of the classroom doesn’t suit them. Maybe they’re mentally elsewhere. Or maybe (and this is more common than most of us admit) they think that not understanding something makes them not smart—so they shut down entirely. If that touches a nerve, you might appreciate reading Why Children Get Stuck on Seemingly Simple Homework.

Use the Tools That Fit Your Child

Some kids need to hear the explanation. Others need to see it, or experience it, or role-play it. The beauty of learning at home is you’re free to teach the way your child learns best—without twenty other students to wrangle.

For example, if your child is an auditory learner or just prefers stories over worksheets, you can transform tricky lessons into an adventure. Apps like Sculi can turn written material into audio tales where your child becomes the hero, inserting their first name into the journey. A geometry lesson suddenly becomes a treasure hunt through shapes and angles, told as an interactive audio story during the drive to soccer practice.

When You Still Don’t Know the Answer

Sometimes, truthfully, you won’t have a good way to explain the lesson. Maybe it’s been decades since you learned about cellular mitosis, or maybe math just makes your throat tighten. That’s not failure. That’s an opportunity to show your child what it looks like to learn alongside someone—and to model patience with yourself.

Say, "I’m not totally sure either, but let’s learn it together." Look up a kid-friendly video, re-read the textbook, or jot down questions to ask the teacher the next day. And if you're wondering when a missed lesson might be part of a pattern, rather than a bump in the week, read When Should I Worry If My Child Doesn’t Understand Something?

Celebrate the Entrance, Not Just the Exit

Success isn't only in getting the right answer. It's in the trying. The sticking with it. The little glow of pride when your child finally gets it, sure—but also the confidence they’re building when they don’t.

Keep the conversation open. At bedtime, revisit the moment: “I was really proud you didn’t give up on that lesson.” Little comments like this shape how your child sees themselves as a learner.

Final Thought: You’re Doing More Than Teaching

Helping your child understand a lesson they struggled with in class is about more than academics. You’re showing them that being stuck isn’t something to fear. You’re showing them that safe people will show up with explanations, patience, and time. For kids who struggle with focus or attention, especially those with ADHD or other learning differences, that support is even more essential. If you want to understand how focus works at home, take time to explore How to Help a Child with ADHD Focus.

Some days will be harder than others—but every time you take the time to sit beside them, to find a new way in, you're reinforcing their belief that learning isn't about knowing everything—it's about staying in the game.