How to Nurture a Love of Learning Outside of School

The Hidden Power of Learning Beyond the Classroom

If you're reading this, you're probably a parent who's been watching your child struggle with school. Maybe homework has become a nightly battleground, or perhaps your child shows little curiosity, complaining that school is boring or too hard. You're exhausted, not because you don't care, but because you care so deeply—and nothing seems to work.

What if you could help your child rediscover the joy of learning—not through more worksheets or stricter routines, but through engaging, everyday experiences? Learning doesn’t have to stop when the school bell rings. In fact, some of the most powerful, lasting learning happens outside of school, when children feel safe, curious, and free to explore in ways that suit them.

Learning Through the Eyes of Your Child

Children don’t naturally hate learning. Quite the opposite. Left to their own devices, they ask a million questions, tinker with objects, spin stories, and experiment with the world around them. The issue, for many kids aged 6 to 12, is that the way school frames learning doesn’t always match how they process the world—especially for those with learning difficulties or attention challenges.

One mom told me about her 9-year-old son, Jake. Bright-eyed and imaginative at home, Jake turned listless during math worksheets. When she noticed his passion for comic books, she started making simple math puzzles based on superheroes and villains. Jake lit up. He was solving problems featuring characters he loved—without even realizing he was doing math.

This is the secret: when learning connects to personal interest, the brain engages. And when kids feel successful and seen, they start building confidence—which is the foundation for long-term motivation.

Turn Daily Life Into Learning Opportunities

Home can be a rich learning environment, especially when we stop thinking of learning as only academic. Cooking together touches on math (fractions, measurements), science (mixing ingredients, rising dough), and literacy (reading a recipe). A walk in the park becomes a lesson in biology. A debate about screen time turns into an opportunity to practice persuasive writing and critical thinking.

Start small. You don’t need elaborate projects—just moments of shared curiosity:

• Ask your child to help plan the weekend grocery list—decide on a food budget, calculate prices per kilo, and make choices together.
• Encourage your child to invent a game, complete with rules and a scoreboard. Let them teach it to the whole family.
• Watch documentaries together and pause frequently for questions. Let their questions lead the way.

It’s this kind of active learning that reinforces classroom content in a more personal, memorable way—especially for kids who struggle with traditional instruction.

Let Go of Pressure, Build on Strengths

When a child falls behind at school, our instinct as parents is often to “catch up” with more drills or practice. But this can backfire if the child already associates learning with failure. We want to keep the bar high—but approachable. Let’s help them access their personal strengths: creativity, music, humor, storytelling, hands-on projects.

For example, if your child enjoys listening more than reading, try transforming one of their lessons into an audio they can take on the go. This small shift could make a huge difference during car rides or quiet time. With tools like the Skuli App, you can easily turn written assignments into personalized audio stories—where your child is the hero. Suddenly, a history lesson on ancient Egypt becomes an adventure featuring them.

Embed Learning in Routines That Feel Safe

Sometimes, school stress spills over into home routines and makes the entire day feel heavy. That’s why embedding learning moments into everyday rituals—without making it feel like another task—can be so powerful. For instance, bedtime stories can include fun trivia from what they learned that day, or you can build a quick “fact of the day” moment into dinner conversation.

If your child is falling behind academically, remember that the answer often isn’t more schoolwork. It’s helping them connect emotionally to what they’re learning. You’ll find helpful insight in our article What to Do if Your Child is Falling Behind.

Another simple but powerful strategy involves revisiting the day’s material in a cozy, low-pressure way at night. This evening ritual can help close the loop on learning and allow the child’s brain to process it during sleep.

Joy First, Progress Later

Your child might not become a straight-A student overnight. That’s okay. What matters more is helping them rebuild a positive relationship with learning—fueled by curiosity, play, and self-confidence. When we prioritize joy and connection, academic growth will follow in time.

If you're unsure where to begin, try asking your child what they loved learning recently—not necessarily at school. Their answer might surprise you. Build from there.

And if you're looking to establish better routines, don’t miss our guide on creating a positive homework routine. You’ll find it’s less about control and more about cultivating a calm, encouraging atmosphere.

You have everything you need to help your child fall in love with learning again—you just don’t have to do it the way school does. Home is the heart of learning that lasts.