Play to Grow: Supporting Your Child Through Academic Struggles with Joy

What if play, not pressure, was the real key to progress?

You’re doing everything right—or so you think. You sit beside your child during homework time, repeat instructions patiently, and encourage them with all the warmth you can muster. But still, the math doesn’t stick. The spelling test brings more tears than triumph. And bedtime often comes with the lingering question every loving parent asks: “Am I doing enough?”

Here’s a gentle reminder: your child is not broken. They’re learning in their own way, and your love and involvement already make a world of difference. But sometimes, what they need isn’t another worksheet or one more hour at the table—it might just be play.

Yes, play. Real, meaningful, joy-filled play. Especially for children between the ages of 6 to 12, turning lessons into games isn’t a cute bonus—it can be a transformative strategy.

Play isn’t the opposite of learning—it is learning

There’s a reason even scientists are advocating for playful learning. A child’s brain is wired to absorb through experimentation, laughter, movement, and storytelling. When kids are stressed, their cognitive load increases; their brain, quite literally, gets less efficient at processing information.

Play cuts through that stress. In fact, studies confirm that children learn better when their emotional state is positive. That means a silly math song, a board game version of spelling practice, or a story where they become the main character can open doors traditional methods just can’t.

Curious about the science behind this? Take a look at our article on why children’s brains learn better through play.

Emily and the Treasure Hunt: A true story

One parent I spoke with, Sarah, was on the edge of burnout. Her 8-year-old daughter, Emily, dreaded reading. Every night ended in frustration until Sarah tried something she hadn’t before: turning reading practice into a treasure hunt. She wrote clues that required Emily to read a few lines to find the next one. By the end, Emily had giggled her way through an entire story.

It wasn’t immediate magic. But Sarah’s change in strategy—moving from pressure to play—turned the tide. “The moment I stopped fighting her and started inviting her to have fun,” she told me, “things began to shift.”

We featured similar playful ideas in our guide to creative at-home games that help kids learn.

How to use play authentically—not just as bribery

Not all play is created equal. Telling a child “you’ll get to play after you finish studying” sends the message that learning is a chore and play is the reward.

Instead, weave learning into the fun itself. Here are a few ways:

• Turn review into a game show: Let your child be the host and you the silly contestant. Wrong answers? Cue sound effects and laughter.
• Make stories interactive: If your child struggles with history or science, act out key scenes or invent a skit together.
• Experiment with voices: Reading becomes theater. Assign characters and switch roles—silliness welcome.
• Use their environment: Spot rectangles during car rides. Count sports scores. Learn measurements while baking together.

If your evenings are too tight for creativity, that’s okay. Not every parent has the time or emotional capacity to invent games after a full day. That’s where small, supportive tools can step in. For example, turning your child’s school lesson into a personalized audio adventure—where they are the hero—can turn passive review into a story they’re excited to revisit. Apps like Skuli offer this kind of feature directly from a photo of the lesson. Because sometimes, the right tool can create the magic you wish you had energy to do yourself.

Let go of the struggle—and rediscover joy

Parenting a child with learning difficulties can feel lonely. You worry they’ll fall behind, be misunderstood, or lose confidence. You want to do what’s best—but what does “best” even mean when nothing seems to work?

It may seem counterintuitive, but one of the most powerful things you can do is release the stress and inject joy back into your child’s learning life. The goal isn’t to perfect every homework assignment—it’s to reignite curiosity. To rebuild self-esteem. To show your child that growth is still possible, even if their path looks a little different. That your love isn’t tied to right answers, but to effort, resilience, and wonder.

We've collected more approachable ideas in our article on how to inspire your child to review their lessons with joy.

You don’t need to be your child’s teacher—you already are their guide

The fact that you’re reading this tells me everything I need to know. You care, you’re engaged, and you want what’s best. And even if every strategy hasn’t worked yet, you haven’t stopped trying.

Let play be part of that effort—not as an escape from learning, but as a companion to it. Start small. One fun eight-minute game. One story told in a monster voice. One audio lesson while driving to soccer practice. The progress will come—not in a straight line, but in leaps, laughter, and the safe space you’re creating.

And if you ever need a little help transforming the ordinary into adventure, avoid these common pitfalls that can make even playful learning fall flat.

Play isn’t a distraction. It’s a doorway. And sometimes, your child just needs someone to walk through it with them.