What Habits Can Help Improve Your Child's Academic Understanding?

Understanding Starts at Home

Imagine this: It's Tuesday evening, you're finally sitting down after a long day of work, and your 9-year-old is slumped at the kitchen table, blinking at a page of math problems like it's written in Martian. You've said, "Just try your best," why—isn't—that—working?

If this scene feels all too familiar, you’re not alone. Many parents of children between 6 and 12 find themselves in this nightly struggle. The challenge isn't just in getting homework done—it's in helping your child understand what's in front of them. And sometimes, the right habits can make all the difference.

The Habit of Reflection: Start with "What Did You Learn Today?"

We often ask, "How was school?" and receive a monosyllabic "Fine" in return. But what if, instead, you asked, "What’s one thing you understood better today than yesterday?" Shifting to a reflective question encourages your child to mentally revisit and organize what they learned.

This simple change creates a routine of thinking about learning, not just surviving the school day. Over time, this practice builds metacognition—the ability to think about one's own thinking—one of the strongest predictors of academic success.

Make Learning Multi-Sensory, Not Just Silent and Still

Not all children learn best from reading in silence. For your visual or auditory learner, sitting with a workbook may feel like torture. That's why making learning dynamic and multi-sensory can deepen comprehension.

For example, one parent I spoke with started turning spelling lists into rhythmic chants during their evening walks. Another began drawing mind maps with their daughter to visually connect history events. If your child learns better through sound, consider turning their lessons into audio form—something easily done during car rides or quiet time, especially with tools that convert written texts into narrated formats personalized for your child’s learning style.

If you’re unsure of your child's learning style, this article on helping visual learners thrive is a helpful starting point.

Repeat, Don’t Cram: The Science of Spaced Learning

We tend to expect kids to grasp a concept after one lesson or homework page—but that’s not how memory works. Neuroscience shows that repetition over time—especially when spaced by a day or two—does more to cement understanding than a marathon session.

One evening, your child reviews a subject. The next day, they quiz themselves on it. By the weekend, they revisit it again. Each loop builds stronger recall and deeper comprehension. This is why I love tools that let kids quickly generate questions from their own class materials. One mom I know snapped a photo of her daughter’s geography notes and turned it into a custom 20-question quiz using an app like Skuli—effortlessly mixing reinforcement with fun.

Personalize the Lesson: Put Your Child in the Story

Have you ever noticed how well your child remembers their favorite TV show’s plot—but forgets what a pronoun is? That’s because stories are the brain’s favorite way to process information. If you can wrap a lesson in narrative—or better yet, make your child the main character—suddenly that dry concept might start to stick.

Try asking your child to explain what they learned today as if they were a detective solving a mystery or a secret agent receiving a mission. Better yet, explore resources designed to build stories around educational content. Some even personalize the story by including your child's first name and interests—tiny details that make a huge difference in engagement and retention.

Not sure where to begin? Our guide on using stories to teach lessons walks you through a few simple ways to get started.

Develop Consistent (but Flexible) Study Rituals

Research shows that children thrive on routine, but real life rarely allows for strict scheduling. The key is consistency with flexibility. Instead of “homework must start at 4 p.m. sharp,” aim for a rhythm: snack, downtime, then study. Rituals don’t have to look like timetables—they can feel like shared understanding.

Set up a “magic minute” where your child chooses a study snack or lights a peppermint candle (which has been shown to help focus for some). Create an environment associated with learning—a corner of the room, a specific tablecloth, a favorite pencil. These signals help the brain switch into “learning mode.”

Just don’t fall into the trap of doing the work for them. Our breakdown of common homework mistakes can help you walk that line.

Empathy Before Strategy

Before you even think about which habit to introduce, pause and check in on your child emotionally. When kids struggle to understand, it isn’t always about effort—it’s often a sign of overwhelm, anxiety, or fear of failure.

One father I worked with shared how his son used to burst into tears over math. Instead of doubling down on drills, they started ending each session with something he already felt confident in—reviewing an older topic, telling a joke, or sharing one thing he enjoyed about school that day. It restored a sense of control and safety. For more on this topic, see our guide on motivating discouraged kids.

Little Shifts, Big Difference

Your child doesn't need you to be a tutor, a genius, or a super-parent—they need someone who listens, adjusts, and shows up consistently. Whether it’s through reflective questions at dinner, turning lessons into playful stories, or using a tool like the Skuli App to quickly transform notes into a review game or hero story, the goal is always the same: help your child understand—not just memorize.

Understanding takes time, empathy, and repetition. But with the right habits, even those long, groaning evenings at the kitchen table can gradually become moments of growth. And maybe even joy.