What Routine Should I Create to Help With After-School Review

After-school doesn’t have to mean after-battle

You've just picked your child up. They're tired. You’re tired. The afternoon stretches ahead with a list of to-dos: snacks, dinner prep, maybe soccer practice, and yes—homework. Review. Revision. Even the words feel heavy some days.

But what if the after-school hours weren’t a tug-of-war? What if you could build a routine that supports your child’s learning without turning your home into a second classroom? For many parents of kids aged 6 to 12—especially those with learning difficulties or school-related stress—that’s not just a dream. It’s a lifeline.

Start with emotional decompression, not academics

Before jumping into reviewing multiplication facts or spelling words, give your child space to land. School can be mentally, physically, and emotionally draining, especially for kids who find it challenging.

Think about it this way: would you want someone handing you a spreadsheet right after a tough meeting? Kids need a buffer, too.

In our home, we call it “quiet snack time.” Ten to fifteen minutes right after coming in—no screens, no expectations. Just food, maybe gentle music, and a little calm. Some parents use this time for a walk around the block or a casual chat about their child’s day. This isn’t wasted time; it’s setting the stage for focus.

Find the sweet spot for review time

Every child has a different energy arc after school. Some kids are surprisingly ready to jump back into learning after a break. Others need a longer decompression period. Observe your child over a few days. Are they more cooperative before dinner or after? Do they concentrate better before or after a physical activity?

Once you find their natural focus window, designate it as your “review zone.” Just a consistent 20 to 30-minute block—not too long, not too short. Keep it sacred but flexible. If your child knows this time is coming daily, it’ll be met with less resistance over time.

Make review feel doable, not daunting

Let’s be honest: kids don’t want to replay the parts of the day that felt hard, especially if the lesson was confusing. Instead of going through entire worksheets again, focus on one or two key ideas from the day. And make it interactive.

For example, if your child struggled with identifying the main idea in a story, don’t rehash the same reading passage. Try asking them what the main idea is in something they watched or did today (their favorite cartoon or a soccer game). Link it to what they love—that’s where real memory sticks.

And for lessons your child simply didn’t understand at all, remember: you’re not alone. These moments are common and addressable. This article on what to do if your child doesn’t understand the lesson can help you approach that frustration with empathy and strategy.

Let them lead, just a little

One of the most transformative shifts for after-school review is letting your child take micro-leadership. Instead of, “Let’s study your math facts,” try, “What’s one thing from school today that felt tricky or interesting? Want to figure it out together?” That small change puts them in the driver's seat.

If your child learns better by listening than seeing—a common trait among kids with ADHD or auditory strengths—you can turn textbook lessons into audio. The Skuli App even lets you upload a photo of a lesson and turn it into an engaging audio story where your child becomes the hero. Hearing their own name inside the story? Suddenly, review time feels like adventure time.

Routine doesn’t mean rigidity

A strong routine rests more on rhythm than on the clock. Life will throw curveballs—doctor appointments, spills, unexpected meltdowns. That’s okay. When your routine has predictable touchpoints but enough wiggle room, you won’t feel like a failure on the chaotic days. And neither will your child.

Our family’s review routine looks like this most evenings:

• Snack and unwind (15 minutes)
• Talk about the day with curiosity (“What was the most unexpected thing today?”)
• Choose one idea to review (we often do it on the floor with markers—it feels less formal)
• Wrap with encouragement (“You showed a lot of grit today”) and move on—dinner, play, rest

Want help not crossing the line into doing the work for them? Read more on supporting your child without stepping in too far.

Review in disguise: small habits that spark big results

Sometimes the best review doesn’t look like studying at all. Practicing math by measuring ingredients while baking. Reviewing vocabulary by playing word association games in the car. Identifying patterns and numbers during a board game. The learning clicks because it lives outside the workbook.

Speaking of the car, if your child finds it hard sitting at a desk again, consider incorporating learning into your drive time. Audio formats help maximize “in-between” moments and can be especially effective for neurodivergent learners who struggle with traditional methods. It keeps things light, but productive.

For more ideas on creative, screen-free learning options, this post on non-screen learning tools is a great resource.

What truly makes a routine stick

Consistency wins over perfection. Relationship over rigor. Your child learns not just from worksheets but from how you approach the process—with calm, humor, and respect. When reviewing after school becomes a shared ritual rather than a struggle, something more than grades improves: confidence, competence, and connection.

Each family will shape their routine a little differently. That’s okay. Your home doesn’t have to mirror a blueprint—it only has to work for your people. If nothing else, let each review session end with this unspoken message: "I see your effort, and I’m proud of how hard you're trying." Because that is the lesson they’ll carry longest of all.