Why Kids Sometimes Learn Better Through Play Than Reading

When reading turns into resistance

You've done everything "right"—the bedtime stories, the weekly library visits, the carefully chosen educational books. And yet, when it's time for your 8-year-old to do their reading homework or study a science lesson, you’re met with heavy sighs and blank stares. You're not alone. For many children, especially those who struggle with attention, language processing, or simply a mismatch between their learning style and the traditional classroom, reading feels more like a chore than a gateway to wonder.

What if learning didn't have to start with a book? What if, instead, it began with a game of pretend, a scavenger hunt, or a challenge where your child is the hero of the story? For some kids, this shift makes all the difference.

Why play taps into deeper learning

When children play, they're not just passing time. Play is a form of deep mental engagement. It requires problem-solving, memory, sequencing, emotional regulation, and—if others are involved—social negotiation. For children aged 6 to 12, play is still a highly effective way to anchor new concepts in their growing brains.

Case in point: imagine trying to teach your child fractions by having them read a dry textbook explanation. Now imagine letting them cut a pizza into different slices and figure out how to share it fairly with their siblings. Which one sticks?

The science: engagement matters more than format

Recent studies in educational psychology have shown that a child's interest and emotional connection to content have a significant impact on memory retention. When children play, especially when the game is personalized or interactive, multiple parts of their brain light up—areas responsible for attention, memory storage, and even empathy. Reading is undeniably important, but if your child’s engagement level drops when confronted with a dense page of text, the information likely won’t stick, regardless of how often they read it.

That's why formats like storytelling, role play, and interactive quizzes are gaining ground in modern learning tools. Some apps even allow you to turn written lessons into audio adventures, where your child becomes the hero of the story. Tools like Skuli do just that, transforming dry school material into exciting, personalized audio stories that can be played during downtime—like in the car or before bed—helping children absorb lessons in a medium that feels more like fun than work.

Why "fun" isn’t the enemy of academic success

As parents, it's natural to worry that play-based learning is too light, too easy, or not "serious" enough to prepare our children for real academic life. But consider this: learning that feels like stress is rarely effective. A child’s brain is far more open to acquiring and retaining knowledge when it believes there’s no failure involved, only exploration.

In fact, many parents are now exploring the educational value of well-designed video games. These aren’t just mindless distractions—they can help build critical thinking, resilience, and subject knowledge. If you’re curious, you might want to read about how video games impact brain development or whether they can even substitute traditional tutoring.

Adapting your expectations and routines

It’s easy to feel frustrated when your child won’t sit still with a workbook or gets bored reading a page of text. But what if we shifted our definition of learning? Does it really matter if your child memorizes the solar system from a textbook—if instead they can name every planet because they went on a space mission as a character in an audio story featuring their own name?

In our home, my 9-year-old daughter couldn't recall much from her science lesson about light. But when we used an app to turn the boring paragraph into an interactive game, where she had to "run through a maze of mirrors" to escape a shadow monster, she not only remembered the principles of light reflection—but excitedly repeated them to her little brother at dinner. That’s learning in action. And it started with play.

Creating a hybrid learning environment

Learning doesn't need to be one or the other. Play can complement reading. Here’s how you can introduce a healthy blend at home:

• Use books as springboards for games. Read a mystery story, then stage your own scavenger hunt.
• Let your child explain a topic to you through role-play. Ask, “Can you teach me this like I’m a kindergartener?”
• Transform lessons into audio for car rides or bedtime listening, especially if your child processes better by hearing than reading.
• Engage with apps that let your child learn through interaction, not just passively consuming text.

Reframing success—for your child and yourself

Maybe what your child needs isn't to "read more" but to explore differently. Maybe what you need is permission to step off the rigid path of worksheets and sight-word checklists, and instead observe how your child lights up when they’re immersed in a game or story where they feel like they belong.

The good news? You don’t have to abandon books. But you may find that play—or tools that build play into learning—will help your child not just keep up at school, but rediscover the joy of learning again. And along the way, you might find your evenings are a little less stressful too.