Turning Play Into Learning: A Fun Technique to Teach Kids Academic Subjects
As a parent, one of the biggest challenges I face is making my 7-year-old daughter, Anjali, sit down to study her academic subjects. Preparing for exams often felt like a running race—last-minute revisions, stress, and resistance from her to focus. Like many kids her age, she found it boring to learn lessons right after they were taught in school, and long study sessions were never exciting.
But recently, I discovered a new technique that transformed our study routine completely. By blending her playtime with learning, I managed to make studying both fun and effective. Here’s how it worked for us, and why I believe it can help many young parents.
The Struggle of Making Kids Study
If you’re a parent of a school-going child, you probably know how tricky it can be to keep them engaged with academics. Kids at this age prefer games, toys, and creative activities over sitting at a desk for hours. For Anjali, studying felt like a task rather than an enjoyable process, which made exam preparation stressful for both of us.
The Breakthrough Idea
Anjali owns a green writing board with a stand (like a mini easel). She often played with it, pretending to be a teacher in her own little classroom. Her Peppa Pig doll was the “student,” and she even kept a small school bag and water bottle to make it look real.
Watching her, I suddenly got an idea—why not combine this pretend-play with her studies?
I told her:
She could read out a question and its answer to her “student.”
Then, using Peppa’s voice, she should repeat the answer five times.
She instantly loved the concept and started doing it with great enthusiasm. For her, it was no longer “studying,” but playing a fun game of school.
The Importance of Writing Practice
While oral learning was fun, I knew it wasn’t enough. Kids need to practice writing so that knowledge stays in their subconscious mind. So, once she was comfortable with the answers, I introduced the second step:
Write down the difficult words from her answers on the board.
Read those words aloud to her “students.”
This simple twist made writing practice enjoyable for her. Instead of writing reluctantly in a notebook, she was eager to write on the board because it was part of her game.
Using Phonics for Spelling
To make spelling easier, I guided her with phonetics—breaking words into sounds. For example, instead of trying to remember the whole spelling at once, she would write it sound by sound. This not only improved her spellings but also boosted her confidence.
Why This Technique Works
Transforms study into play – Kids don’t feel pressured to learn.
Encourages active recall – Repeating answers reinforces memory.
Strengthens writing skills – Practicing difficult words in a fun way.
Boosts creativity and confidence – Children enjoy being “teachers” to their dolls.
A Happy Parenting Win
This method has truly changed the way Anjali learns. Instead of endless reminders and last-minute stress, study sessions are now filled with laughter, role-play, and real learning. I felt so happy to discover this technique, and I believe it can help many other parents facing the same challenge.
If you find this idea useful, do try it with your child. And if it works for you, don’t forget to share it with other parents—it might just make their study time joyful too!
