Homework used to be a daily battle in my house. The moment my 6-year-old daughter saw her books, she would groan, slump onto the table, and suddenly become sooo thirsty or too tired to focus. Every assignment felt like a struggle, and I hated constantly nagging her just to complete a simple worksheet. That’s when I realized I needed to change my approach. Making homework fun became my goal instead of treating it like a chore. I decided to make it something she would actually want to do.
So, I started to turning it into a game. 💡
Here are some of my favorite tricks that have actually worked—and maybe they’ll help your little one, too.
🗣️ Our Very Own Homework Quiz Show
One of the best ways I’ve made homework exciting is by turning it into a quiz show. I grab a whiteboard, a buzzer (sometimes just a spoon and a pan for sound effects!), and pretend to be a game show host.
I ask my daughter her math problems, and she gets points for each correct answer.
We do “lightning rounds” where she has to answer quickly for bonus points.
Sometimes, I let her be the host and quiz me—she loves catching me making silly mistakes!
This little trick turns boring worksheets into a competitive (but fun) game, and she doesn’t even realize she’s learning.
📱 Using Educational Apps & Online Games
I’ll admit, screen time used to be my enemy. But I’ve found some educational apps that actually make homework easier and more enjoyable for my daughter. We love:
Kahoot! (a trivia-style game where we create our own quizzes)
Prodigy (a math adventure game)
Duolingo (great for learning new words and languages)
I let her “level up” her skills just like she would in a video game. The best part? She’s excited to practice math and reading without any complaints!
🪙 Homework Treasure Hunts
One day, I decided to hide her homework questions around the house, turning it into a treasure hunt. I wrote out math problems on sticky notes, hid them under the table, behind the couch, and in her toy box.
She had to find and solve all of them to win a “treasure” (which was just a sticker or a small treat).
It got her moving, thinking, and actually excited to do her work!
Now, she begs me to do “homework hunts” whenever she has a new worksheet.
👩🏻🏫 Letting My Daughter Be the Teacher
Instead of always being the one to explain things, I let my daughter become the teacher.
I hand her a mini whiteboard and let her “teach” me the lesson.
I purposely get answers wrong so she can correct me (which makes her laugh and helps reinforce what she’s learning).
Sometimes, we set up a “classroom” with her stuffed animals as her students.
When she teaches me, I can see that she really understands the material. Plus, it’s way more fun for her than just sitting and listening!
🎲 Turning Board Games into Learning Time
I love board games, so I decided to tweak a few classics to make them educational. For example:
We play Snakes and Ladders, but before moving forward, she has to answer a math question.
I make flashcards with sight words, and we use them in Go Fish or Memory Match.
We even make up our own board games using cardboard and markers!
It’s amazing how something as simple as a game can make learning so much more enjoyable.
⏲️ “Beat the Clock” Challenges
My daughter loves a good race, so I use a timer to make homework feel like a challenge instead of a task.
I set a countdown on my phone and tell her, “Let’s see if you can finish this before the timer runs out!”
If she beats her old record, she gets a high-five (and sometimes, extra playtime).
Adding dramatic sound effects makes it even more exciting!
This little trick has turned her usual procrastination into motivation.
🥇 Reward Systems That Actually Work
I started using a simple point system to make homework more rewarding.
Each completed task earns her points that she can “cash in” for fun things like extra bedtime stories or choosing the family movie.
I even made little achievement badges like “Math Master” and “Reading Rockstar.”
She loves collecting them, and it keeps her motivated without relying on candy or toys.
Making Homework Fun: My Final Thoughts
Making homework fun is a total game-changer. By adding a little creativity and fun, my kids stay engaged, develop a positive attitude toward learning, and even ask for more challenges! It helps them understand that homework doesn’t have to be a boring task—it can be an opportunity to learn and grow while having fun.
If your child dreads homework like mine used to, try adding play to learning. You might just be surprised at how much fun it can be!
Have you tried any of these tricks to make homework fun? I’d love to hear how you turn learning into a game in your household! 😊
