How can I make school feel exciting and useful for my child? 

Parenting Perspective 

Linking School Topics to Real-Life Experiences 

Children are naturally curious, but when school feels disconnected from real life, that curiosity can fade. To reignite their enthusiasm, help them see the relevance of what they learn. For instance, use real-life moments to link school topics with everyday experiences. Show how mathematics helps when adjusting a recipe, how geography explains where their relatives live, or how science makes sense of the clouds before it rains. These connections make learning feel alive and purposeful. 

Showing Genuine Interest 

Invite your child to share one thing they learned each day. Instead of responding with a generic ‘well done’, show real interest: ‘That is fascinating! Tell me more.’ This exchange helps your child see that learning is valuable not just at school, but at home and in the world around them. 

Making Study Time Dynamic 

Make study time more dynamic by turning it into play. Use flashcards in a treasure hunt or turn revision into a quiz game with family members. Encourage your child to become the ‘teacher’ for the day, have them explain a topic to the family using drawings or storytelling. When they teach others, they reinforce their own understanding and develop confidence. 

Fostering Autonomy and Fun 

Remember, excitement grows when children feel a sense of autonomy and fun. Let them make small choices, like which subject to study first or what colour pens to use. These small freedoms foster motivation and ownership of their learning. 

Above all, express genuine joy about their school life. Celebrate milestones, however small, and remind them that learning is not just about marks, it is about discovery, creativity, and becoming the person they are meant to be. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, the pursuit of knowledge is not separate from life, it enhances it, both in this world and the next. 

Allah Almighty states in Surah Al Kahf (18), Verse 46: 

“All wealth and offspring are luxuries of the worldly life, but (the outcomes of) virtuosity shall remain forever, and it is deemed the best (action) to be rewarded by your Sustainer, and the best source of hope (for the Hereafter). “

This verse reminds us that what truly lasts are the values and knowledge we cultivate, not the temporary shine of results, but the eternal weight of growth and goodness. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 3370, that holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stated: 

“When Allah wishes good for someone, He grants him understanding of the religion. “

This appreciation for knowledge was not confined to religious instruction alone. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged learning that benefited individuals and communities, skills, trades, and practical wisdom. 

When you make school feel meaningful and joyful, you are doing more than supporting academic success, you are instilling in your child the Islamic ethic that learning is a form of worship. It becomes a way to honour Allah Almighty’s gifts of intellect and curiosity. Encourage your child to say Bismillah before study, and Alhamdulillah after. These simple acts frame schoolwork not just as a duty, but as an act of devotion. 

By turning school into a place of exploration and connection, you help your child realise that every lesson has the potential to bring them closer to their purpose, with enthusiasm in this life and reward in the next.