# The Pocket Money Game

> A pocket money tracker with learning built in, for UK children aged 5-11. Parents set a rate per correct answer in spelling, maths and reading practice; the app tracks progress and the running total; parents pay out real pocket money as they normally would. No ads, no in-app purchases. Built by a parent with ADHD and dyslexia, with his own son testing every feature.

The Pocket Money Game covers the KS1 and KS2 national curriculum. The blog answers specific, practical questions real UK parents search for: what's expected by each year group, homework battles, spelling/maths/reading practice, grammar and punctuation terminology, statutory assessments, seasonal learning-loss prevention, tutoring decisions, common developmental concerns, school transitions, and honest comparisons with other learning apps.

## Key pages
- [Homepage](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/): overview, pricing, how it works
- [Pricing](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/pricing.html): £3.99/month, £12.99/year, or £2 for a 12-week Summer Pass
- [Blog](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/blog.html): full article index by topic
- [Free Multiplication Tables Check practice](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/free-multiplication-tables-check-practice-no-login.html): no login required
- [Sitemap](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/sitemap.xml)
- [RSS feed](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/blog/rss.xml)

## Year Group Guides
- [What Should My Child Know by End of Reception?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/what-should-my-child-know-by-end-of-reception.html): A clear guide to the Early Learning Goals children are expected to reach by the end of Reception year in the UK — literacy, maths, and personal development.
- [What Should My Child Know by the End of Year 1? (UK Guide)](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/what-should-my-child-know-by-end-of-year-1.html): A clear guide to what UK children are typically expected to know in reading, writing and maths by the end of Year 1, including the Phonics Screening Check.
- [What Should My Child Know by End of Year 2?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/what-should-my-child-know-by-end-of-year-2.html): What UK children are expected to know by the end of Year 2, and how the KS1 SATs (now non-statutory in many schools) actually work.
- [What Should My Child Know by the End of Year 3? (UK Guide)](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/what-should-my-child-know-by-end-of-year-3.html): What UK children are typically expected to know in reading, writing and maths by the end of Year 3 — the first year of lower Key Stage 2.
- [What Should My Child Know by End of Year 4?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/what-should-my-child-know-by-end-of-year-4.html): What UK children are expected to know by the end of Year 4, including full details on the statutory Multiplication Tables Check (MTC).
- [What Should My Child Know by the End of Year 5? (UK Guide)](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/what-should-my-child-know-by-end-of-year-5.html): What UK children are typically expected to know in reading, writing and maths by the end of Year 5, the year before SATs.
- [What Should My Child Know by End of Year 6?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/what-should-my-child-know-by-end-of-year-6.html): What UK children are expected to know by the end of Year 6 (and the KS2 SATs), covering reading, maths, and grammar, punctuation and spelling.

## ADHD & Dyslexia
- [Learning App for ADHD & Dyslexic Children](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/adhd-dyslexia-learning-app.html): Built by a dad with ADHD and dyslexia, for his own son. Spelling, maths and reading practice designed around how neurodivergent kids actually learn.
- [ADHD Learning at Home: What Actually Works](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/adhd-learning-at-home-tips-primary-school.html): Practical strategies for supporting a child with ADHD through homework and home learning — from a parent who's been there.
- [Why Reward-Based Learning Works for ADHD](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/why-reward-based-learning-works-for-adhd.html): Children with ADHD respond differently to traditional learning methods. Here's the science behind reward-based learning and why it works.
- [Spelling Practice for Children with Dyslexia](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/spelling-practice-children-with-dyslexia.html): Children with dyslexia struggle with spelling for neurological reasons that traditional practice doesn't address. Here's what the evidence says actually works.
- [Best Spelling App for a 7 Year Old With Dyslexia](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/best-spelling-app-7-year-old-dyslexia-rewards.html): Not every dyslexia-friendly spelling app is built the same way. Here's what to actually look for, and why reward-based practice matters so much at this age.
- [Times Tables App for an ADHD Child Who Won't Sit Still](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/times-tables-app-adhd-child-wont-sit-still.html): Standard times tables practice assumes a child can sit and focus for a stretch. Here's what actually works when that's not realistic.
- [Good vs Bad Screen Time: The Real Difference](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/good-screen-time-vs-bad-screen-time-children.html): Not all screen time is equal, whatever the guilt says. A practical way to tell beneficial screen use from harmful use — no arbitrary hour limits.

## Spelling
- [KS1 Phonics & Common Exception Words Guide](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/ks1-phonics-common-exception-words-guide.html): Everything parents need to know about phonics and the common exception words their children are expected to know by the end of Year 2.
- [KS2 Spelling List: All 200 Statutory Words + Tips](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/ks2-statutory-spelling-list-200-words.html): The full official KS2 spelling list your child is expected to know — all 200 words, explained, with practical tips that actually make them stick.
- [Spelling Games for Kids KS1 & KS2](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/spelling-games-ks1-ks2.html): Fun, effective spelling games for KS1 and KS2 children — practical ideas that make practice feel like play, not homework.
- [Year 3 Spelling Homework: 10 Games That Work](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/year-3-spelling-homework-games.html): Dreading Year 3 spelling homework again? Here are 10 quick games that actually get your child practising — no worksheets, no tears.
- [Year 2 Spelling List This Week? Try This 5-Minute Trick](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/year-2-spelling-list-5-minute-trick.html): One simple technique that gets Year 2 spelling lists to actually stick — takes 5 minutes a day, no flashcards required.
- [Fun Spelling Practice Ideas for Kids Who Hate Worksheets](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/fun-spelling-practice-ideas-hate-worksheets.html): Worksheets not working? These no-paper spelling activities keep kids engaged — and a couple take under 2 minutes to set up.
- [Phonics Screening Check 2026 — Pass Mark & What Happens Next](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/phonics-screening-check-2026-pass-mark.html): The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check explained: when it happens, what the pass mark actually means, and what to do if your child doesn't reach it.
- [How Many Spellings Should a Year 3 Child Get Right?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-many-spellings-should-year-3-child-get-right.html): Weekly spelling tests give a raw score with little context. Here's a realistic benchmark for Year 3, and what actually matters more than the number.
- [How Long Should Year 4 Spelling Homework Actually Take?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-long-should-year-4-spelling-homework-take.html): If spelling homework is eating your whole evening, something's off. Here's a genuine time benchmark for Year 4, and what to do if it's taking too long.
- [Correcting Spelling Mistakes Without Upsetting Your Child](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-correct-spelling-mistakes-without-upsetting-child.html): Getting corrections right matters as much as the correction itself. Here's how to point out spelling mistakes without knocking your child's confidence.

## Grammar & Punctuation
- [What Is a Fronted Adverbial? KS2 Grammar Explained Simply](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/what-is-a-fronted-adverbial-ks2-explained.html): Fronted adverbials trip up plenty of parents, not just kids. Here's a genuinely simple explanation, with examples straight from the KS2 curriculum.
- [Subordinating Conjunctions KS2: Simple List & Examples](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/subordinating-conjunctions-ks2-examples.html): Because, although, since, unless — subordinating conjunctions explained simply, with a full KS2 list and examples parents can actually use to help.
- [What Is a Subordinate Clause? Explained Simply for Parents](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/what-is-a-subordinate-clause-explained-simply.html): Subordinate clauses confuse plenty of adults, not just children. Here's a genuinely clear explanation with examples straight from primary school writing.
- [Apostrophes for Possession & Contraction](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/apostrophes-for-possession-and-contraction-explained.html): The single most common punctuation mistake in KS2 writing. Here's a clear, simple explanation of when to use an apostrophe and when not to.
- [Homophones List for KS1 & KS2 — Common Spelling Mistakes](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/homophones-list-ks1-ks2-common-mistakes.html): There, their, they're. To, too, two. A full list of the homophones that trip up primary school children most often, with simple tricks to tell them apart.
- [Word Classes: Nouns, Verbs & Adjectives Explained](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/word-classes-nouns-verbs-adjectives-explained.html): Word classes underpin most of KS1 and KS2 grammar teaching. Here's a clear, jargon-free explanation of the main types, with easy examples.
- [The KS2 Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling (GPS) Test Explained](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/ks2-grammar-punctuation-spelling-test-explained.html): The KS2 GPS test causes real confusion for parents — here's exactly what it covers, how it's marked, and how to help your child prepare without stress.
- [How to Improve Your Child's Handwriting](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-improve-child-handwriting-primary-school.html): What genuinely helps with messy handwriting — and what doesn't — based on how handwriting actually develops in primary-age children.

## Maths & Times Tables
- [KS2 Maths Games | Fractions & Times Tables](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/maths-games-ks2.html): Curriculum-aligned maths games for Years 3–6 — fractions, percentages, arithmetic and reasoning. Kids earn real pocket money for every correct answer.
- [How to Help Your Child Learn Times Tables at Home](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-help-child-times-tables-at-home.html): Practical, evidence-based strategies for helping primary school children master their times tables — without arguments, tears or weekend-long cramming sessions.
- [Times Tables by Year 4: What's Expected](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/times-tables-year-4-mtc-curriculum.html): The Multiplication Tables Check in Year 4 tests all tables up to 12×12. Here's exactly what children need to know and the most effective ways to practise.
- [10-Minute Maths Homework That Doesn't End in Tears](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/10-minute-maths-homework-no-tears.html): A calmer approach to daily maths practice — ten minutes, no meltdowns, and a structure you can reuse every single night.
- [Times Tables: Why Your Child "Knows It" Yet Errs](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/times-tables-homework-why-child-gets-it-wrong.html): Your child can recite their times tables perfectly at home but freezes on a worksheet. Here's the real reason — and what actually fixes it.
- [Year 4 Maths Homework Help: Quick Wins for Busy Parents](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/year-4-maths-homework-help-busy-parents.html): Short on time and Year 4 maths feels unfamiliar? Here's how to help effectively in ten minutes, even if you're not confident with the topic yourself.
- [How to Get Kids to Practise Times Tables Without a Fight](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-motivate-child-times-tables-without-fight.html): Times tables practice doesn't have to be a daily battle. Here's a practical, low-conflict approach that actually builds recall over time.
- [Free Printable Times Tables Chart](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/free-printable-times-tables-chart.html): A free times tables chart is only useful if it's used the right way. Here's how to get genuine value from one, rather than it becoming wallpaper.
- [Maths App for an 8 Year Old That Pays Real Pocket Money (UK)](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/maths-app-8-year-old-real-pocket-money-uk.html): Looking for a UK maths app for an 8 year old that actually rewards them with real pocket money, not just points? Here's what to check before signing up.
- [KS2 SATs Results Explained — What Is a Scaled Score?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/ks2-sats-results-explained-scaled-score.html): Every July, parents get a scaled score for SATs results with little explanation. Here's what the number means, and what counts as expected.
- [Year 6 SATs: A Parent's Complete Preparation Guide](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/year-6-sats-preparation-guide-parents.html): Everything parents need to know about the Year 6 SATs — what's tested, when they happen, and how to support your child's preparation without adding pressure.
- [Times Tables: The Best Order to Teach Them In](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/times-tables-order-to-teach-easiest-to-hardest.html): Not all times tables are equally hard, and teaching them in a smarter order genuinely builds confidence faster. Here's the order that works best.

## Maths Concepts Explained
- [What Are Fractions? A Simple Explanation for Parents](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/what-are-fractions-explained-for-parents.html): Fractions confuse plenty of parents trying to help with homework. Here's a genuinely clear explanation, plus how to make the concept click for kids.
- [Teaching Decimals to Children: A Simple Explanation](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/teaching-decimals-to-children-simple-explanation.html): Decimals often get taught as a set of rules to memorise. Here's a clearer way to explain the actual concept, so it genuinely makes sense.
- [How to Teach a Child to Tell the Time on a Clock](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-teach-child-tell-the-time-clock.html): Telling the time on an analogue clock is a genuinely tricky skill in a digital world. Here's a step-by-step approach that actually works.
- [Column Addition and Subtraction Explained for Parents](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/column-addition-and-subtraction-explained.html): The 'new' way schools teach column addition and subtraction can look unfamiliar to parents. Here's a clear walkthrough of how it actually works.
- [Long Division Explained for Parents (Step by Step)](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/long-division-explained-for-parents.html): Long division is often the maths topic parents feel least confident helping with. Here's a genuinely clear, step-by-step explanation.
- [Area and Perimeter Explained for KS2 Parents](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/area-and-perimeter-explained-ks2.html): Area and perimeter are commonly confused with each other. Here's a clear, simple explanation of the difference, with formulas and real examples.
- [Negative Numbers Explained Simply for Kids](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/negative-numbers-explained-for-kids.html): Negative numbers are one of the more abstract concepts in primary maths. Here's a genuinely simple way to explain them that actually clicks.
- [Rounding Numbers Explained for KS2 (Nearest 10, 100, 1000)](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/rounding-numbers-ks2-explained.html): Rounding numbers trips children up mainly around the '5 rounds up' rule. Here's a clear explanation of rounding to the nearest 10, 100 and 1000.
- [Place Value Explained Simply for Parents](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/place-value-explained-simply-for-parents.html): Place value underpins almost all primary maths, yet it's rarely explained clearly to parents. Here's a genuinely simple breakdown.
- [Teaching Kids to Count UK Money: Coins & Notes Explained](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/teaching-kids-to-count-money-uk-coins.html): Counting UK coins and notes confidently is a genuinely useful life skill, not just a maths topic. Here's how to teach it step by step.
- [Mental Maths Tricks for Kids: Quick, Useful Strategies](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/mental-maths-tricks-for-kids-quick-strategies.html): Strong mental maths comes from a handful of genuinely useful strategies, not just memorisation. Here are the ones worth teaching first.
- ["Mastery" Maths Teaching Explained for Parents](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/what-is-mastery-maths-teaching-explained.html): Many UK primary schools now teach maths using a 'mastery' approach. Here's what that actually means, and why it can look different from how parents learned.

## Reading
- [Reading Comprehension Practice for Kids | KS1 & KS2](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/reading-comprehension-games.html): 36 original stories with comprehension questions matched to your child's reading level. Builds inference and vocabulary skills — free 7-day trial.
- [Reading Record Says "Struggling" — What It Means](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/reading-record-struggling-what-it-means.html): A teacher's comment about reading struggles doesn't always mean what parents fear. Here's how to read the signals and what to actually do next.
- [5-Minute Reading Comprehension Practice for Tired Kids](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/5-minute-reading-comprehension-tired-kids.html): Reading comprehension doesn't need a long session to make a difference. Here's a genuinely quick approach for the end of a long school day.
- [What Is a "Reading Age" and How Is It Actually Measured?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/what-is-reading-age-how-is-it-measured.html): Reading age often appears on school reports without explanation. Here's what it actually means, how it's measured, and how much weight to give it.
- [Reading App That Rewards Kids for Finishing](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/reading-app-rewards-kids-finishing-not-badges.html): Most reading apps hand out virtual badges for milestones. Here's why a tangible reward system often works better for reluctant readers.
- [How to Improve Your Child's Reading Fluency](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-improve-child-reading-fluency.html): Reading fluency is different from comprehension or decoding ability. Here's what it actually means, and practical ways to build it at home.
- [Inference Skills: How to Teach Reading Between the Lines](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/inference-skills-how-to-teach-reading-between-lines.html): Inference — working out what isn't directly stated — is one of the hardest reading comprehension skills to teach. Here's a practical approach.
- [My Child Can Read But Can't Spell — Why?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/my-child-can-read-but-cant-spell-why.html): A genuinely common and confusing pattern for parents. Here's why reading and spelling can develop at very different rates, and what actually helps.
- [Skimming and Scanning: Reading Skills Explained for Parents](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/skimming-and-scanning-reading-skills-explained.html): Skimming and scanning are specific, teachable reading skills, distinct from careful reading. Here's what they are and why schools teach them.
- [How to Build Your Child's Vocabulary at Home](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-build-child-vocabulary-at-home.html): Vocabulary size is one of the strongest predictors of reading comprehension and later academic success. Here's how to genuinely build it at home.
- [How to Choose the Right Book for Your Child's Reading Level](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-choose-right-book-for-your-childs-reading-level.html): Picking a book that's genuinely the right level — not too easy, not too hard — makes a real difference. Here's a practical way to judge it.
- [Reading Comprehension Questions Parents Can Actually Ask](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/reading-comprehension-questions-parents-can-ask.html): A genuinely useful list of comprehension questions parents can ask during reading time, going beyond 'what happened' to build deeper understanding.
- [How to Help a Child Who Genuinely Hates Reading](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-help-child-who-hates-reading.html): Some children develop a real dislike of reading, not just mild reluctance. Here's what's often actually going on, and what genuinely helps rebuild it.
- [What Reading Band Is Expected in Year 3?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/what-reading-band-expected-year-3.html): Reading bands and colours vary between schools, which makes 'is my child on track' hard to answer. Here's a genuine, useful guide for Year 3.
- [Child Guesses Words Instead of Sounding Them Out](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/child-guesses-words-instead-of-sounding-out.html): Guessing from the first letter or a picture, rather than genuinely decoding, is a common reading pattern worth addressing directly. Here's how.

## Pocket Money & Parenting
- [Teaching Children the Value of Money Through Academic Effort](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/teaching-children-value-of-money-through-learning.html): Connecting pocket money to academic effort teaches children financial responsibility while motivating genuine learning. Here's how to do it well.
- [Should I Pay My Child for Good Grades?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/should-i-pay-my-child-for-good-grades.html): A genuinely divisive parenting question. Here's what the research says, what UK parents actually do, and how to decide what's right for your family.
- [Is Paying Kids for Chores or Learning Better for Motivation?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/is-paying-kids-for-chores-or-learning-better.html): Two common ways families structure pocket money — chores versus learning. Here's how they actually differ, and which one tends to build better long-term habits.
- [How Much Pocket Money Should I Give My Child?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-much-pocket-money-should-i-give-my-child-uk.html): UK pocket money guidance by age, plus how to decide between a flat weekly amount and an effort-based system that rewards learning.
- [Why Homework Time Turns Into a Fight](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/why-homework-time-turns-into-a-fight.html): If every homework session ends in tears or shouting, you're not doing it wrong. Here's why it happens — and three changes that genuinely helped.
- [Bribing Kids to Do Homework: Does It Work?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/bribing-kids-to-do-homework-does-it-work.html): Sweets, screen time, cash — does bribing kids to do homework actually work, or does it backfire? Here's what the research actually says.
- [The 6pm Homework Meltdown: A Parent's Survival Guide](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/6pm-homework-meltdown-survival-guide.html): Every evening at roughly the same time, it kicks off. Here's why the 6pm homework meltdown happens so predictably — and how to actually get through it.
- [My Child Refuses to Do Homework — What Actually Works](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/my-child-refuses-to-do-homework-what-works.html): Outright homework refusal is different from reluctance. Here's how to tell the difference, and what genuinely helps when a child is refusing point blank.
- [How to Set Up a Good Homework Space at Home](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-set-up-a-good-homework-space-at-home.html): The physical environment homework happens in genuinely affects how well it goes. Here's what a well-set-up homework space actually needs.
- [Parents Evening: Genuinely Useful Questions to Ask](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/parents-evening-questions-worth-asking-teacher.html): Parents evening slots are short. Here's a list of genuinely useful, specific questions that get more out of the time than 'how's she doing?'
- [How to Explain Why School Matters to a Reluctant Child](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-explain-why-school-is-important-to-a-child.html): Explaining the value of school to a child who doesn't see the point is genuinely hard. Here's an approach that actually resonates at a child's level.
- [What to Say When Your Child Says "I'm Bad at Maths"](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/what-to-say-when-child-says-im-bad-at-maths.html): A genuinely common, heartbreaking moment for parents. Here's what to say instead of denying it outright, and how to actually shift the belief over time.
- [How to Tell If Homework Struggles Are Normal or a Red Flag](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-tell-if-homework-struggles-normal-or-red-flag.html): Genuinely hard to know if homework battles are just ordinary childhood resistance or something worth investigating. Here's a clear way to tell the difference.

## Seasonal & Holidays
- [Summer Learning Loss: What It Is and How to Prevent It](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/summer-learning-loss-how-to-prevent-it.html): The 'summer slide' is a genuine, well-documented phenomenon. Here's what causes it and practical, low-pressure ways to prevent it.
- [Half Term Revision Ideas That Don't Feel Like School](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/half-term-revision-ideas-that-dont-feel-like-school.html): A one-week half term isn't long enough for lost learning to be a serious concern, but light revision can still help. Here's how to do it without a fight.
- [Back to School Anxiety After Summer Holidays: What Helps](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/back-to-school-anxiety-after-summer-holidays.html): Some worry about returning to school after summer is completely normal. Here's how to tell normal nerves from something more, and what genuinely helps.

## Tutoring & Support
- [Does My Child Need a Tutor? A Primary School Guide](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/does-my-child-need-a-tutor-primary-school.html): Deciding whether to get a primary-age tutor is a genuinely hard call. Here's a practical framework for working out if — and when — it's actually needed.
- [When to Get Extra Help If Your Child Is Falling Behind](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/when-to-get-extra-help-child-falling-behind.html): Worried your child is falling behind at school? Here's how to work out whether it's genuinely a concern, and what the right next step actually is.
- [What Is a SENCO, and When Should You Contact Them?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/what-is-a-senco-and-when-to-contact-them.html): SENCO is a term parents often hear without a clear explanation. Here's what the role actually is, and genuinely practical guidance on when to get in touch.

## School Transitions
- [Transition to Secondary School: What to Expect](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/transition-to-secondary-school-what-to-expect.html): Moving from Year 6 to secondary school is a big change for the whole family. Here's what genuinely helps children (and parents) through it.
- [11+ Preparation: When Should You Actually Start?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/11-plus-preparation-when-to-start.html): Starting 11+ prep too early or too late are both common mistakes. Here's genuinely practical guidance on timing, based on how the exam actually works.

## Common Concerns
- [My Child Mixes Up B and D — Is This Normal?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/my-child-mixes-up-b-and-d-letter-reversal.html): Letter reversal (b/d confusion) worries a lot of parents. Here's when it's genuinely normal, and when it's worth a closer look.
- [How Many Books Should My Child Read Each Week?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-many-books-should-my-child-read-per-week.html): There's no official number, but here's genuinely useful guidance on reading frequency by age, and why consistency matters more than volume.
- [What Is Working Memory & Why It Matters at School](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/what-is-working-memory-and-why-it-matters-school.html): Working memory comes up a lot in discussions of ADHD and learning difficulties. Here's a clear explanation of what it actually is and why it matters.
- [Dyscalculia: Signs to Look For in Primary School Children](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/dyscalculia-signs-in-primary-school-children.html): Dyscalculia is far less well-known than dyslexia, but genuinely affects a similar proportion of children. Here are the signs worth knowing.
- [How to Help an Anxious Child With School Tests](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-help-anxious-child-with-school-tests.html): Test anxiety in primary-age children is genuinely common and can significantly affect performance. Here's what actually helps, beyond 'just relax.'
- [Visual, Auditory & Kinaesthetic Learning Styles Explained](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/learning-styles-visual-auditory-kinaesthetic-explained.html): Learning styles are a popular idea, but the science is more nuanced than the theory suggests. Here's an honest, practical explanation for parents.
- [How to Talk to Your Child About a Bad School Report](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-talk-to-child-about-bad-school-report.html): A disappointing school report can be hard for both parent and child. Here's how to have the conversation in a way that motivates rather than discourages.
- [How to Motivate an Unmotivated Primary School Child](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-motivate-unmotivated-child-primary-school.html): A child who seems to genuinely not care about school or learning is a real worry for many parents. Here's what tends to actually be going on, and what helps.
- [How Much Screen Time Is Too Much for Primary School?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-much-screen-time-is-too-much-primary-school.html): UK guidance on screen time is genuinely more nuanced than a simple number of hours. Here's what the evidence actually says, and how to think about it.
- [Comparing Siblings Academically: Why It's Worth Avoiding](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/comparing-siblings-academically-why-to-avoid-it.html): It's genuinely hard to avoid comparing siblings, even unintentionally. Here's why it matters, and practical ways to sidestep it.
- [How to Praise Your Child Effectively (Growth Mindset)](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-praise-your-child-effectively-growth-mindset.html): Not all praise is equally helpful — some can genuinely backfire. Here's what the research on growth mindset says about praising children well.
- [Supporting an EAL Child With English at Home](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-support-eal-child-with-english-at-home.html): If English isn't your child's first language at home, here's genuinely practical guidance on supporting their English learning without dropping your own.
- [How to Help a Perfectionist Child at Primary School](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-help-perfectionist-child-primary-school.html): Perfectionism in young children can look like high standards, but it often comes with real distress. Here's how to help without dampening genuine effort.
- [Creative Writing Ideas for Reluctant Writers (KS2)](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/creative-writing-ideas-for-reluctant-writers-ks2.html): Some children love reading but genuinely dread creative writing. Here's why that gap happens, and practical prompts that lower the barrier to starting.
- [How to Improve Your Child's Concentration and Focus](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-improve-child-concentration-and-focus.html): Concentration is a genuinely trainable skill, not a fixed trait. Here's what actually helps children build sustained focus, in a realistic, practical way.
- [How to Help a Child With Slow Processing Speed](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-help-child-with-slow-processing-speed.html): Slow processing speed is genuinely different from low ability — a child can understand perfectly well but need more time. Here's what actually helps.
- [How to Encourage a Shy Child to Participate in Class](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/how-to-encourage-a-shy-child-to-participate-in-class.html): Shyness in class can genuinely hold back a capable child's visible progress. Here's what actually helps build confidence to participate, gently.
- [Why Does My Child Reverse Numbers When Writing?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/why-does-my-child-reverse-numbers-when-writing.html): Writing 3 as backwards, or swapping 6 and 9 — number reversal worries a lot of parents. Here's when it's normal, and when it's worth a closer look.
- [My 7 Year Old Can't Tell the Time — Is This Normal?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/my-7-year-old-cant-tell-the-time-is-this-normal.html): Telling the time on an analogue clock is genuinely harder for kids today. Here's what's normal by age, and how to help without pressure.
- [Child Mixes Up Teen Numbers Like 13 and 30](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/child-mixes-up-teen-numbers-13-and-30.html): Confusing thirteen and thirty is one of the most common early number mix-ups. Here's why it happens, and simple ways to help it click.
- [Signs a 6 Year Old Needs Extra Help With Reading](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/signs-6-year-old-needs-extra-help-reading.html): It's genuinely hard to know when reading struggles are normal versus worth acting on. Here's a clear, honest list of signs worth paying attention to.
- [Why Does My Child Freeze During a Times Tables Test?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/why-does-my-child-freeze-during-times-tables-test.html): Knows it perfectly at home, blanks completely under test conditions — here's the real reason times tables freeze happens, and what genuinely helps.
- [Child Can Count But Doesn't Understand What Numbers Mean](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/child-can-count-but-doesnt-understand-numbers.html): Counting fluently isn't the same as understanding quantity. Here's the real difference, why it matters, and how to build genuine number sense.
- [Why Is My Child Good at Maths But Bad at Word Problems?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/why-is-my-child-good-at-maths-but-bad-at-word-problems.html): Strong with straightforward calculations but falls apart on word problems — a genuinely common and specific pattern. Here's why, and what helps.
- [Child Rushes Through Homework Without Really Trying](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/child-rushes-through-homework-without-trying.html): Racing through homework carelessly, clearly capable of better — a genuinely common and frustrating pattern. Here's what's usually behind it.

## Apps & Comparisons
- [Best Educational Apps for Primary School (UK)](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/best-educational-apps-primary-school-uk-2025.html): A parent's honest guide to the educational apps actually worth downloading for KS1 and KS2 children — and the ones to avoid.
- [GoHenry Alternative for Kids Too Young for a Bank Card](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/gohenry-alternative-kids-too-young-bank-card.html): GoHenry and similar apps are great — from around age 6-8. Here's what to use if your child is younger, or not ready for a real debit card yet.
- [Mathletics Alternative That Actually Pays Kids to Learn](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/mathletics-alternative-pays-kids-to-learn.html): Mathletics is a solid subscription tool, but it doesn't reward effort with anything tangible. Here's what to look for in an alternative that does.
- [TTRockstars Alternative — With Real Rewards, Not Just Coins](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/ttrockstars-alternative-free-rewards.html): Times Tables Rock Stars is brilliant for speed, but its in-game currency doesn't mean anything outside the app. Here's an alternative worth trying.
- [Best Pocket Money App for Kids Who Hate Doing Chores](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/best-pocket-money-app-kids-hate-chores.html): If chore-based pocket money apps aren't working because your child simply refuses the chores, here's a different approach worth trying instead.
- [Educational Apps vs Worksheets: Which Is Actually Better?](https://www.thepocketmoneygame.com/educational-apps-vs-worksheets-which-is-better.html): Apps versus worksheets is a genuinely common parenting debate. Here's an honest, evidence-informed look at what each does well, and where each falls short.