What Is Spaced Repetition?
Spaced repetition is a learning technique where you review information at gradually increasing intervals. Instead of studying a word 10 times in one sitting (cramming), you study it once today, once tomorrow, once in 3 days, once in a week, and once in a month.
This approach works because of how our brains form memories. Each time you successfully recall something right before you'd forget it, the memory gets stronger and lasts longer.
The Spaced Repetition Schedule
Children Do English uses this review schedule for every word. Each successful review pushes the next one further out; a miss resets the word to the start of the ladder:
| Review | Interval | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 day after learning | Catches the word before the first big forgetting drop |
| 2nd | 3 days later | Confirms the word survived the first gap |
| 3rd | 7 days later | Moves the word toward medium-term memory |
| 4th | 14 days later | Strengthens recall across a two-week gap |
| 5th | 30 days later | The word is now in long-term memory |
Five short reviews spread over about seven weeks — roughly two minutes of total practice per word — is enough to move a new word into long-term memory.
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Why It Works So Well for Children
Children's brains are naturally wired for learning, but they also forget quickly. Spaced repetition takes advantage of both:
- Short sessions feel easy — Kids don't get overwhelmed or bored
- Success builds confidence — Reviewing at the right time means kids usually get the answer right
- It's automatic — The system decides what to review and when, so parents don't have to plan
- It actually sticks — Words learned this way are remembered for months, not just hours
Spaced Repetition vs. Traditional Flashcards
| Feature | Traditional Flashcards | Spaced Repetition |
|---|---|---|
| Review schedule | Random or all at once | Optimally timed |
| Time required | Long cramming sessions | Short daily sessions |
| Long-term memory | Weak | Strong |
| Kid-friendly | Can be tedious | Feels like a game |
How to Use Spaced Repetition at Home
You don't need to build a system from scratch. Here are practical ways to use spaced repetition:
- Use an app that does it automatically — Children Do English has built-in spaced repetition that schedules word reviews at the optimal time
- Use the Daily Review feature — The app tells your child exactly which words are due for review each day
- Keep it short — 5-10 minutes per day is all it takes
- Be consistent — Daily practice is more important than session length
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