Washington - Even a president's kids don't get a break.

US President Barack Obama Wednesday used his own family to illustrate how important it is for parents to keep after their kids about their school work.

He was speaking about education to an audience in Madison, Wisconsin.

Obama admitted that even in "our own household, with all the privileges and opportunities that we have," there were times when his daughters "would rather be watching TV or playing a computer game than hitting the books."

He talked about the hard work he and First Lady Michelle had put into instilling in their children - Malia, 11, and Sasha, 8 - that they want to learn for themselves.

He said Malia had come home the other day depressed because she got 73 per cent on her science test.

"There was a time a couple years ago when she came home with like an 80-something and she said, 'I did pretty well.' And I said, 'No, no, no ... our goal is 90 per cent and up'."

Obama said he discussed the science test with Malia, who analyzed where she had fallen short and vowed to start reading the whole chapter of her science book instead of just the study guide handed out by the teacher.

"So she came home yesterday, she was - 'I got a 95' - right? - so she's high-fiving," Obama said, referring to the high hand slap two people share when they're happy.

"But here's the point. She said, 'I just like having knowledge'," the president said.

Obama used the occasion to repeat his oft-expressed challenge to parents to sit down with their children and make sure they do their homework.

"Don't just expect teachers to set a high bar. You've got to set a high bar in the household all across America," he said. (dpa)