Creating the right environment for homework really can make a world if difference in how well your child is able to focus and how productive they are, and a well-organized space for them to work in makes it so much easier for them to get things done well and on time. Of course, it’s going to be down to you as a parent to set your kid’s room up in the right way, and if you’re wondering how to do it to ensure it’s more homework friendly, keep reading; we’ve got plenty of ideas to help you.
Create A Dedicated Workspace
Perhaps the most important element in a homework-friendly room is having a dedicated workspace, which doesn’t have to be a separate room or even a massive desk that takes up all the space – it just needs to be a specific spot that your child knows is just for schoolwork and study. That could be a small desk in the corner, or perhaps a bed with a desk setup, but whatever it is, the key is to give them a place where they can focus on their studies.
What’s so important about that? Well, when children have a designated place for their homework, they’re less likely to be distracted by other things, like playing with toys or video games or watching TV, for example. Plus, it helps them get into ‘work mode’ when they sit down in that particular spot.
Keep The Space Organized
Once you’ve got that dedicated work area, you (or rather your child) needs to keep it organized; a cluttered work space means less productivity and more stress a lot of the time (at the very least, it’s going to be distracting). You can help you child keep things tidy by organizing supplies like pen, notebooks, and art supplies, and use containers, drawers, and desk organizers to keep everything in the right place – that way, not only does it stay tidy, but they’ll be able to find the things they need when they need them, making homework less of a chore.
If space is limited, you can get creative with storage solutions – shelves, wall organizers, or under-the-bed storage can work wonders for keeping things neat, and the more organized the space, the easier it is to get homework done without any delays.
Lighting Is Important
If you want your child to be productive when it comes to homework, then you need to really think about the lighting in their workspace. The fact is that a dimly lit room can cause eye strain which leads to headaches, and overall it means it’s hard for your child to focus and concentrate on what they’re doing. That’s why you need to make sure the study area has good lighting. Natural lighting is actually the best thing to have, but if that’s not possible or there’s not a lot of it, a quality desk lamp can work wonders (and it means your child can work in the evenings after school without any problems).
When you’re setting up the lighting, think about where it’s going to go; the light source has to be bright enough to actually light up the desk or other workspace, but it can’t be so bright that they can’t read their textbooks or see their screen. It’s usually best to sit the desk close to a window and then you can take advantage of the natural light for as long as possible before the lamp even has to be turned on.
Limit Distractions
Even the most studious child can easily be distracted and lose focus if there’s something more interesting than their homework close by, and a lot of the time, there will be something more interesting close by, whether it’s a video games console, a TV, a phone, a book, a toy, or whatever it might be. That’s especially true if they’re working in their bedroom with all their stuff around them.
This is where it can be a good idea to put some rules in place about when devices can be used, and when it comes to homework time, the best thing to do is to turn everything off and put it out of sight. Of course, these days kids tend to have to do their homework on a device, and if that’s the case, you might need to look into how to block websites like social media for a period of time so they can’t be accessed when your child is meant to be doing homework. After it’s done, it can all be unblocked and even used as a reward in some cases.