Creating an attractive, inviting and dedicated space to get work done can only help to make children's homework a more enjoyable experience. It could be a spare room that you turn into a study, a corner in their bedroom or a designated place in the main living area - even if the dining table has to double up as a desk.
A child's study area is one of the most important spaces they will have at home. It reflects their interests, who they are and what they hope to become. Begin by planning it together and you are more likely to end up with a space where your son or daughter will feel a sense of connection, ownership and, hopefully, lots of inspiration.
An attractive child-friendly space needs lots of planning and organisation. Discover first what their favourite colours are, what their interests are, any hobbies or heroes they have (teddies, zebras, ball sports, dance). Bear in mind that children, especially younger ones, often change their minds from one day to the next, but the information you gather will be useful both in terms of creating a theme and a sense of ownership. More about how to use this information later!
Make a list of all the things you need to store near the study area. Take an inventory of all that your child has and think about how best to accommodate them: in storage, as ornaments, on a notice board, so forth.
If you have more than one child, think about whether they will share or have their own desks side by side. Whichever you choose, do personalise their desks with its accessories, storage, notice boards and other equipment with each child's own favourite colours and hobbies.
Keep in mind also that your child's study area may at times accommodate a friend anyway; perhaps while working on a joint school project or revising for a test together. It may be handy to invest in a fold-up chair.
It's always better to have your child's computer in the living area where you can monitor their internet use. Experts recommend that parents be involved with their child's computer use and monitoring may be difficult if the computer is kept in their room. If you are only just getting around to buying a computer now think carefully about how much desk space it will need. Is there enough space around it for placing books and other papers your child may be using? Install software that reduces the glare on the screen and choose a mouse that is designed for young hands.
Choose wisely, remembering that your six-year-old will be happy with his bright green turtle-themed desk for only a few years. Better to invest in a well-made sturdy wooden desk that you can sand and paint as your child grows. Save money by purchasing second hand furniture and painting them together to match the theme of the room. A desk with a drawer is perfect for storing all sorts of things - extra pens, pencils, rubbers, paints, paper and other study essentials - and helps to keep the area relatively tidy.
If space and budget are limited you may wish to build in a desk with shelving and storage, perhaps in an alcove. Alternatively, build a long low worktop with wall-mounted shelves above and below. If you make the lower shelves of varying heights and widths you can store large and small objects and books, as well as storage boxes for smaller or adhoc items. A chair that swivels and adjusts will help ensure proper posture to avoid slouching and backache.
As every parent will know you can never have too much storage so aim to dedicate a corner or whole wall to a bookshelf. Besides children grow quickly, and with growth comes more stuff - books, CDs, games and other equipment.
Each thing should have a home even if it is a space sitting on a shelf, and sturdy desktop boxes can help keep the desk area clean and tidy.
Stackable plastic or wooden boxes make excellent storage solutions. A tip is to buy four or five wooden storage crates and to decorate or paint each one to your own taste. You can then stack them on top of one another to make them look like a unit of shelves. If you choose boxes of assorted sizes you can use them to store everything from books and art stuff to paper and games. The good thing about this type of storage is that it is very versatile and can be moved to accommodate the needs of the room.
Learning happens best when we are happy and relaxed so think about how you can use this to your child's advantage. This is where your child's special interests, hobbies, favourite colours and so forth come in. Search for special touches that you can use as a theme. For example, if your daughter loves hats collect hat boxes to use for display or even storing small items. If it is football, use that as a theme.
Perhaps your son has a car collection that he hardly plays with any more but which he regards as marking a special time in his life. Think about displaying them on a shelf just above the desk or on the desk itself.
Think about some of the special things that encourage positive feelings of security and love. Family photos, trophies, framed certificates, special paintings and other things they are proud of, can help create a relaxed attitude and entice learning.
Put up a notice board for special reminders, school papers, drawings, special dates and so forth. Your son or daughter can personalise the board, perhaps by decorating the frame or you can buy some cork and make your own.
Don't forget a lamp with adjustable lighting!
We all know that colours influence our emotions and moods so how can we make the most of them in the study area? Here are a few tips:
The advantage of having a study area in the family space is that you can converse with your child and easily be on hand should they need help with homework. It is also a wonderful way to show your child that their needs are just as important as any one else's.
Your cabinets, bookshelves and even fireplace shelves can all be dedicated in part or entirety to your child's study bits. If you can dedicate one cupboard, preferably a lower cupboard, in the kitchen or dining room to store stuff all the better. Then your son or daughter will always have what they need on hand without creating too much clutter.
Just as you need to compromise in the living area by dedicating space to your child's homework needs, do give your child the quiet time needed to get it done by minimising noise from siblings or the television, for example.
