How to Create the Best Homework Station for Your Child
With the school year in full swing, many parents have established daily routines for their children to put them in the best position to succeed. While children often wish it weren’t the case, homework is a necessary part of excelling in their academics. One way to alleviate some of the anxiety that comes with this is to create a designated homework station for your child that will both increase their productivity and put them in a better mood as they complete their assigned work.
Read below to learn a few best practices parents can use while creating one of these spaces in their own homes.
Select the right location
The first decision parents must make in setting up a homework station is deciding where in their home it will go. While it might seem obvious to place it in a child’s room, for younger children especially, parents give up the ability to supervise and help at a moment’s notice. For instance, if a child regularly gets up from their chair to ask for help or decides to take frequent unmonitored breaks, their level of concentration is greatly diminished. For younger children, we recommend setting up a homework station in the family room or kitchen to ensure the right amount of supervision. As the child ages and becomes more independent, consider adding a desk in their room.
Provide supplies and organization
One of the reasons homework stations are so effective is that they provide children with a space of their own designed for the singular purpose of study. Making sure your homework station is both stocked and organized with all the supplies your child will need during their homework sessions is crucial to the effectiveness of these spaces. Below is a list of suggested supplies to ensure that the homework station offers everything your child needs:
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Glue sticks
- Tape
- Ruler
- Crayons
- Markers
- Highlighters
- Scissors
- Pencil sharpener
- Trash can
- Desk lamp
- Wall calendar
- Calculator
- Clock
- Reference books
Don’t sweat the small stuff
A quick Google image search of “homework station” reveals thousands of meticulously crafted, well-lit spaces equipped with designer furniture and tastefully curated artwork. While many of these images are inspiring, parents can create equally effective homework stations using far fewer design elements (and less money). By simply creating a clutter-free workspace with a comfortable chair and a few supplies from the list above, you are well on your way to providing your child with a homework station that will dramatically boost their productivity. You might also consider asking your child to decide how they would like their space to look. This additional degree of agency gives children a sense of ownership over their space and makes them feel more responsible for keeping their homework station neat and tidy.
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