The Covid era has introduced many workers to the concept of working from home, bringing new value to the home office. With kids heading back to school, how about setting up their own “office,” otherwise known as a homework station?
Creating a comfortable spot for your child to do their homework means carving out a place for them to focus, be creative, and develop good study habits…a fixed place where students can do homework can help create routines and build responsible behaviors. Make it a family project or let your child decorate it themselves. Studying and learning vocabulary may be much more pleasurable in a space that is uniquely theirs.
It would be nice if you could steer clear of the kitchen table thus avoiding spilled salad dressing on important papers and accidentally throwing math assignments in the trash.
The space you choose will depend on the age of your kids, but whether it’s a corner of a room or a separate space altogether, we have ideas for making this area a stress-free and productive zone.
1. Make Sure It’s Organized, Well-Lit, and Personal
Two essentials for your child’s workspace are a reasonably large work surface and comfortable seating. Whether it’s a space for elementary-aged children or a teenager’s bedroom, good lighting will ensure your child can read comfortably without eye strain. A combination of ambient lighting, like a ceiling fixture, and task lighting, like a desk lamp, is ideal. This is especially important if you have a teenager who usually enjoys sitting in a dark bedroom.
Finally, let your child take part in personalizing their study space so they’ll feel cozy and be less likely to think of homework as a chore. Your child might feel bolstered by having a favorite stuffed animal beside them to “help” study spelling words, for example.
2. Keep It Free Of Distractions and Noise
Other family members should respect “homework time.” If your child is easily distracted, a secluded, quiet spot is best. If a separate area isn’t an option, establish a routine so that it’s clear that focus is important at that time.
Unless required for homework, TVs, tablets, phones, and computers should be turned off. Soft background music might be fine…in fact, classical music has been proven to be the best for concentration as it will help your brain absorb and interpret new information more easily. Playlists can be found online for free.
Keep the area free of clutter and items on the wall should be at a minimum as they can be distracting as well.
3. Stay Easily Accessible Yourself
If your child is more comfortable working while other people are near, choose a corner of the living room or kitchen. Proximity allows you to answer your child’s questions easily — or offer a boost of self-esteem. Offering praise such as, “You are doing a great job answering those questions in complete sentences” or talking through problems with them can go a long way toward empowering students.
4. Keep It Stocked With the Needed Supplies
Wherever your study zone is, make sure you have the necessary supplies to avoid interruptions. For younger children, this might be extra erasers, arts and crafts materials, a pencil sharpener, etc. For older children, include highlighters, mechanical pencils, graph paper, etc. Use jars to hold supplies, or stackable plastic cubes or even a shoebox for a more portable option.
While creating a homework space will probably not generate any great ROI (return on investment) in terms of money, it WILL provide a huge return on children’s mental health and academic progress, and that is invaluable. Feel free to ask your real estate agent from F.C. Tucker Emge for their insights on homework spaces they see as they tour homes. And remember, our agents can also point you to professionals who can assist you if your project becomes larger than anticipated.
For all of the latest information on our local real estate market in Southwestern Indiana, you can always trust the professionals at F.C. Tucker Emge. Our agents have superior training and resources at their disposal so they can better educate you about the road to homeownership. Even if you are 6-12 months (or more!) out from making a change, there is a lot to learn about the home buying and selling process, and our agents can help you learn what you need to know so that you can be confident in your decision and have a smooth experience when the time comes. Let’s Talk!
