As kids head back to school this month, the homework will soon start, so this is the perfect time to set up a study space for kids to call their own. Here are some tips for creating the perfect study area–even if you have a small space:
Location
Ideally, your homework station should be somewhere quiet with lots of natural light. However, if you are tight on space, it might not be easy to find such a location. Look for unused spaces such as a hallway or bedroom closet (clean out clutter and store seasonal items offsite by using a company such as MakeSpace) and turn it into a study nook by simply adding a vibrant paint color, some shelves and a desk. Consider taking the door off its hinges if a closet space seems too snug. Don’t have any unused space? Create a mobile study station like this one from 4 Men 1 Lady–they have upcycled a metal library cart into an all-in-one study area.
Storage
Supplies and paper should be readily accessible at all times. Labeled see-through bins are great for storing writing utensils and art supplies, but if you are running low on space consider purchasing an over-the-door organizer with see-through pockets, make sure you hang it low enough for kids to reach. For papers, hang a mail organizer on the wall or inside a door to house loose leaf, printer and construction paper. If your homework station is more mobile, invest in a rollaway cart with drawers like this one from Wayfair–simply wheel it out when it is time to study and wheel it back in its place when you are done.
Supplies
Now that you have a place to study and a place to store supplies, you need…supplies. Stock up on writing utensils, paper (loose leaf, graph and construction), art supplies (scissors, glue, tape) and basic office items (stapler, paper clips). In addition, you should keep study resources like a calculator, ruler and dictionary (yes, the print kind) on hand as well as items like poster board for those “I-forgot-to-tell-you-it’s-due-tomorrow” projects. Still not sure what you need to have on hand? Simply buy double of everything on the school supply list–keeping the duplicates at home.
Organization
Your homework station is a great place to gather and manage tasks, due dates and materials. Turn an unused drawer into a home filing system, color-coding tabs and folders to go with each subject, make sure you include a folder for those “need-to-get-back-to-school” forms. Hang a bulletin board or dry erase board on the wall where you can post schedules and write down important dates (or inspirational phrases!). Invest in a weekly planner for your child–having them get into a habit of writing down assignments and test dates as soon as they are given. Another tip for keeping papers organized? Put two boxes by where your child hangs his or her backpack–one for recycling old papers and one for papers that need to go to the homework station. This makes it easy for kids to clean out backpacks on a daily basis.
Talk to us: What is your best tip for creating a homework station?
image courtesy of flickr CC/Scott Akerman