Creating A Study Space That Works For Your Child

After a long relaxing summer, it can be challenging to get your children back on an academic schedule, which often involves a full day of school, extra curricular activities, and homework/studying in the evenings and on weekends. Help make this transition a little easier for your kids by making sure they have a study space that works for them!

Having a designated place to do homework is a good start, but not all kids are created equal and not all study spaces work for all children. Consider your child’s specific habits and needs:

● Does your child need absolute silence or does he/she fare better with some noise or activity nearby?
● What kind of supplies does your child need? This will vary depending on the student’s age and classes.
● How easily distracted is your child?
● What motivates your child, being alone or having others around?

 Choosing A Space

Once you’ve assessed your child, choose a space in your home that will work best. If he/she is easily distracted and needs silence, set up space in a bedroom or somewhere away from the activity of the home. If your child does better with noise and activity nearby, then perhaps set him/her up at the kitchen table or in the family room. Wherever you choose, make sure the space is well lit and comfortable. Ensure that the work surface is neat and organized and that the chair is the right height. While you want your child to be comfortable make sure the space isn’t TOO comfortable. For example lounging on a bed might be more conducive to falling asleep than completing a reading assignment. Also, don’t forget about lighting. As we head into late fall and winter, your kids will likely be doing their homework after the sun sets, so make sure there is plenty of light including a desk lamp on the work surface.

Supplies

What type of supplies does your student need? Younger children will likely need the basics like pens and pencils but also binder paper, crayons, markers, scissors, glue sticks and so on. As they get older, students may also need calculators, highlighters, rulers, as well as a computer and perhaps access to a printer. Keep all supplies organized in a nearby drawer or container so that they aren’t cluttering the work surface. Also help your child keep his or her backpack and schoolwork organized in order to save time and frustration

Eliminate Distractions

In this tech heavy era, it can seem like our kids’ phones are an additional appendage since they never put them down. However, phones can be a huge distraction while trying to study. It’s so tempting to reply to a text, check in on Instagram, or take a cute selfie. If your students are easily distracted by technology, have them put their phones in another room while they are doing homework. If they are working in the main part of your home, make sure to keep the television off. As for music and other noise, some kids are able to concentrate with it but others are not. If your child likes to play music while doing his or her homework and the work is getting done, then there’s no reason not to allow it. But if you know that your child is too easily distracted or unable to focus with background noise, then make sure they are working in a quiet space.

Stay Nearby

It’s important that your children learn to do their homework independently but having a parent or adult nearby is both helpful and comforting. This is especially true for younger children. They may need you for guidance or to actually help with homework. But remember, while you want to help your children wherever possible, resist giving them the answers or doing too much of their homework for them. If your children do their homework in a more remote area of your home, just make sure they know you’re there if they need anything. Ideally, as students get into middle and high school, they may be capable and responsible enough to manage their homework and stay on track on their own, but it’s still comforting for them to know that you are available if they need you.

Keep It Tidy

Make sure that your kids make a habit of straightening up their work space each day once they finish their homework. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but put all supplies away and stack papers neatly. You might want to provide organizational tools such as a small plastic bin or box to hold supplies, a file folder organizer, or a letter tray. It is always less stressful to sit down at a neat work space to begin homework rather than walking into a mess and having to shove a bunch of stuff out of the way just to find a small area to work!

Homework Time

Finding the ideal time to do homework again may vary from one child to the next. After a full day at school, some kids may need to relax and unwind for an hour or two after school. Some may be headed off to an extracurricular activity such as practice for a sport, dance class, musical instrument lesson, religious school and so on. Some students may prefer to buckle down right after school and get their work done so the rest of the evening is free. Whatever the case, let your child’s schedule and temperament be the guide to determining when to do homework. Also, as students get older, they will have not only more homework, but more long term projects, essays, group projects and other academic assignments that need to be done over a period of time. Having a calendar and/or white board at the study space is another great tool for keeping your students on track. They can write down due dates for long term assignments and also set benchmarks to stay on track so that they don’t leave all of the work until right before the assignment is due. Time management is a skill that will not only help your children get through school with less stress but also be an asset in college and beyond as their lives get busier.

Studying Outside The Home

If your child has a hard time studying productively at home, there are other solutions. Libraries can provide a quiet space for studying, free of any temptations or distractions they may have at home. Also, Synergy Academics operates a Study Center, open everyday. Students work in cubicles or private rooms. There is always a proctor available to answer questions or help the students study. Since Synergy Academics is completely focused on academic performance and learning, the atmosphere is very conducive to learning and everyone is very motivated, positive and caring. This can be a great solution for students to complete their homework then go home to enjoy the rest of their evening stress-free. Check out our promotions for special offers on booking time in the Study Center!