It’s back-to-school season, the time of year that has many children groaning…and many parents cheering. With the start of the school year, of course, comes the return of daily homework. Getting homework done can be painstaking for children and parents alike, and for many households, a big factor that causes this frustration is not having an established place where a child can do their homework.
Some children do their homework at the dining room table or in the living room. These spaces have a lot of potential for distractions, like TV noise, other family members, and pets. And when your child is distracted, they may take longer to complete their homework or may not even get it done at all.
Setting up a room or other space that will solely be used for completing homework is an excellent way to give your child a quiet, distraction-free environment for getting homework done. Here’s how you can create your own homework zone in your home:
- Find the Perfect Space
The first step in creating a homework zone for your child is to find the right space in your home to accommodate it. You want a space that’s big enough to fit the necessary furniture like a desk, chair, bookshelf, and whatever else you want to include. This space shouldn’t feel cramped or squished, and should offer plenty of room for your child’s thoughts to grow.
The beauty of creating a homework space is that there are a lot of places where it can go! A spare small bedroom or a den could be a great place to set up the homework zone. Or you could turn a corner of your own home office into a mini-office where your child will complete their homework.
You have so many possibilities for where your homework room can be located. Just make sure the area you choose is roomy, free of nearby distractions, and customizable.
- Decorate!
Just because you’re designing a space where your children will crack down on homework doesn’t mean it has to be a plain room with blank walls and bland-looking furniture! You want to create a space that your child will actually want to use. Put up posters of your child’s favorite cartoon characters or superheroes on the wall. Fill the room with colorful furniture, supplies, and accessories.
You can even ask your child how they want the space to look so you can choose decorations and furniture that they will love! Be cautious with your decorations, though, and make sure you’re still creating a quiet study space where your child can focus without distractions.
- Keep Things Organized
Furnish the homework space with everything your child will need to do their homework, but make sure it doesn’t become too cluttered. Keep the desk space clear of everything except the necessities like a pencil cup and a lamp. Make use of storage bins, magazine racks, and bookshelves to keep school supplies, papers, and other study materials in their proper place. Talk to your child and find an organization pattern that works well for them to ensure the room remains a productive, uncluttered space.
- Get into a Routine
Once you’ve designed, built, and decorated your child’s homework space, it’s important to establish a homework routine. Work with your child to set up a certain homework time during which they’ll be in the space completing their homework. This could be after they eat their post-school snack, after dinner, right before bath time, or whatever time works best for both of you. Try to make it the same time every day so that it quickly becomes a habit and your child will naturally know when it’s homework time.
Establish some guidelines for your child’s homework room to minimize distractions and keep your child on task. You may want to prohibit other family members from entering the room as your child does their homework (unless they’re assisting with homework, of course). It’s also a good idea to make sure all distracting electronics like video games, cell phones, tablets, and more stay outside the room unless they’re necessary for homework.
With a set routine and guidelines in place, soon enough, your child will be getting their homework done in their distraction-free homework zone.
Contact HB Home Services for Design Tips!
Want to create a homework room but don’t know where to begin? Contact HB Home Services! Our renovation experts have created beautiful home offices, and can create the perfect study and homework space for your child. We will work closely with you transform an existing space in your home with the perfect paint, flooring, furniture, and decorations. We are a family-operated, locally-owned home improvement company in Fairfax, VA, and we offer unparalleled customer service and quality work.
Contact us at (703) 764-0498 to get your child’s homework room started today!
