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Kids' Study Spaces Earn High Marks
Eliminate excuses for ditching homework with a well-designed, personalized space for your kids to hit the books
It feels enticingly like summer lately in the Midwest, and I’m sure kids everywhere are getting the itch to ditch the books for the great outdoors. Unfortunately, this early streak of warm temperatures is a bit of a tease: It may feel like school is out, but homework is still on the table.
If you’re having trouble luring your kids indoors to finish their assignments, consider sprucing up their study area. It’s hard to make it as tantalizing as a sunny backyard, but there are certainly ways to improve its aesthetic and functionality — perfect for cracking a few quadratic equations.
If you’re having trouble luring your kids indoors to finish their assignments, consider sprucing up their study area. It’s hard to make it as tantalizing as a sunny backyard, but there are certainly ways to improve its aesthetic and functionality — perfect for cracking a few quadratic equations.
Instead of using an everyday desk and chair, consider unusual designs and different layouts. You never know; they could just inspire your child to become a designer.
Spruce up the area with fresh paint. In fact, let your children tag along with you to the paint store so they can help decide. A room painted in a color they love and choose will give them a sense of ownership and pride in the space, hopefully urging them to spend more time in it. (A TV may not be the best idea, though.)
If painting the walls is out of the question, get creative by sprucing up the desk. Give it a fresh coat of paint or add patterned liners inside the drawers for a hit of color each time your kids go hunting for a pencil.
Just as you would in your own office, accessorize your kids’ workspace with things they love. These make it more personalized and comfortable, and less like a barren desk that screams work, work, work.
Install a bulletin board so your kids can pin up anything from homework to-do lists to their latest art projects. Fill it with decorative pieces so the space feels lively and inspiring.
Equip the space with the appropriate supplies. This will keep your kids from wandering to your storage closet to “look for crayons,” only to escape to the swing set when your back is turned.
If you have two or more children, figure out how they learn best. Do they prefer to study together? If so, set up the desk so it can accommodate two. Your kids may be more inclined to come inside if they know they can at least be in each other’s company while studying.
If you have the space, create a truly collaborative study environment. Encourage your kids to work together to solve their homework problems. Studying feels less like a chore when everyone teams up.
Perhaps your kids prefer their own personal space. Allocating a desk to each child will give them adequate storage for their individual items and supplies. Don’t forget to have a little fun with the décor; playful wallpaper and bright colors make for a much more enjoyable study room.
Finally, try your best to bring the sunshine in by setting up a study area near windows. If kids can’t be outside, at least they can feel the fresh air while tackling the ins and outs of photosynthesis.
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More:
Enriching Children in the Summer
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