Consider placement.
Your child’s age will impact the type of environment they need.
For older children who are able to do their work fairly independently, a location away from the majority of the traffic in the house will help to maintain focus.
For a younger student who needs a little more help or guidance, finding a Homework Zone where parents will be nearby and able to monitor or assist may be a better option.
Select the right furniture.
The physical requirements of a study space are pretty basic. You need a desk and chair that are the right height for your child, and will offer enough storage room for any supplies they need. Comfort is important, so make sure you shop with the student when selecting the right chair.Ensuring that the area is well organized will help to reduce distractions and generally make it feel like this is a place for work.
Stock up on Homework Zone supplies.
You’ll want to make sure that an effective Homework Zone is well stocked with whatever supplies your child needs for school. This could be plenty of notebooks and writing utensils, graph paper and rulers, or child-safe scissors and construction paper.Choose the appropriate lighting and color.
Choosing lighting that will fully illuminate the work space, without creating glare is important as well. Make sure if you go with a desk lamp that it won’t generate too much heat or shine right into your student’s eyes.Color can play an important role in setting the tone for work time. When painting the Homework Zone, think about your child’s age and do a little research on what sort of color scheme is most conducive to learning at that developmental stage.
For younger children, big patches of bright, primary colors are a great choice, whereas older kids seem to prefer more muted blues and greens to encourage relaxation and focus.
Red and orange are not generally recommended for learning environments, and a variety of colors have been shown to prevent boredom or passivity.
Decorate the Homework Zone to minimize distraction.
Decorating The Homework Zone with images that are consistent with the themes of learning and exploration is a great idea, but try not to choose anything that will be too distracting.Including a cork or bulletin board will give you a space to display success stories and encouragement, such as projects with good grades, art work, and important things to remember in the near future.
Instituting a Cell Phone Blockade can help keep distractions to a minimum as well. Banning them doesn’t count, but confiscating them or checking them at the door of the Homework Zone can really make a difference in focus and effectiveness.
These tips can really help to mitigate the Homework Wars, but nothing will be as effective as clear communication and consistent scheduling. Making homework a priority by setting a specific, non-negotiable time to focus on learning will help make it a part of your daily routine, instead of a daily battle.
Are you looking for tips for decorating your home? Visit ComFree.com for ideas!
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