How to Develop a Productive & Creative Workspace for Your Kids

As a parent, have you ever sat down at a cluttered kitchen table with paperwork to fill out, e-mails to check or a weekly planner that needs tending only to be distracted by the mess on the table, the loudness of the TV in the next room or just the general chaos of everyday living space? If you answered yes, we can commiserate. If you answered no, well we would like to take a vacation at your house. The truth is that your children’s homework needs their undivided attention and often that can be hard to achieve in the midst of everything going on in your house. Making them a designated and organized area for school assignments will not only provide them a comfortable and pleasant area to do their homework but it will give them a place free of distractions.

Step #1: Select the Right Setting

Here are a few things to consider:

 A private area to focus can result in increased success in school.

Creating a spot that your child will use everyday can help them to establish a routine for completing school assignments.

A designated space (along with a designated time) for completing homework will help them get into good study habits. An organized workspace will help them study free from distraction.

A specifically designed homework area will help kids get and keep themselves better organized without the need to constantly clear away other paraphernalia.

Step #2: Find the Best Flow

When designing this space be sure that they have enough space to spread out. Nowadays, school work often includes the use of books, worksheets and even computers just for small assignments. One of the keys to organization is keeping the desk or tabletop clear to allow for a neat and clutter free work area, which will allow them to be more efficient.

If you don’t have a full extra room to dedicate to a homework space, don’t worry! Kids certainly don’t need a whole room. A corner in their bedroom, in an already established office, basement, old playroom or just an unused nook with a small desk will work perfectly! Even the smallest of spaces can become cozy little corners for them to work in.

Step #3: Add Ample Storage

There will still be a pile of loose papers floating around their workspace. These handy file-folder bins will leave more space on their desk to actually get work done. Your kid is school supply-obsessed and probably has a million different doo-dads. Keep their thumbtacks, staples, art supplies, and favorite pens organized with a peg board. They can customize the containers and shelves to suit their needs and style.

Step #4: Determine Daily Systems

This family-friendly office space,  helps busy families transform “work time” into family time.

Having an adult study buddy makes after-school assignments more fun, and by sharing a workspace with the kids, parents can stay on top of their own to-do list while being on hand to offer all the help and encouragement their kiddos need. A family computer lab ensures computer access for all while allowing for adequate parental supervision. A slender, bench-like table offers multiple workstations in a relatively small space and could easily be tucked against any unused wall.

Step #5: Finish as a Family

A fun way to get everyone involved in this process is to come together and choose playful color schemes, entertaining and educational tools to make this a fun experience that can put "fun" into school work.

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Warmly,

Sharlene and Nikki