#teacherparent

Hi everyone, this is my very first post! The first thing I wanted to chat about because I think it is a very universal subject, is setting up a dedicated workspace for your kids at home. Whether your children are attending school, or being homeschooled, they are still going to need a dedicated space for them to work.

First, let's talk about where to set up. The most obvious choice would be your child's bedroom, this should be more of a fall back if you really do not have another option. The reason is that there are just too many distractions in your kid's bedroom and concentrating will require a Herculean effort from them. You want to make getting started as easy as possible for your kids! It’s best to set up their workspace in a separate room, especially if your child struggles with concentration and is distracted easily.

However, many of us don’t have the luxury of a spare room just lying around. Unused. If your choices are limited, it is 100% viable to set up a study space in your child's bedroom. Just remember it needs to be clearly demarcated as a workspace. They cannot study on their bed and will need a desk and chair minimum. Keep the space away from the rest of the activity of the room.  Your child must be able to see the change between work and play.

Create a clutter-free space for your kids to work, or have them create it themselves if they are old enough! Ideally, a space without too many distractions or knick-knacks lying about. However, try not to make the space feel too empty and impersonal. While you want your kids to concentrate, you also want them to feel comfortable and at ease. This will help them achieve good results. Include pictures or posters on the wall, a favourite cushion for them to sit on or a manipulative toy. Make sure all stationary necessary for work is within reach so your child won't have to constantly get up to get something they need.

Manipulative toys are great study aids as they channel frustration and excess energy and provide a controlled outlet for this without hampering concentration. For younger kids, try tying a rubber band around the bottom of the legs of the chair they are sitting on, high enough for them to rest their feet on. The aim is for them to bounce their feet on this band to release excess energy, instead of getting up and moving around or bouncing in their seat. Older children will benefit from playdough or stress balls

The picture above is a great example of a clutter-free worspace set up in your childs room. You could create extr, neat stoarge by lining up or stacking toy boxes against the wall. If you have a lot of ‘stuff’, present it in the most organised way possible. Satioanry can be stored in movable mobiles. This way when your child is working, they can have all they need close at hand, When they are finished, the mobile can simply be rolled out of the way for easy storage. Look at the pictures below as examples of toy and stationary storage.

If you are able to set up your childs workspace outside of their bedroom, pick a space that is away from the main activity of the house. You don’t want your child to hear the phone ring, the doorbell, the TV or people talking. These are going to make concentration near to impossible for them and will probably make them feel annoyed and frustrated. If this happens, your child will not be able to complete any work and it will also not be their fault. Light is another consideration, you need a room that is well lit and has good airflow. A stuffy space with bad lighting can make your child lethargic and sleepy.

Those are my tips for creating not only the best but also the most functional workspace for your child. Please make sure to keep the space age-appropriate and consider your child's needs as well as the outcome you wish to achieve. Keep your kid in the loop and ask for their input and suggestions. They will be working in the space and their preferences should be a consideration.