During the Covid pandemic, homeschooling reached its peak as schools shuttered and children were required to remain at home for extended periods. Although many individuals acknowledged this measure as vital, it posed challenges for numerous families. Subsequently, schools have resumed their regular operations, yet there are still families who opt for homeschooling their children.
When it comes to homeschooling children, it can be highly effective, particularly for kids who face difficulties in regular schools or have specific requirements. However, it is crucial to designate a suitable space for their studies, ensuring they have enough room to work without disturbing the rest of the family.
1. Create a Dedicated Space for Working
You may not have a dedicated room for home schooling, but it is necessary to have a table and chair. The table should be spacious enough to accommodate all their tasks. For younger kids, the table should also be appropriate for crafts, art, and writing activities. Ideally, a large dining room table, like a square table for 6 people, would be perfect as it can serve both as a home schooling spot during the day and as a dining table for family meals at night.
The option of having a homeschool workstation in their bedroom may be favored by older children; however, caution should be exercised. The issue with permitting kids to work in their bedrooms stems from the uncertainty of whether they will actually complete their tasks.
2. Have a Study Wall
If you want to make homeschooling feel more like school, you can designate one wall in the work area for your child’s artwork, educational posters, maps, and any other relevant materials, just like the walls at school that have various educational displays and fun things to look at.
3. Supervise Your Kids
For home schooling to be effective, it is essential to allocate time for supervising your children. Similar to traditional schooling, it is probable that your kids will seek clarifications or require your guidance regarding their assignments. It is also possible that you will assume responsibility for designing lesson plans and assigning tasks to them. In any case, it is not feasible to leave them unsupervised throughout the day.
4. Line Them Up
You can create a single homework zone that caters to multiple kids by utilizing a free wall and installing shelves. Assign each child their own designated shelf to avoid any confusion regarding ownership of items.
5. Set Up Shop
According to Karen Aronian, Ed.D., from Aronian Educational Design LLC, a company that creates learning spaces, you can empower your child by allowing them to have a say. Although certain children who are easily distracted may prefer having a desk in their room, most preschoolers and elementary-age children would rather be in the vicinity of activities, says Aronian. Additionally, this will also bring them closer to you, enabling you to address their inquiries and assist them in remaining focused on their tasks.
Consider transforming a dining room that is not frequently used into a dedicated space for learning.
According to Julie Morgenstern, a professional organizer and author of Time to Parent, kids benefit from having a separate area where they can switch their mindset and be fully prepared to concentrate. If you don’t have an extra room, experts suggest alternatives such as placing a small table in the family room, assigning a specific area in the kitchen, or repurposing a nook beneath the stairs.
6. Sort It Out
It is common knowledge that kids’ areas can quickly become cluttered with worksheets, arts and crafts, or tubs of slime. However, the more disorganized the workspace becomes, the more difficult it will be for your child to concentrate. Keep papers and art supplies in containers placed in a nearby cabinet or on a shelf. Utilize labels or transparent containers so that children can easily maintain the organization system.
According to Kathy Jenkins, owner of Come to Order and a Certified Professional Organizer who assists in preparing homes and students, individuals prefer to acquire frequently used objects such as pencils from a desktop organizer or buckets suspended from a rail above the desk, rather than removing a lid or opening a drawer. Additionally, a corkboard serves as a reminder board and includes a calendar.
7. Size Accordingly
According to Sari Ockner, a pediatric occupational therapist in Los Angeles, it is important to have an ergonomic setup for your child’s posture and to support their writing skills. While your child may appear comfortable on their bed, if they do not have the correct body position while writing, they will exert more effort and are more likely to produce messy handwriting.
According to Ola Sinelnikova, an ergonomist and kinesiologist for Humanscale, an ergonomic office furniture company, it is advised that your child’s desk should be at or slightly below resting elbow height when he is sitting. Additionally, his feet should be firmly on the floor.
According to Sinelnikova, adult tables and chairs can be modified to be adjustable or kid-size. To do this, start by placing a pillow on the chair seat and another behind the back to help move the person forward until their knees extend approximately 2 inches in front of the chair. Next, position a box on the floor to support their feet, ensuring that their thighs are nearly parallel to the ground.
8. Transform a Corner
You can achieve this without needing a stunning view or fancy curtains. All you need to do is add some fluffy floor pillows to create a cozy enough space to relax with an iPad or book. If there is no sunlight coming from a window, you can include a sconce or even a stick-on, battery-powered tap light.
9. Block Distractions
If there are difficulties with siblings sharing a space in your house, a possible solution is to use a tall bookshelf to separate their desks. Alternatively, if they are seated at the same table, you can use trifold boards or tabletop screens made from a cardboard box to divide their space. In the case of a wandering toddler, it may be more suitable to keep her behind a baby gate.
According to Aronian, to block out background noise while a big brother is playing Minecraft at high volume, one can use a white-noise machine or a fan. Noise-canceling headphones are also recommended, particularly for children who prefer studying with music. It is advisable to listen to instrumental tracks, as research indicates that songs with lyrics have a detrimental impact on concentration.
To help a child with attention difficulties, it is suggested that their workspace should be positioned in a way that they face a wall, instead of facing into a room or out a window. Ockner advises that if the child struggles to stay still and focused, sitting on an inflatable wiggle seat or an exercise ball could be beneficial.
Here’s another expert suggestion to borrow: Prepare a bowl filled with fidget toys that your child can easily access whenever they experience restlessness. Include items like a polished stone, gummy erasers, a stress ball, or some LEGO pieces.
