Stress-Free Back to School: Setting Up a Homework Zone

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source: jcbwalsh

source: jcbwalsh

Do you have a homework zone set up in your home?

It doesn’t have to be a dedicated room, but having a dedicated space for homework time with easily accessible supplies helps children focus on their homework and complete it without being distracted by clutter or chaos.

For older kids and teens, this might be a corner of their bedroom with a desk and computer. For younger kids, it may just be the kitchen table or a corner of the counter.

The keys are having a space that is clear of surface clutter and keeping the basic supplies they need in a convenient location. If you’re not using a desk for the homework zone, you could fill a basket with extra lined paper and pencils as well as a ruler and any other supplies they need on a regular basis, or you could use a drawer in your kitchen or coffee table.

Help kids set up a system for completed school work. A lot of it will need to go in their binder  or a folder to take back to school. However, some of it can be filed away, and some may need to be kept in file trays or organizers on the desk for easy reference.

It’s important to consider the atmosphere of the area as well. While having kids do homework in the main area of your home may be convenient and seem like a good idea, it could also lead to a lot of distractions if your home is a busy one.  You might consider playing soft music or using aromatherapy to help them focus.

As with everything, it’s important to be flexible. You may find that your first setup isn’t working well for everyone and that you need to move things around to find a homework zone that will work. Don’t be afraid to try a few different things!

Do you have a dedicated homework zone for your kids? What’s the biggest challenge in setting one up? What’s the best thing you’ve included as part as your homework zone?

About the Author

Mandi Ehman

Hi. My name is Mandi and I’m an organizing junkie. I’m also a wife, and Momma to four little girls (5, 3.5, 2 and a new baby!). I've worked at home since our oldest was a baby, and like a lot of other moms, my life is a constant balancing act of caring for my family and my home, meeting my obligations and finding time for hobbies in there somewhere. Oh, yeah, in the interest of full disclosure, I’m somewhat of a kitchen dunce and I only like to pretend that I’m crafty. Read more here!

7 Responses to “ Stress-Free Back to School: Setting Up a Homework Zone ”

  1. Homework zone = anywhere there’s space in the house…lol. However, I do have supply stations around the house (in the dining room, my little office, etc.) so that pencils, markers, crayons, etc. are nearby.
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  2. I’m committed to making a craft/homework room – in fact, it’s at the top of my list for projects. I’m planning to use one of those toy bin/rack things (4 rows, 3 bins per row) for storing supplies so they are easily accessible. I’ll be putting in a 6-foot table – room enough for two kids to ‘work’ (my 3 year old won’t have homework, but will need something to do while my 5 year old works on anything he brings home). We probably won’t have homework every day, but I think it’s important to set up the space and get in the habit now.
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  3. We keep a space set aside just for homeschooling so that we are not distracted by other activities we have done in that space. That being said, we also enjoy homeschooling outdoors, and out and about!

    For further information on how to get started in homeschooling, please visit http://www.YourHomeschoolCommunity.com.

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  4. We have a table in the kitchen (which used to be our regular dining table) that is used for homework and crafts. All extra supplies are kept in a rolling cart in the pantry, just steps away from the table.
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  5. [...] Stress-Free Back to School: Setting Up a Homework Zone. An excellent idea for those of us with kids heading back to school. I know I always work better with a clean, organized environment free of distractions. Even more important for kids. (@Organizing Your Way) Side note: Mandi is the newest member of The Life Skills Network! [...]

  6. [...] Stress-Free Back to School: Setting Up a Homework Zone. An excellent idea for those of us with kids heading back to school. I know I always work better with a clean, organized environment free of distractions. Even more important for kids. (@Organizing Your Way) Side note: Mandi is the newest member of The Life Skills Network! [...]

  7. [...] Setting up a homework zone. It’s back to school season here at the Homestead, and one thing we’ve been talking about is where homework will be completed this year. Thing 1 has her own desk, but Thing 2 likes to do his work in front of the TV. We’re going to help him develop a better system this year. [...]

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