How to: set up a homework space for kids at home

Children, like their parents, are spending more time working at home than ever before due to the coronavirus pandemic. It has fast become the norm to set up suitable and more permanent, dedicated workspaces for schoolwork and online learning at home. Whether you’ve designed a new homework space from scratch or converted a room or small corner into a working area, here are some homework space ideas and tips on how to make sure it’s comfortable and conducive to learning for your child.

The homework space

You might have the luxury of a dedicated space you can set up in which your child can work, or you might be using a portion of another room, like a bedroom, dining room or kitchen. Whatever the case, think about the way your child works best.

If they need complete quiet, try to find a secluded spot. If that’s not possible, consider noise-cancelling headphones or try to draw up a schedule to keep the area in which they will be working clear and free from noise and activity during the time they need to use it.

If your child works better with some “background buzz”, it might work best if they use a communal home space, like a kitchen, or share a workspace with a parent or sibling. You can play non-distracting music (like classic instrumental music) at a low level in the background if it helps, but make sure the TV is switched off.

Seating and desk space

Just like adults, kids need workspaces that allow them to work comfortably. This means a desk or table and a comfortable chair with adequate support. Make sure these are height-appropriate for your child. If their feet can’t reach the floor when sitting on the chair, stack some books or find a box on which they can rest their feet.

You can also offer a rolled-up towel or a small pillow to your child to put between the back of the chair and their lower back to provide height-appropriate lumbar support.

Make sure the desk or table space is clutter-free and that there is enough space to spread out your child’s school books, computer, stationery and so on.

Screen smarts

If your child is spending lots of time on Zoom classes or online work, ensure you have the computer set up ergonomically. The monitor should be level with your child’s head, directly in front of them, about 45cm to 75cm away. Screen glare can cause eye strain, so check that there’s no glare on the screen or consider a screen glare protector. Also ensure your child takes regular breaks away from the desk and screen.

Hygiene

Make sure your child’s workspace is clean and hygienic at all times. Eating should happen in a different space, and the desk surface should be cleaned regularly (at least once a day). If you are creating a new workspace from scratch, choose hygienic materials with antibacterial properties, like PG Bison’s MelaWood®.

Have tissues available, as well as a wastepaper bin for disposing of them once used. Encourage your child to wash hands frequently and thoroughly.

Supplies and organising

Make sure your child has everything they need for working, from the correct stationery to enough scrap material and healthy snacks for breaks away from the desk. Then ensure everything is organised so your child can find what they need, when they need it.

You can keep seldom-used stationery like glue and scissor tucked away neatly in a drawer or container, but make sure things that are used throughout the day, like pencils, pens and notebooks are organised easily and within reach on the desk or close to it.

Managing time

Set up a schedule to help your child into a schoolwork routine at home. It is helpful to have them get up at the same time, have breakfast and get ready, as if they were going to school. Lying around in their pyjamas, in front of the TV, is not beneficial to getting their schoolwork done. If you are unsure what will work best, ask your child’s teacher for help and ideas.