Where are our kids supposed to do their homework? At the kitchen table with the leftover pizza? On the dining room table between the piles of laundry and papers? Or at the desk in their room after it’s unearthed from all the clothes?
It’s no secret that the kitchen and dining room tables are the most popular homework locations. Maybe it’s because of the strong overhead lighting or the large open space to work on, but most probably because they can be close to Mommy… How can we make these spaces work for us without creating more mess in the central locations of the home?
- Disguise your school supplies in pretty baskets or decorative boxes on your bookcase or on a kitchen shelf. Place it on the table when working and back on the shelf when done.
- Closed furniture units in the dining room or family room can provide loads of hidden storage. It may appear as if your best china is stored in there, and when opened you have all your school books!
- Spend some time working out systems for the clutter on the dining room table. Sometimes just a new magazine rack for the week’s circulars or a better laundry folding system can clear up potential homework space.
- Try designating a homework nook in an under-utilized area of the room, using visual cues. Define the floor space with an area rug or the wall space with an accent wall. Put a fold-down table and you’re done.
- Organize school supplies (pens, highlighters, scissors , stapler) in a container, a cutlery caddy, or well stocked pencil case which can be easily transported to wherever homework is being done.
- Figure out if you can improve the conditions of her bedroom so that she’ll do homework there. Discuss your child’s homework needs with her. Do her siblings bother her while she’s working? Does she need more paper filing space? A proper shelf to store her school books? More desk space? Her own supplies? Solutionize together and personalize her work space to create the perfect set-up.
