*This is a guest post*
Recreation and studies are, arguably, the two most important parts of a child’s life. While studies allow the child to learn and grow, preparing them for the future, recreation allows them to exercise their imagination, have fun and enjoy their childhood. While recreation is certainly important for kids, having an area where they can concentrate on schoolwork and give it their full attention is important. For some academically minded kids, anywhere they happen to sit down with a book will be a suitable place for them to do their work and do it well- however, for others, distractions are a real problem which much be dealt with. For children who are easily distracted, a separate room for studies is a productive idea.
What Are The Benefits Of A Dedicated Study Room?
When a child is easily distracted and unable to focus on their studies, external stimulus can be one of the biggest issues to conquer. The mere sight of toys, video games and other activities that are more fun and interesting to the child than doing their homework can be enough of a distraction to completely derail them from the task at hand. In these situations, having a separate room where the child can study quietly and focus on their work can help them to better absorb the information they are learning, contributing to better classroom performance. Helping children to learn to focus by providing a quiet environment can also give them the coping skills necessary to focus more thoroughly in a classroom environment.
How Should A Dedicated Study Room Be Set Up?
Setting up a dedicated study room for a child does not need to be boring or tedious. In fact, letting the child pick out some decorations and accessories for their study room can make the process more engaging. If the child feels that doing their work in the study room is a punishment, they will not enjoy it- however, if they have input regarding the room, they are more likely to embrace the idea. A desk with pens, pencils, erasers and loose leaf paper is an important feature, as is a desk lamp. A bookshelf for school books, research information and other important literature will prevent books being lost or forgotten. An organizer for papers and other items that the child needs to keep track of will help to encourage organisation. A calendar that has important school related dates on it will help to remind the child of upcoming assignments.
If you are running out of storage space, consider buying a bunk bed with desk. This way your kid can use the bunk bed as a day bed for a retreat during the day, and the desk for storing school books and toys.
One fun addition that can be motivating is the use of a chart to reward the child for completed homework, good grades and good school behavior. If the child focuses on homework, behaves in school and gets good grades, they can earn stickers. When a certain number of stickers are earned, the child can be rewarded with a special treat, such as a trip to the zoo, a sleepover or another activity they enjoy. By using a system like this, a study room becomes a motivational tool rather than a chore.
Do you think kids should have separate study rooms and bedrooms?
Written by Kylie Ward
Kylie is a proud mum of four boys and loves DIY home improvement. Living in a small inner city apartment, she prides herself for coming up with smart space saving solutions for her home.