Help Your Child Study Better With The Best Homework Station

Getting kids to study is never easy, but if they don't have a good area to do their homework in it becomes downright impossible. It is easy for kids to become distracted when they're in the wrong area or don't have what they need at their desk, so you can make it as easy as possible for them by creating the perfect homework station.

At Spotlight we have an amazing range of office supplies, as well as school essentials for all kinds of work. But how do you combine these in your home with a desk and other accessories to create the best study desk set up for your child? We've gathered our best study set up ideas here so you can create an amazing kids' study area to help your child do their best in school, and set them up for great study and learning habits they'll take into the rest of their life. Read on and discover the best study desk ideas for your family!

Quick Links:

• Why A Good Homework Station Is Important
• How To Set Up A Homework Station
• How To Motivate Kids To Study

Why A Good Homework Station Is Important

Let's face it, after seven or eight hours at school you can't blame kids for not wanting to do even more schoolwork at home! So making the process as easy as possible is important, and that starts with the right kids' study area. Having a well set up study area will make homework easier to complete, and may make starting the process a little less intimidating too.

The wrong homework station can cause your child to become distracted, fatigued and can even contribute to back pain, neck pain and strained eyes - many of the problems that face adults who work in offices. So set them up for life with the right study desk set up, as not only will it help them build good study and work skills, but it will also keep them from developing office-related injuries in the future!

How To Set Up A Homework Station

Now that you know why a good homework station is so important, let's go about setting up your own. Letting your child help set up the station will ensure you can cater to their tastes in colour and size, helping make the space more comfortable and ensuring they'll enjoy using it.

Choice of room

The room your child should do their homework in will depend on their age - younger kids should study in an area like the kitchen or dining room, as parents will often need to step in to help them complete their tasks.

Older kids will benefit from a proper study room or office, although if you can't spare a room then a quiet corner in a lesser-used area will do the job.

The room or space will need a power point available for a laptop or tablet, as well as enough space for a desk and chair.

In an ideal world, a kids' study area will also have a window that can let in natural light. Working by natural light is much less harsh on the eyes, plus it gives your child a long-distance point to look at when they need to rest their eyes and access to fresh air if they need it. A table lamp is also useful for when an extra dose of bright light may be needed.

Study desk set up

The right study desk for your child will be one that is big enough for them to sit at and work comfortably, without hunching over. The chair they use should also be the right size and angle for them to sit on. Make sure the desk and chair are the right height for your child by checking out this separate guide here!

The desk will need to be wide enough that they can fit what they need on top with space to spare - this will usually be with a laptop or an open exercise book. You might like to also make sure there is room for a water bottle, pencil case and any other extras your child may need for their subject.

If you think this all be too much to keep on a desk, consider finding a desk with drawers or adding extra storage to the study space for all these little extras. This will ensure they are on hand, but not out in the open and potentially distracting your child while they work.

The best tools for the job

Once you have your study desk set up, let's look to the little things your child will need to have on hand. While larger things like a laptop or exercise book are a given, make sure you have these things on hand as well:

• A small waste bin - whether its pencil sharpenings, flakes from rubbing out pencil mistakes or just a scrunched-up ball of paper, having a bin on hand will really help keep the homework station clean. It also means your child doesn't need to get up to go to the bin all the time.
• Helpful tables in view - if your child is allowed to work from guidelines such as multiplication tables, chemistry equations or visual graphs, have these out in full view. You could even create a corkboard pinned with these images so your child doesn't have to get them out every time they need to use them. If they are single copies from school, make your own copy to keep at home so your child doesn't have to worry about ferrying them to and fro.
• Loose-leaf paper - you never know when you'll need an extra sheet of loose-leaf paper, so make sure to keep a pack on hand for when your child needs them. Whether it's for practising equations or refilling a binder, loose-leaf paper is always useful to have on hand!

Make sure any study desk ideas you want to implement have space for these extras without making the desk look cluttered!

Study snacks

The right snacks can help your child to focus and keep their energy levels stable as they work. It will also prevent them from wandering into the kitchen when they get bored! Good snacks for kids to study with include:

• Dried nuts like almonds and seeds like sunflower seeds - they're filled with amino acids and healthy fats, plus they can help improve your memory and cognitive functions.
• Greek yogurt and fruit - Greek yogurt will fill them up and help relieve stress, plus a few pieces of fruit mixed in will give them an energy boost and deliver some key vitamins and fibre.
• Dark chocolate - kids with a sweet tooth can sate their cravings with dark chocolate. Dark chocolate (and we mean at least 70% cocoa) can provide energy and antioxidants, help them focus and even give them some endorphins - their happy hormones!
• Berries - filled with antioxidants and energy, berries like blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and cherries are great for kids to snack on while they study. They will also satisfy sweet food cravings in a healthy way.
• Plain popcorn - while it might not taste as good when it's not slathered in butter and salt, plain popcorn is a tasty and filling snack that will keep hunger pangs at bay. Add a pinch of salt and a few drops of oil if you really need to!
• Veggie sticks and dip - easy to prepare and super tasty, veggie sticks and dip will fill you up while providing vital minerals and vitamins, Dips like hummus and tzatziki are good choices, along with cucumber, carrot and celery sticks.

Water is the best drink they can study with, although a cup of green tea, black tea with milk or even a healthy fruit or veggie smoothie can all help keep your child hydrated while they work. Avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee and energy drinks, as your child will quickly fall into an energy low after consuming them.

Distractions to avoid

As hard as it can be, try to encourage your child to stay off their phone while doing homework, as well as keep track of if they are using a laptop or tablet while studying. School devices will have locks to prevent your child from accessing sites that aren't related to school work, but if they use a personal device then you may need to set some locks or limits in place when it is time for homework.

Other family members and pets can unintentionally distract your child while they study, so make sure the whole family is on board for when it's time to study and when it's time to socialise. This can be hard to do if your child is doing homework in a communal space, so it's especially important to keep siblings and curious pets out of the way!

How To Motivate Kids To Study

Unless the homework assigned is particularly fun, your child probably won't be super keen to get it done after school. Here are some tips on helping motivate your child to get their homework done:

• Discover how they learn - every child learns best in a different way, and figuring out what this is can in turn help them study more effectively. Whether it be writing notes, reading passages aloud or making visual cues to help them remember, the right learning style will go a long way to making studying at home easier!
• Get some exercise in - exercise can help clear your child's mind after a long day at school, so encourage them to partake in some physical activity before doing any homework. Whether it's a walk around the block, a play session at the local playground or shooting hoops for half an hour, fresh air and exercise will help refresh your child and help them settle into studying when they get home.
• Carry the momentum from school - on the other hand, your child may like to get straight into their homework after school and get it done so they can relax afterwards. This is fine (they may even like to stay in their uniform!), but ensure your child doesn't burn out this way. Encourage them to take a tea break before they start and make sure they have access to some snacks as they work.
• Find out what's worrying them - if your child is hesitant to begin their homework, try to find out the reason why and address it. Maybe they did poorly on a test at school and are now feeling worried about the subject, or they are struggling to understand the content but are too nervous to ask for help. As a parent, you have many ways to help - the important thing is to make sure your child is comfortable opening up to you, so they know they can always come to you for help.

Reward learning milestones, not test results - praising your child for their accomplishments at school helps them build positive associations with study and homework, but what if your child is struggling academically? Rather than rewarding test results or awards, praise your child for milestones, no matter how small. Perhaps they finally solved a tricky maths problem, or they finished reading a book they were struggling with. Rewards like a sweet treat, extra TV time or a round of their favourite game can go a long way!

Discover Study Desk Ideas With Spotlight

We hope you've found some kids' study room ideas you like! You can create an amazing homework station with stationery and school supplies from Spotlight, which you can find online (quickly pay and have them home delivered) or at your nearest Spotlight store.

Help your kids enjoy school by making any of our back-to-school projects together! And don't forget to check our school stationary supplies category for everything your child needs for school.