Does your child have a dedicated space for studying at home? If not, consider making it a priority in 2024 as research has found that the absence of a study space correlated to poor academic performance. In the study, it was revealed that 28.4% of British children that don't have access to a study desk or a quiet place to revise at home had lower test scores in school, particularly in Maths. Although older children are certainly capable of finding other places where they can study, having a place at home where they can comfortably read, write, and prepare for important exams can be highly beneficial in the long run. Here is the parent's guide to setting up the perfect study area for children.
Know Your Child's Learning Style
Some children prefer to study alone in a quiet place, while others like to be surrounded by other people and have some ambient noise while revising or doing a project. Because everyone has a different learning style, it's important to know your child's preferences before creating a study space in your home. For instance, if they enjoy solitude, you may need to turn an extra room into a study area. To make sure that their study space looks timeless, consider taking inspiration from home office interior design schemes. It's a good way to strike a balance between having an area that's distinctly different from your living space, but still comfortable for revising or reading for leisure.
Meanwhile, if your child prefers to be around people when studying, carve out some space in your family room or dining room for a desk and a chair. This way, they can revise without feeling isolated. You can also transform the space under the stairs into a cosy study nook, or turn an unused closet into a cloffice if you want to keep distractions to a minimum.
Make the Space Conducive to Studying
It takes more than setting up a table and chair to make a good study area. As a parent, you also need to make sure that the space is conducive to learning. For instance, placing your child's desk in front of a window may not be a good idea since they could get easily distracted by everything that's going on outside. To ensure focus, move the table to the left or right of the window so that it's facing a wall. This way, your child can still get some fresh air and natural light without getting distracted from their studies.
If the study space is too dark, install an overhead light above the desk, and add a reading lamp for better illumination. Proper ventilation is a must too, so add a ceiling or stand fan to keep the area cool and encourage air circulation. Make sure that the study space isn't anywhere near a vent where cold or hot air blows in, and keep the room at a comfortable temperature. Avoid making the study space too hot during the daytime since a study shows that heat can make people tired and sleepy in the middle of the day.
Add Ergonomic Furniture
Sitting down for too long not only results in body pain and muscle cramps, but it also affects your child's posture and comfort. Moreover, prolonged sitting has been linked to a number of health concerns including obesity, high blood sugar, increased blood pressure, and excess body fat. To make sure that long periods of sitting won't affect your child's health, consider adding ergonomic furniture to their study space. Instead of a regular table, let them use a standing desk so they can alternately sit and stand while revising. Include an ergonomic chair too– it helps to keep their spine aligned while they're sitting, relieves hip pressure, reduces neck and back pain, and boosts overall productivity.
Make Sure that There's Space for Everything
It's difficult to read, write, or revise in a cramped or messy area, so make sure that your child has enough space to do everything that they need to do for school. For instance, if they use a laptop, place it on a laptop riser so that there's space to write or lay an open book. If their desk is cluttered with school supplies and papers, provide them with an office chest of drawers with wheels so they can keep everything inside it and only take out the supplies that they need. You may even want to add a bookcase so they can organise their school books and reference materials and have easy access to them.
Include a Few Extras
Including a few things that will make the study space a pleasant place to be may inspire your child to keep on studying. If your child is in college, consider adding a tea or coffee cart to their study area, complete with a few nice mugs, a coffee maker, and a tin of biscuits. For young learners, a snack cart filled with healthy eats, plus ingredients to make some instant hot cocoa can help to replenish their energy. Apart from snacks and beverages, you can also add a diffuser to fill the air with a nice scent, as well as a speaker if your child likes to listen to ambient music while revising.
Creating a study space that's conducive to learning can be beneficial for your child's academic performance. Consider these tips to build the perfect study area in your home– your child will surely love it.
GUEST PUBLICATION BY: Alicia Gordon
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