Grace-Full Intentions: How to Set Up a Study Station

In my "neck of the woods" {as we southerners say}, many of the private schools have already begun the school year, while the public schools only have another week or so before their halls will be bustling with life. Although I don't have a child who is school-aged yet, I can't help but get caught up in the whirlwind of school supplies and the excitement {anxiousness?} of a new year of possibilities and learning. So, this week I thought I'd do a mini "Back to School Boot Camp for Moms" series. {I realize many of you home school, so not everything will apply to you, but I promise: you'll be able to take away many ideas!}

Today I'll be sharing how to set up a "Study Station" for your child and then Wednesday, I'll be talking about "Back to School Meal Planning Tips" {and I'll include a list of resources to get you going!}. Then, we'll wrap things up on Friday with a list of ways to bless your child's teacher.

So, first up...

Dedicate a Space

First, you'll need to determine the most convenient space for your child's study station. For young children who may need your assistance, you may want to have them work at the dining room table while you make dinner. For older kids, who may need fewer distractions in order to focus, consider setting aside space in their own room.

When deciding where your study station should be, consider the fact that many children these days use the computer in order to complete their homework. Of course, I recommend keeping the computer in a central location so that you can monitor your child's online activities. So, it may be that your child needs to work alone in his/her room when studying/reading, but comes to the computer in the living room {for example} to do research.

Flat Surface {With Space to Spread Out}

Your child is going to need a surface to write and, possibly, to spread out {I know I like to spread out when I'm working on a project}. I realize that this may depend on the project itself, but a decent-sized desk should fit the bill for most tasks. But, of course, if projects require more space to sprawl, there's always the dining room table or kitchen island.

Lighting is Key

Have you ever tried to read or sew with insufficient lighting. You may successfully finish your book or complete your project, but I bet it was a bit of a struggle, wasn't it? Good lighting is so important for your children. After all, we want to eliminate as many excuses as to why they "can't" do their homework. This means, they'll need an overhead light for general lighting, and a task light for reading or tedious projects.

Comfortable Seating

A comfortable chair is so important, especially for those long study sessions. Sitting in a chair that is too hard will be a distraction and could cause physical pain {if nothing else, making their poor little bottoms sore the next day}. And, at the risk of sounding like a retelling of Goldilocks, if the chair is too soft, they're likely to drift off to sleep in the middle of whatever they're doing.

Keep Supplies Handy

Another important characteristic of an efficient study station is that supplies are easily retrieved. Again, think about when you're working on a project and you can't find what you need. Frustrating, isn't it? It's equally frustrating for kids. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, if you have a child who dreads homework, they're likely to use any possible excuse to procrastinate. {I know I did!} By, keeping extra paper, pencils, and markers in a nearby cabinet or box, they won't be able to claim that they don't have what they need.

Now that we know what is required of a study station, let's look at some examples:

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Let's start fancy and get simpler/easier, shall we? If you have an open wall in your playroom/den, consider creating built-in work stations for each child. The desk goes all the way across, so each kid can spread out {within their own space, of course}. The task lighting for each space makes it easy to focus and the upholstered cushions on the chairs are easy on the bottom. Plus, the drawers and cabinets hold any supplies that the kiddos might need.

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In years past, the dining room was a gathering place, with family and friends coming together over a banquet of food. These days, this room is typically only used a couple of days out of each year. Thus, people have tossed the idea of a formal dining room altogether and turning this space into home offices and playrooms. But, if you do tend to have company over often enough to warrant keeping a larger dining space, you don't have to ditch the dining room just yet! Instead, make the space do double duty {which is honestly what my family and I will probably do once I start home schooling Little Man}. A couple of bookshelves and a computer hutch later, you've got yourself a space that works hard for you all year long!

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When space is at a premium {or your child just likes to work near you}, a portable study station will do just fine. Simply take a tote bag, fill with extra supplies, and store in a convenient location. This particular bag is from Thirty One Gifts and can easily fit a file box, which makes organizing a breeze! {Note an affiliate link; I just really like these bags.}

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A study station can work wonders for your child's academic success, no matter how elaborate or how simple it may be. Of course, you could have the best study station there ever, but without your involvement in your child's education, they will never be able to reach their full potential. Even if history bores you to tears or geometry makes you go cross-eyed, the best thing you can do for your child is to be their #1 fan.

So, tell me:

Does your child have a study station?

If you've blogged about it, feel free to share the link to your post in the comments!

I'll be sure to stop by and check it out!

Did I forget anything in my list above?

Do you have any tips for helping kids to get their work done?

With that, I thank you for taking the time to stop by! I hope you all have a blessed Monday.