There are a number of benefits to having your kids study at home. Firstly, it allows you to keep an eye on them. You know that they are safe, and have all the equipment they need. No coming home from the library will “I didn’t have a pen so I couldn’t do my essay!” excuses. You are also in control of the environment, so can adjust it as they work. This might go for things like lighting levels, and temperature levels. Also, in terms of benefits for them, they know they are in a safe place where they can work without risk of looking like a ‘nerd’. Or bending to peer pressure to mess around.
So, that’s why you should make it suitable for them to study at home. The next question, then, is how.
First off, look at their bedrooms. Start with the space. If you are lacking in space, ask yourself why. If it is because there is too much furniture, see if you can find a way to cut down. Do they really need two chests of drawers, for example? Often, an item that is a necessity but takes up a lot of room is the beds. Handily, triple bunk beds for kids are an option. So, you can either free up more floor space in one room that two or more kids currently share. This new space can be used to create a study area, with a desk and bookshelves.
An alternative is to take two or three kids across separate bedrooms and have them share one room, using the triple bunk beds to sleep in. The one or two rooms that are then freed up by this decision can be turned into study rooms.
No, these study rooms don’t have to be serious, boring ‘office’ style spaces. You can still keep a fun and colourful element; after all, children’s brains react well to colour. However, these dedicated rooms give your kids the sense of separation. There is then a physical divide between the place they relax and sleep in and the place they work in. We as adults know how handy this feeling can be; we feel we can ‘switch off’ for the night when we leave the office and go home. Give kids a similar sense of freedom when they clock off for the day. It will stop them from getting worn down and exhausted.
Occasionally, if they want to, let them come and work downstairs while you’re in the kitchen or living room. This, of course, depends on how well they can concentrate with outside factors in play. However, if music or the sound of the TV doesn’t distract them, it will be a nice treat for them to join you and the rest of the family occasionally.
On sunny and warm days, set up a space for them to work outside. This will rejuvenate their motivation; promise a BBQ at the end of the day if they get all of their work finished and don’t get distracted.