Studying Can Be Fun (Yes, it Can!)

I've never personally been a parent, but I've been a student, and I know how hard it can be to get your child to sit down and study when they get home. With all the entertainment options we have today, it is much harder to have a steady attention span long enough to do even one hour of homework after eight hours of sitting at a desk at school.

But studying doesn't have to be a chore if you have the right space for the task. Some kids just need a little color, inspiration, or personalization to their study space to sit down and crack open that book. With tha

t said, here are some necessities for any study space

for your grade school child:

1. Consistent study space- Having a consistent study space is the key for concentration. Find a place in the house that is away from all distractions. This may be a corner in a bedroom, den, or family room, or maybe you're lucky enough to have a study built into your house. Regardless of where, be sure to keep away from all noisy distractions, such as a TV.
2. Comfortable chair- No one wants to sit on a hard surface for any amount of time, especially to do something not-so-fun as homework. So add a fun cushion to a hard-surfaced chair, or buy a unique desk chair that adds a colorful element to the room and is fun to sit in for a couple of hours at a time.
3. Correct lighting- It's hard to read in a dimly lit room, and it can become a strain on your eyes. Make sure you have a desk lamp, or add a touch light on the bottom of your desk hutch to keep it out of the way. To add a little fun to your study area,get stringed lights in crazy shapes, and any kid wouldn't mind sitting there for awhile to do homework if they have something fun to look at.
4. Organization- With papers scattered all over the desk and books laying haphazardly on the desk, it gets hard to concentrate when everything is a mess. Plus, how can anyone find a pen when it's never in the same spot. Create a place for everything: a bin for 'Homework To Do' and 'Homework Done' makes it easy to organize papers. Keep a tack board for other loose papers, like notes to sign and syllabi. Also, keep all materials, such as pens and markers in their own separate space, and label them so your little student knows exactly where everything is at any given time.
5. Materials- Scissors and rulers and pens, oh my! Have all the materials you need at your desk, so you don't have to get up and get it somewhere else. It's easier to get homework done when you already have all the materials right where you're sitting.
6. Personalization- What kid doesn't like their name tagged on everything they own? Make their space their own. Add a touch of Bobby's interests and personality with posters of his favorite band or sport team; or add pictures of Susie's friends and favorite celebrities. Once they own their study space, they are more apt to use it.
7. Color- Complete any study space with their favorite color or something that invites calmness, like a blue tone. Who ever said studying had to be boring?

If you have any other suggestions on how to create a great study space, we would love to hear them. Also, if there are any topics you would like to read about on this site, use the contact tab and send us an email. We welcome your thoughts. Now go hit those books and make the grade!