As the coronavirus continues to spread, you might soon be asked to work from home again.

Maybe you’re already doing it, I certainly I am!

And your kids may also be back to online learning.

With the whole family at home once again, it’s important to carve out a functional workspace for you and everyone else in your household.

Today, I want to invite you into my home to show you how I’ve tackled the transformation of our home office and share ideas to inspire you to set up your own homework station.

Making Home Learning Effective and Comfortable

Nothing worthwhile is ever achieved without a clear vision.

To foster independence and critical thinking I encouraged my son Nick to envision his perfect day and design his own workspace.

You can do this with your own kids and help them along the way!

He started by thinking about what his day of learning would look like:

1. Primary subject classes (i.e English, Math, Music, Art)
2. P.E. lesson
3. Snack breaks sprinkled throughout the day

Then we took the time to imagine what he would need together.

The Perfect Homework Station Includes:

• Headset / earphones
• A whiteboard for messages and reward points (from mom) which he could redeem at the end of the day – read until the end to find out how..
• An enjoyable environment that inspires him to focus on his work
• An extra-long table to lay out all his workbooks, organized by subject
• A snack station so he can help himself during break time while mommy is busy working.

Ultimately Nick and I agreed that what we wanted was a space comfortable enough to spend countless hours in, one that would facilitate learning and contribute to our overall happiness and well-being.

Desktop Organization – Keep the Workspace Clutter-free

I believe that a homework station should always be tidy, organized, and well kept to inspire meaningful action.

This is especially important for kids.

Start by removing toys, duplicate stationery items, stickers, and all potential distractions.

Must-haves for a Tidy Desk Include:

1. A desktop mat

This one by orbitkey is one of my favorites. It’s made from vegan leather and has a magnetic cable holder which can be moved anywhere along the toolbar to keep your cable in place and always within reach.

2. An accordion file folder

Simple but such a great method for you to manage worksheets / daily homework assignments etc.

3. Ikea magazine holders

In our home, we use these to categorize workbooks by subject and it keeps everything neat and within reach.

Sharing is Caring – Best Methods to Share a Desk With Your Child

It’s not uncommon to have to share the home office with the kids. It’s a practical solution for small spaces that also allows you to fully supervise their work.

If you’re still wondering how to make your workspace work for your family, here are some really good ideas.

1. Create a T – Shape Desk.

This family-friendly office space helps busy families transform “work time” into family time.

The T-shaped setup allows you to optimize your space by using all the negative space that otherwise remains unused.

Kids can sit on either side of your desk while you and your husband have individual workstations.

2. Use Baskets to Hide the Clutter on Your Shelves and Prevent Distractions.

3. Maximize Seating by Designing an L – Shaped Desk That Hugs a Corner.

4. Use Clear Storage Containers to Make It Easy for Your Kids to Find Exactly What They’re Looking for.

Create a Fun Learning Environment

As parents, we must remember that online learning is not easy to manage and it requires long hours of screen time.

I invite you to take the time and create a fun learning environment for your own child.

For Nick, I created a gum ball machine rewards system and made small “win notes” where if he collected enough points throughout the day, he would be given one spin at the DIY gum ball machine.

He would be awarded points by staying focused, maintaining a very good can-do attitude, and doing well in time-keeping,

This totally made his day!

What does your dream homework station look like to you? I encourage you to ponder this.

Even if you’re not in a position to completely redesign your space, you can always think of fun solutions to bring you closer to that vision.

I help design, optimize and organize home and office spaces here in Shanghai. If you would like to pick my brain for your own space, don’t hesitate to reach out for a consultation.

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MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW US FOR MORE GOOD IDEAS

Instagram | Facebook | Little Red Book | Wechat

You can also contact me or subscribe to my newsletter here.

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PIN IT FOR LATER ↓