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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, September 27, 2007

Spruce up student's workspace

By Beverly Miller

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At school your child has a desk or work area to complete assignments and various school-related tasks. To provide him or her with a quiet area to complete assignments at home, you should work with your child to create a comfortable work space that is completely his own.

Homework can be a struggle for some children. And oftentimes the problem is tied to disorganization and lack of proper supplies. A designated work area will help your child to completely focus on take-home assignments in a positive environment. It will also encourage him to work on creative projects, such as painting or writing, rather than watching TV or playing video games.

Here are a few tips for setting up a creative work area in your home:

  • Select a quiet, secluded area. The work area should be well-lit, with a clean, flat writing surface and comfortable seating. If your child's work area is in the living room, turn off the television or radio and remove other distractions, such as video-games, cell phones and iPods.

  • Offer your child access to tools and resources. Stock the area with arts and crafts supplies — pens, paper, paint, glue, etc. Provide older children with a dictionary, thesaurus and atlas. Purchase or create a collection of colorful jars or boxes to help organize your child's work materials.

  • Decorate the workspace to reflect the child's personality. Decorations may include anything from painting the walls to adding a nice plant or framed photo. A wall calendar, with important dates, deadlines and special occasions, could help your child stay organized in school and keep track of other important information.

  • Be flexible. Not all children can work productively at a desk. Work with your child to create a portable homework container that can be used to study anywhere. Studying or working at home should be a different experience from learning in the classroom. So, allow your child a little more freedom such as studying outdoors or on the living room floor.

    Beverly Miller is a Kalihi Elementary School teacher and a member of the Hawai'i State Teachers Association.