A good study area for your child

Older children would do better if they had private study space in their own rooms, but I suspect the best area for younger students would be a corner of the kitchen or family room. If they develop good study habits when they’re very young, you might avoid the stereo blaring or the cell phone pressed to one ear, and one hand caressing their face while the other pretends to write something routine!

Sitting comfortably on a decent writing surface will be better for your posture than hanging over the back of a sofa or lying on your stomach on the floor. And if he’s comfortable, he has everything he needs to study at hand, and mom is watching and available to help as needed, what could be better? The smells of dinner cooking will only add impetus to his desire to finish his job and be done with him!

If it’s built into the kitchen counter area, make sure there’s a shelf above it for your dictionary, thesaurus, and other books you might need for your studies. Either a fluorescent light attached under the upper cabinet or a small task light in a corner of the desk will do the trick. You just don’t want him to look you directly in the eye.

If you can do without a cabinet, fill the shelves with cubbies or labeled plastic boxes to store your stuff. A comfortable chair will encourage him to stay in it until he is done. If you are old enough to use a computer, having it in this area is also good for you. You can easily keep an eye on where you are going in your browsing, without you thinking that you are spying on you.