By now, your children are probably starting to come back from school with homework each night. Creating a space for them to comfortably get their work done is important, but can be a challenge for many of us who live in small New York City apartments. So we asked a few experts in the world of education and parenting to give parents some tips on creating a productive homework environment in our homes– regardless of square footage.
Plan the space with your child
Before filling your shopping cart with furnishings, involve your child in co-creating the space, says Jess Davis of Montessori Minds Consulting. Ask them what they think would work best in order for them to concentrate, stay organized, and be productive. Davis says that this gives children a sense of ownership, empowerment, and accountability for the space “working” for them.
Get creative with furniture
In smaller apartments, kids often do their homework at the kitchen table. If your child is very visually distracted, Davis suggests using a trifold stand-up display to block visual distractions. You can purchase these online, or simply make one yourself. Davis also recommends creating a homework “caddy” or small tote that is stored out of sight– perfect for those of us limited on space.
Steven Jacobs, the founder of Sidetrain, an online learning platform that connects students with experts, says to choose pieces that serve dual purposes, like a fold-down desk or an ottoman with storage inside.
Noise & lighting
We all know how loud the soundtrack of NYC can be. If your child is distracted by noise, both Davis and Jacobs say to consider purchasing high-quality sound-canceling headphones.
When it comes to lighting, Jacobs emphasizes that proper illumination reduces eye strain and boosts alertness. He recommends using a combination of ambient and task lighting to create an ideal study atmosphere.
Time management and productivity
Homework can also be a great way to build time management skills. Here are some strategies Davis offers up:
- Create a to-do list template for just the homework session. This helps your child build executive function skills like prioritization and time management, and creates a sense of less to tackle by just looking at today’s list for now.
- Use visual timers to help with time management goals since some children are still working on the concept of time.
- For children who receive a lot of homework and struggle to concentrate, help them set small goals to meet before they take a break.
Overall, Davis says to, “focus on the process of completing homework, not just the product. If the home has several children and one adult is spread thin helping them, or if the adult also needs to be working while the child works, create a system for waiting for help.”
For example, she says to incorporate green, red, and yellow squares to indicate how homework is going, “Green means everything is going well and they are feeling successful working independently. Yellow means the child has a question or needs help, but is still able to work (perhaps switching tasks until someone is available) while they wait. Red means a child is completely stuck and cannot move on until the adult helps.”
Parents can also consider temptation bundling. “What is something the child enjoys when they come home–can it happen as part of the homework cycle to help homework be a positive experience? A special healthy snack? Background music (if that doesn’t distract the child)? Pairing something loved with something dreaded can train our brains to have a more positive attitude about the thing that might otherwise be dreaded,” Davis says.
Change of scenery
Regardless of how you create a space at home to work, sometimes we just need to break away in order to be our most productive. If your child needs a more physical way to separate their homework space, Robin Hilmantel, senior director of editorial strategy and growth at What to Expect, a parenting site, says they could also try bringing their homework box to a school library, a public library, or even taking a trip together to a local coffee shop.
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