A child’s space to study
If your child has outgrown their bedroom, it is time to give some serious thought to how they are going to study in it
The beginning of the new school year is an ideal time to create a study haven for your child. You may have gone all out and created a themed look in your child’s room, with matching duvets, curtains, or rugs splattered with designs from Barbie to Tottenham Hotspur, or you may have chosen something more eclectic. But now might be the time to think about giving your child his or her own special place to study.
In the same way that an adult appreciates having a home office area, a child needs a place to sit and do homework, with the correct amount of lighting for reading and writing, and comfortable seating with good back support. But it doesn’t stop there.
Good habits
It is important to set good habits from very early on in your child’s school life, and providing your child with his or her own dedicated work place, separate from the rest of the house, is a good way to convey the message that homework is something that should be taken seriously and made a top priority.
Involve your child
It is vital to invite your child to take part in the decorating process. If their space is personalised, they are more likely to use it and love it. Involve your child by asking him or her to make something, to assemble a collection or to add something else they want to contribute, to go with the theme of their room. Use your creativity and knowledge as the parent to make sure your child is fully invested in their space. Teenagers can help paint a room themselves or use other skills they have. Ask your child to sort through his or her things and look at what can be given away or sold, so rooms do not become over-crowded with clutter.
Respect
Do not forget that this is your child’s room – not yours. What may appear as clutter or rubbish to you could be very valuable and precious to your child. Always consult him or her before removing an object or throwing it away.
Organisation
Showing children how to get organised – by starting with their own room – will transfer into their school work and into the organisation of their papers and projects.
Create different areas for different needs. This will help keep the study area clear for the purpose it is intended. For example, keep hair accessories and similar items in one place, with a mirror, and put all music CDs and paraphernalia together in their own area.
When designing a child’s room it is important to keep things at the height appropriate for your child.
Confidence
The most important thing a parent can transfer to their child when it comes to school work is confidence. Displaying your child’s work plays a vital role in this. Frame your child’s best artwork and use it to add colour and individuality to their room.
Bookcases, shelving, and display cabinets are ideal for creating a place to display your child’s efforts and achievements – pictures, artwork, awards, medals, trophies, certificates, and items they have made at school or at home.
I love to study
A bookcase filled with interesting books encourages your child to read. A book corner with a comfy bean bag is a magnet for young readers. Encourage creativity by having an easel or blackboard ready to use. Hang a favourite or inspirational picture on the wall.
Work area
Ergonomic seating, to aid comfort and good posture, are especially important for children, who are still growing and developing. Easel-type document holders encourage good posture and help children avoid leaning over books and papers.
To ensure that your child is able to study effectively, all of the things a child needs must be at his or her fingertips. Being able to sit at a desk with all the required items to hand (writing and colouring pencils, pens, glue, ruler, eraser, writing and drawing paper etc) will give your child the feeling of what it is like to be organised at a desk.
Keep your child’s growing size in mind. Try to source adjustable furniture to aid in comfort and ergonomics, such as, chairs with arm rests that can be lowered, or seats raised, with good lumbar support. Placing cushions underneath your child and behind their back is acceptable if you do not have an adjustable chair. If young feet do not quite touch the floor, a foot-rest or box will help.
Computers
Computers have become an essential part of life for communication, word processing and the completion of research and daily assignments, even for younger children. Make the home computer work station a quiet, comfortable, efficient, healthy and attractive area that is perfect for homework. Always supervise your children when they are on the internet.
Reference books
On your child’s desk in a neat row, or on a shelf or bookcase at arm’s length, provide a dictionary appropriate to your child’s age, such as Oxford Primary Dictionary, as well as other books you think could add to your child’s love of study and writing: Oxford Primary Thesaurus, books on artists, and topic books with other interests, etc.
Filing system
Getting a child started on a filing system is a great way to begin organising and setting good habits for the future. Help your child decide what files to create and in what order to file things (papers, homework, art, etc).
Lighting
Appropriate lighting (to help prevent eye problems) is essential. An adjustable desk lamp is the best choice in lighting – it focuses light directly on the work, and can be adjusted as your child grows.
A bedside lamp is also important – especially if you are afraid of the dark.
We all love to be able to turn on a light without getting out of bed. A bedside table with a glass of water, a nightlight, and any favourite books makes it feel more homely.
Self expression
Do not install your own fantasy into your child’s room. This is an opportunity for children to express their own personalities, and it is a chance for parents to learn more about their children. Ask your child what his or her favourite colour is. You do not need to paint it over the entire wall space if it is bright red – but instead use accessories to create an individual, fun, bright space. These can be changed without too much trouble and expense. Ask your child what kind of activities they would like to do in their room, whether it be reading, painting, or listening to music, once you find out you can accommodate their needs. Your child’s room will be a strong memory for them one day. Make it a good one.
Checklist
* a bed with a good mattress
* bedside table with a lamp
* work station with desk, a chair, footrest and good lighting for homework
* an easel or blackboard, or somewhere to paint and be creative
* a mirror with suitable accessories near it (brushes, hair bands, etc)
* enough places to store hanging and folded clothes
* adequate storage for books, toys and games
* a book corner
* your child’s art work, chosen things on display
* filing system and reference books
* a music or other area of interest
Sarah Antoniou is a Larnaca-based interior designer. [email protected]
