Creating that Homework Haven

It's the beginning of September and most kids are back in school and over the first few days of introductions and instructions on how the school year process is going to go. Now the real school year begins, homework is going to start showing up in your child's backpack and thus the questions, How do I get my child to do their homework and how do I help them. We all know that hard work and dedication are keys to every student's success, but so is having the right environment to do homework. Children can truly benefit from working in a quiet haven away from distractions where they can be comfortable and productive.

According to Realty Times, You can help your child create a homework haven. All you need is a dedicated space that can be kept clean and organized, that is large enough to hold your child's projects, and that is out of the way of household traffic and other distractions. Sometimes this is a simple as a small desk in their room or maybe even a study or office space for them to use. 

 Start early

If your child learns good habits as soon as he or she is old enough to start getting homework, there's a greater chance of learning more, performing at a higher level and getting work completed more efficiently all the way through school.

Teach by example

Your own work-space should have the same characteristics that you want for your child -- a quiet, adequate, well-organized place to concentrate and get all tasks completed. If you have a study, it's a great place to keep your work-related electronics, supplies and storage. Keep your desk clean and organized and show your child that preparedness saves time. If a study or study desk isn't available, you may have to improvise and clear the kitchen table for a work-space. 

Homework space needs to be dedicated and away from televisions, phones, conversation and other distractions.Education.com suggests renovating a closet or building a nook on a stairway landing where your child can escape from noise and maintain focus. Simply remove the old contents and set up a good computer station, light, and space to spread books and materials.

Children enjoy having your company. You can coordinate your bill-paying, reading or other non-distracting activities with homework time, as well as make yourself available to assist.

Get organized

According to time management expert Dr. Donald Wetmore, an unorganized desk leads to a productivity loss of 1.5 hours per every eight hours, or almost 20% of working time wasted. Young children may not know where an assignment is if it's buried under other homework, and may miss turning in an important project. They'll also waste precious time if they can't keep one project separated from the next.

To organize your child's desk, make sure everything has its own place to go; homework papers need to go into a filing system for storage or easy retrieval for later study, craft materials like glue, scissors, etc. need their own cabinet, drawer or bin, and pencils, pens and paper need to be easily accessible and well-stocked at all times.

Put what's most important within the easiest reach, recommends Productivity501.com. That means your child should be able to instantly grab what he or she uses most often.

Scholastic.com says your child's homework haven needs to be large enough to spread out for projects and book reports while also being at a good height for comfortable studying. Good seating will come in handy; a chair with adjustable height can keep your child studying without worry.