CREATING SPACE FOR AT-HOME LEARNING
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We organized this ACRYLIC tray for our client with 2 caddies - 1 for each child, to be Carried to the work table. Photography: Julia D’AGOSTINO
As I prep for the 2020-2021 school year, like most parents I have more questions than answers. It looks like my children along with many others will be starting the school year with the “Hybrid Plan” which means they will be in school 2 days per week and at home doing distance learning 3 days per week. I don’t really understand how their day will be set up while they are at school or at home, who their teachers will be or if they will have friends in their classes. I also don’t know how long this will all be going on for. Frankly, there’s just a whole lot of uncertainly surrounding this upcoming year. For a peek at how my family managed distance learning in the Spring, you can read about it here.
Despite the uncertainly of it all, I am choosing to look at all the positives and focus on what we can control for our upcoming school year. For our family, that means creating a plan and space for at-home learning that fosters success for our children as well as two at-home working parents.
As with all things parenting, at-home learning is not for the faint of heart. I won’t pretend any of this is easy or perfect. I am also sharing this from the perspective of a working parent with flexible hours with children 5 and 8 years old who do not have special needs. This will look very different in each family’s home based on their own children’s ages, needs, parents’/caregivers’ schedules, house set up and too many other factors to mention. No matter your circumstance, I hope you can find at least one or two of these tips helpful as you set up your own at-home learning space for your family.
I shared some of my tips with a local news station too. You can check that out here.
1.) Choose A Space That Works For Each Person’s Needs
Where:
Before you spend your money, time and energy on buying a desk for your child’s bedroom, talk to your child about where they truly want to work. Perhaps they do very well independently and want their own space, if so maybe a bedroom desk is perfect! Oftentimes however that’s not the case and children want to be in the family room, the kitchen or another spot in the home for various reasons. Instead of fighting it, embrace it and try to make it work. Make sure everyone chooses a space they really want to be in. Additionally, many young children will not want to do their work alone. They are not used to being alone when they are at school. The younger they are, chances are they’ll need more support, so make sure whatever space you choose for them also has space for the adult who will be supporting them along the way. As you are considering where your family will be doing their work, take into account that sharing a space doesn’t have to be all that bad. In fact, there is research that supports having a “body double” (or another person in the same space) can actually help with focus and contribute to getting work done. I love this article that Professional Organizer, Coach and ADHD expert Leslie Josel of Order Out Of Chaos recently wrote about homeschooling kids of different ages and needs. She addresses how having a body double can be part of the homeschooling success.
Lighting, Noise & Vibe:
Whether they are in the same or separate rooms, make sure the room is comfortable and ideally has plenty of natural light. If natural light isn’t an option make sure it is well lit but not too bright so that there isn’t a glare on papers and screens. Alternatively, a room that is too dark can strain your eyes and make you sleepy. Another factor to consider is noise. Your space should be relatively quiet without TVs blaring in the background. I highly encourage the use of headphones when anyone is on a device that’s making noise. I personally will also use earplugs if I am working next to or near my children and I need to concentrate with less distraction.
I love having plants and diffusers where we work too! The plants add a nice decor element and as an added bonus they are even said to improve air quality. As for the diffuser, we just enjoy the smells and my kids will alternate taking turns watering the plants and choosing the oils for the day. They love the responsibility of these tasks.
In our home our children want to be together during distance learning (most of the time ;) and due to the set up of our home that space is in our family room. We like it because it’s full of natural light, close to the kitchen, and the room in our home that feels the coziest and that we all gravitate towards. We start each day with a technique I learned from their beloved and wise preschool teacher. I put on some soft music to signal it’s time to start the day. The kids will then set up their desks while I finish cleaning up the kitchen and write the morning message on our easel. The music then goes off and we start our day.
This is real life during distance learning. My kids each had their own space and I would sit between them on the sofa as needed during the day. messy books on the floor are a daily OCCURRENCE and are picked up at the end of the day.
Here’s my big girl enjoying our FLEX seating during independent reading time in our family room. Her School work is done at a side table that has plenty of surface area for her computer and writing.
in a shared space headphones are your friend! Messy hair optional :) she would bring this arts & crafts table and chair into our family room from the kitchen each morning and return it to the kitchen each afternoon..
2.) Clear The Clutter
My best advice when setting up any working space is to clear the clutter! Adults and children alike need a space free of distraction so they can focus on the tasks at hand. This doesn’t cost a thing and brings the biggest impact to a space.
This was a tech drawer my team created for a client right under the home office printer. All items were given a specific home for easy RETRIEVAL and returns. We love using this paper sorter for files and electronics alike. . Photography: Jula D’agostino
3.) Shop Your Home First
When it comes to getting your at-home supplies ready for the new school year don’t over think it. You will want to see if your child’s teacher recommends anything specific for at-home learning but chances are you will likely just need the basics and having all your supplies together is definitely helpful during set up and clean up time.
Here are 3 categories of supplies you will likely need and there is a good chance you already have these items in your home:
Writing tools & supplies - pencils, sharpener, eraser, markers, crayons, colored pencils, glue & scissors
Paper, notebooks & folders
Electronics - computer or tablet, chargers and headphones
Even though you don’t want clutter creeping in, your child will most likely want some extras added into the mix and that’s OK! Let them have that fun fidget spinner, keychain or their favorite pencil sharpener (even though it doesn’t work). It will add a little pizzazz and personality to their workspace and help them feel like it’s their own. Take a look at what you already have in your home to corral your items. Below is what I found in my home that we plan on using this year. You can also use a shoebox, small baskets or even a clear sandwich bag. It doesn’t have to be fancy, it just needs to be together. Create a home for all of these items so everyone knows where to find and put away their belongings.
These are old glass jam jars I had at home to corral supplies for my Younger daughter this year. I added them to an extra clear container so they can be easily moved in and out of her work space.
We will be reusing my older daughter’s pencil case from last year to hold her at home desk supplies this year.
These items hold all things paper. The white periodical holders are the PLuggis from ikea, the clear containers is the small multi purpose bin from the container store. These are items I have repurposed in my home.
4.) Stick To A Schedule - But Be Flexible
In the early days of parenthood we all learned the importance of schedules and routines for our children and as they get older it still rings true. Sticking to their bedtimes, meal times and school times is important, even more so this year with the hybrid model now that they will be going to school some days and home some days.
As the adults managing the at-home schooling, see how you can alter your schedule to support your children during this time. Can you get some work done before your kids wake up or after they are asleep at night? Remember, none of this will be perfect and that’s OK!
For parents with more than one child try to notice where their needs are different and brainstorm ways with a spouse or friend ways you can support them. We notice when our kids are really enjoying a subject or conversely struggling. Do your best to meet them where they are and see how adjusting your daily schedule can support them. For example, one of my children would push back when it was time for writing back in the Spring. I learned that if we sandwiched that subject between two other subjects that she liked it made it easier for both of us. I also noticed that my older daughter was naturally more independent because of her age and type of school work she had to do. I would check in with her regularly to make sure she didn’t need my support and so that she could share what she was working on. While she was working it also gave me time to help my kindergartener with her lessons. I learned quickly that even though I work best in the morning so do my kids. Before they woke up and in the afternoon when their schedule was lighter was when I’d focus on my work. If I had a call in the morning, I would let them know about it during our morning meeting so they knew that I could not be disturbed at certain times and that I would help them with anything they needed when my call was over. They would usually respect that boundary and my husband would also step in when needed. During these wild times we have all learned that we need to be flexible to support each other.
Our easel tells us information about the day and any schedule changes we all need to know about.
5.) Incorporate Some School Routines At Home & Make It Fun!
Find a routine that your kids really enjoy at school and figure out how you can incorporate that at home. Last year we had great success with starting our days with morning meetings. It was a great opportunity to share what we all had going on that day. Kids thrive on routines (actually most of us adults do too!) so creating some routines for your school day at home is important. We also incorporated show & tell and a reward system just like they have in school. My kids love school not necessarily because of the learning but because of all the extras they get to experience. Time with friends, ice cream parties and long recesses are all a part of it. Bringing that fun to at-home school will make for more smiles for all.
As a recap, here are my tips for a successful at-home learning space:
1.) Choose a space that works for each person’s needs
2.) Clear the clutter
3.) Shop your home first
4.) Stick to a schedule - but be flexible
5.) Incorporate some school routines at home & make it fun
When the day is done, remember to clean it all up and have closure of the school day just like they do when they are at school.
Thinking of all you amazing parents, caregivers and students alike as you embark on this unique school year! I wish you all much success! If you have any questions or tips you would like to share about setting up a successful at-home learning space I’d love to hear about it below.
- Emily :)
