How to make the most of your home-schooling environment

One of the major stresses of home schooling has been the additional nagging required to persuade our children to tidy up after themselves, clear their books away, get organised and stop letting the dog chew their pencil. Spend the last few days of this half-term thinking about how to make your child’s workspace as productive as possible to maximise concentration, minimise clutter and maybe even teach them to appreciate tidiness – here’s hoping...

Emma Deterding from has some handy tips to keep things in order:

The majority of us marry for love (not lunch) and definitely not to home school our children.

While some parents may have embraced the notion of becoming their children’s teacher, many have not and from my quick straw poll of work colleagues and clients trying valiantly to motivate their offspring and keep them engaged in their education, the majority have not embraced the task and most of the children want to go back to school – whoever would have thought it!

So for those of you who are struggling, take a few deep breaths and give yourself a big pat on the back for getting this far. It’s not easy and any progress in your education (you will be learning too!) and your children’s must be seen as a win.

Here are a few tips that might help you and your child through the next few weeks and put you in a better place for tackling homework in the future, as well as revision for those big exams.

I know it’s obvious – but in the mists of time and the panic of the reality of relocating the school room, the obvious may be forgotten.

A purpose-made space for working will benefit your children’s learning. If possible, this should not be in their bedroom, instead it could be a cupboard under the stairs with the door removed or it could be in a little nook, but it should be the designated spot for learning.

If you have time and the inclination, get the paint brush out with your children and create a special zone for this area – bold paint colours or pretty patterns, but make it different. It should say: this is my work zone where I study.

Tidy, tidy, tidy. Tidy desk, tidy mind and it really does help children to concentrate. Consider getting a new desk – Ikea has a great selection that doesn't break the bank or look on Etsy or eBay for something more individual.

Purchase or make some simple shelves above their desk to store books and files, but remember to give the shelves ends and make sure they are large enough to accommodate the biggest books. For smaller children, try to make sure the shelves are placed at a suitable height (this may be to the side) and that they can be an active part of the process of putting their books away after each lesson. It’s an achievement for you – and them – to get through each session, so it’s important to file the books away and then move on to the next task.

Get a good chair. It doesn’t matter whether you are old or young, a decent seat is essential for support and concentration – so if you are able to, get your child a proper desk chair. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should be adjustable. Pimp the chair: tinsel, ribbons, pom poms, paint, make it theirs – a reflection of their personality and someone where they want to sit.

Many children love a bit of stationery, whatever their age. If you can, find some great pots – you could use old jam jars or tins – for children to store their pens and pencils in. It could be a fun art lesson to draw and decorate their pen pots, using glass markers, stickers, ribbons...

Pop a lamp on the desk or hang something above it, but make sure the area is sufficiently well lit. Again, Ikea do a great range of directional task lighting for not much money.

Put a pinboard up. Either buy one online or get a piece of fabric and cover a piece of board – if you are worried about your children using pins, then use ribbons stapled across the board and firmly attach to the other side. Alternatively, paint the wall behind their desk in gloss paint and allow them to use Blu Tack to stick up their notes and cards.

A dustbin is always useful for the rubbish too! Above all, make sure that your children engage in the process of setting up this special area. The more they embrace their new space, the better they will respond.

Then give yourself a break, you are doing a great job!

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How to make the most of your home-schooling environment

TE Schools Advice