The end of summer means that the school year is drawing near. Make this the year when your kids finally conquer their coursework by creating a perfect study area at home.

Five Tips For Creating the Perfect Study Area

Every kid needs a desk. It's hard to study for tomorrow's math test without a place to put your books. Every child needs a dedicated desk which is large enough for them to spread out and a chair where they can sit comfortably for a few hours. When you choose a desk and chair, keep it simple and functional. Give your child options, but be realistic; a bean bag chair and lap-desk just won't work. For younger kids, choose a desk solution that is not too childish and one they can grow with.

Give them (some) privacy. Avoid setting up a place for homework where there is a lot of activity in your home. Keep your kid's study area away from rooms where others may watch TV or cause distractions. At the same time, allowing older kids to shut themselves off in their rooms to "study" may not be the most productive solution. Consider turning a spare room into a library and studying area for your entire family. 

Provide lots of storage. A good desk offers tons of places to keep books, papers, pens, pencils and other homework supplies. Help your child create a filing system to keep old papers and tests in order to make it easy to review for exams. Proper storage keeps the study area clutter-free and kids are less likely to become distracted while studying. 

Make it a screen-free zone. Forbid the use of TVs, phones or (unless it is necessary for the assignment) computers from entering your child's studying space. These types of electronics are overwhelming distractions for most teenagers. It is a great idea to use the time your child spends studying to recharge their phones and tablets in a different room. Setting up a family computer in a public place in your home makes it is easy for you to monitor what your kids are doing online. 

Keep kids on track. Place a large calendar on the wall in the study space to use only for homework. Encourage your kids to write down the due dates for each assignment they receive. You can use a different color for each child in your family. After completing a project, have your child check it off. It can be helpful for some kids to write the grade they received for the assignment directly on the calendar so they can keep track of their performance in school. 

Studying in the dark is hard. At Northern Lighting, we have a large selection of floor and desk lamps which make an excellent addition to any study area. Since 1973, Northern Lighting has been helping residents with all of their lighting needs. Stop by the showroom or call us at 614-891-7600 for more information.