Surviving the School Year Part 2

Ok, this can be a five minute project, or a very lengthy project…and how much work you put into it will depend on you and your child. Let’s break it down!

Let your child take the lead on this.

Observe how and where your child prefers to work. Ask them what tools they need to help them be comfortable and successful. This may mean their favorite pillows from around the house, a cleared desk or work area at the kitchen table, maybe a lap pad to put their computer on. You may want to suggest some things to them as you observe and talk with them to get the conversation going. The main thing here is that you want to minimize interruptions and distractions.

Personalize it. Make it cozy.

No one likes a stuffy, cubicle feeling work area! Add some plants, family photos, stickers, posters, fluffy blanket, favorite pillows, etc…whatever makes your child chill and happy. My daughter is thrilled with her couch spot, a cozy blanket, and our dog. The dog allows her an occasional ‘fluff break’…which, in turn, helps her to focus a little better and finish her work in one sitting.

Careful not to make it too cozy…it’s not a nap spot...🤣🤣🤣😴😴😴

Have the tools they need on hand.

So many things this year…online resources, class codes, usernames, passwords, and, of course, the regular supplies…pencils, scissors, paper…etc…etc…Keeping everything EASILY accessible and in ONE PLACE will save you a lot of sanity!

Two of my favorite mom hacks are the Google Keep App (we will go more in depth about this app in a later post), and this printable school binder template from Thirty Handmade Days – I printed out the cover a few years ago, and Mique has done a great job of updating it regularly, and, of course has MANY other printables available. In this binder, I keep test scores, copies of registration forms for easy reference, any syllabuses sent home, and in the front, a list of usernames, etc, and how to access programs that may need to be used frequently. It puts it all right there at hand. The best part about this binder is that it’s a great tool if you are sick or traveling. Your child, or the person stepping into your role, can pop open this binder and find anything they need.

Two of my favorite mom hacks are the Google Keep App (we will go more in depth about this app in a later post), and this printable school binder template from Thirty Handmade Days – I printed out the cover a few years ago, and Mique has done a great job of updating it regularly, and, of course has MANY other printables available. In this binder, I keep test scores, copies of registration forms for easy reference, any syllabuses sent home, and in the front, a list of usernames, etc, and how to access programs that may need to be used frequently. It puts it all right there at hand. The best part about this binder is that it’s a great tool if you are sick or traveling. Your child, or the person stepping into your role, can pop open this binder and find anything they need.

A small notebook or maybe even just an index card with some code/sign in reminders to keep with their school supplies would also be helpful.

You might consider a portable organizer like this one from Thirty One if you have elementary students. Thirty one has a huge variety or organizers in MANY price ranges to help you get things together. (No, I’m not a consultant, just a huge fan!). Something like this will help you keep your home and dinner table clear of clutter.

Where should that space be?

This is the hard question…in my experience, a central location is best – one where you are readily available and can comfortably sit with or beside your child should they require your help. Again, this one is going to depend on the space available in your home and your family. Options:

• The couch. Keep supplies in an end or coffee table, or caddy/basket.
• The kitchen table is very popular – especially if studies/homework is done while you prepare dinner. The one downside to this space is that it can be a very busy and distracting zone.
• Family computer/desk/workstation. Generally, you’ll have all the stuff nearby for this to be a prime choice. Just be sure to set some expectations that studies/homework will not be interrupted by other family members.
• Your child’s bedroom or other personal space. This is a great option if your child is easily distracted. Just set some guidelines and make sure your child can find you easily for help – maybe with a text or call on Alexa or similar device.

What if my space isn’t at home?

This is where organization is absolutey KEY – If your child is doing their work away from your home, this could be at your workplace or at another parent’s house, I would HIGHLY recommend duplicating any organizational strategies (totes, baskets, binders) for that location AND making use of digital resources (more about those in a later post) to make sure everyone is on the same page. You might also consider investing in noise cancelling headphones for your child. It can be hard to go from place to place. This kind of creates a consistent headspace for them.

Another tool for you might be to grab some tri fold presentation boards for each location to give your child a sort of ‘cubicle’ that they can use to block out visual distractions. It can also be fun to decorate this and make it their own! At under $5, this is a GREAT investment if it might help your child.

Is all noise bad noise?

Not really. Some children need complete silence (hard to attain!), some work better with music or background noise. There is so much research on music helping the brain, I always recommend allowing music. If you need to block out background noise, consider a white noise machine, box fan, or maybe even an app with soothing sounds that might block out distractions.

Of course, our children will need to learn to work with occassional discractions…they’ll adjust over time if this is an issue for them. The goal is to simply make the space as conducive to learning as possible.

Stay tuned, we’ll be digging deeper into topics from Surviving the School Year over the next few days. Let me know if there’s a topic of particular interest to you! I’d also love to know what’s working for you and your family and what some of your favorite tools are for helping your child have a great space to work.

As always, thanks for reading and I hope you come back soon!

Much love,

Grab you some super amazing hair accessories HERE.

Additional Posts in this series:

Surviving the 2020-2021 School Year