Most learning for children mostly takes place in a formal environment, like a school. For most parents and children, this is the style they are used to. But over the past couple of years, children have had to adjust to a new learning environment – home! For parents who have never had to home-school their children or deal with their children learning from home, it was a daunting task to make the home productive for them. Now, after much trial-and-error, parents are finding out what works best for their child, and also for them! This post applies to creating a productive workspace for children, but it can be easily applied to you if you’re an adult required to work from home too.
Here are our top tips for creating a productive learning environment from home:
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Select a suitable location that fits your child’s learning style
Choosing a location void of distractions is the first step in creating a productive learning environment. Of course, this depends on your child’s preferences, some prefer a spot in a communal place, but others might find that too distracting. A spot that is too quiet or lonely could make them bored and sleepy. Generally, they will need a safe space where they feel comfortable, with adequate light.
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Try out feng shui in your chosen location
According to this ancient Chinese art of arranging spaces to promote health and happiness, the following needs to occur in a learning environment to encourage learning and critical thinking:
- Bookshelves placed on the left of the room from the where the door is situated.
- All shelves must be tidy or covered if not.
- The colours within the room must reflect nature to create a calming environment. Greens and browns are ideal.
- The work desk must be placed in the centre of the room, not next to a wall.
- Spaces within the location should be designated to different tasks, such as reading in the corner of the room.
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Set boundaries and rules
Your child’s learning space should be just their learning space. When the day is over, that space shouldn’t be used for play or any other activity. This will help them maintain the balance between work and play. It also sends a message that whenever they’re there, it is serious business.
It’s easy to get distracted, especially when learning from home. The kitchen’s nearby, friends and family might be are around. There are so many forms of distraction. Work with your child to create a timetable on how they will manage their time. They may be learning from home, but rules should be made on activities that can take place during study time.
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Remove sources of distractions
Prevent over stimulating your child’s senses with various distractions such as background TV noise, radio noise, phones and tablets. Make sure they don’t waste time on social media during learning time. If you choose to use YouTube or the internet to complement their learning experience, make sure you’re strict on the use of this and don’t allow pop ups and interesting looking videos to lure you away from the task at hand. It’s easily done so you must maintain focus. The best way to eliminate risk is to remove it from the learning environment altogether. TVs should be muted, and phones and tablets should be placed in another room with little access to them while learning.
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Provide easy access to all your child’s supplies
Everything a child needs for their learning session should be at arm’s length within the learning location. Moving around to get something could potentially distract them. Encourage them to keep their belongings organised and clean.
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Make their learning location comfortable
Making the learning environment comfortable is key to productivity. The desk or table a child needs should be provided for them if possible. A comfortable chair will reduce the risk of backaches and tiredness. We would suggest purchasing an adjustable chair that isn’t too high, making your child’s feet dangle. When purchasing an appropriate work chair consider the height of the seat, the width of the seat, the back and armrest and possible lumbar support to support their posture.