7 Tips for Setting up the Best At-Home Learning Environment for your Child

This is a highly stressful time for many families, and we hope that using these tips alleviates some of the stress you may be experiencing as parents trying to set up the best at-home learning environment for your children!

​1. Clutter

Eliminate clutter to help your child focus on the tasks at hand. When you hear the word clutter, images of toys, papers, and unnecessary materials scattered on your child’s desk might come to mind. While this type of clutter can be very distracting and should be eliminated, we also recommend being mindful of other family members’ clutter in your child’s learning environment. If your child is using a desk or table currently being used or previously used by other family members, make sure that when it’s your child’s turn, they can begin without getting distracted by others’ clutter

​2. Technology

Make sure that all of your child’s technology is plugged in, charged, and properly connected. We recommend doing a few test runs with your child to check if they know how to use the various tools and programs at their disposal, and to give yourself an opportunity to troubleshoot any problems.

​3. Supplies

Make it easy for your child to keep his or her supplies organized by using a supply cady or desk supply organizer. While it’s important to make sure that your child has easy access to a variety of essential items, and that they have multiples of the most frequently used ones (such as pens, pencils, whiteboard markers), having an excessive amount of supplies within reach and view might be distracting. To reach a happy medium, make sure that your child has all the needed supplies in an easy to reach spot, and keep the surplus and rarely used supplies in a separate spot.

​4. Lighting

Prior to your child beginning their remote or homeschooling journey, decide where their work area will be, and check to see how much natural light it gets. With entire families working and learning from home, and space being at a premium, your child might be working in a previously unused space, which doesn’t get enough natural light. On the other hand, your child might be learning in a part of the house where there is too much natural light. If that’s the case, be mindful of potential glare, as your child will most likely do the bulk of their schoolwork in front of a computer.

​5. Fidgets

Fidgets can be very good at helping your child stay focused and calm during their lessons. If they work for your child, have your child pick out one or two to have on their desk while they learn. Be careful to not put all of their fidgets out for them to pick and choose from, as picking out fidgets while they’re trying to participate in a lesson might be too distracting for them.

6. Break Box

Breaks are very beneficial for students as they learn, and they are especially important as students navigate learning in a new way and in a new environment. In order to make your child’s breaks relaxing and enjoyable and in order to maximize their break time, we recommend setting up a box filled with some things your child might want to use when they have a break. Some ideas of things to include are drawing materials, books, games and toys. Place the break box in an accessible spot close to your child’s work area, but far enough from them so that they’re not tempted to peek inside when learning.

7. Sunday Checks

As you and your family adjust to a new back to school routine and schedule, we recommend using Sunday nights to do a quick learning environment check with your child. Use this time to tidy up their workspace, check if all electronics are working and charged, replenish used up supplies, and eliminate any clutter that may have gathered during the previous week. This way, your child’s learning environment will be ready and organized for another week of homeschooling or remote learning, and you’ll be able to relax, knowing that their environment is set up for success.​

We’re hoping that these 7 tips are helpful in making the transition to remote learning or homeschooling easier for you and your children!

​If you’d like to schedule a time to chat with us about our new homeschooling program or to learn about our homeschooling consultation services, please let us know. We’d love to connect and help you and your child maximize this time at home!