How to Create the Perfect Study Environment for Your Child
Each child is different and, consequently, each child has different study techniques and study environments that work for them. The best way to create the ideal study space for your child is to talk to them about what they find the best.
It can be difficult designing the space, particularly if your child is not sure what kind of environment would suit them the best. Here are some tried and tested techniques to create a study space that works for your child.
Minimal distractions
This one may seem like it goes without saying, but you would be surprised how many designed-for-purpose study spaces are still prone to the sort of distractions that can throw a student off their concentration. Not all homes are big enough to house a specific study, but ensuring that there is some place in the house where a student can sit and be free from the noises associated with family life is vital. Anything from a chatty sibling to a persistent vacuum cleaner can act as a distraction that will break the concentration of even the most committed student. If it is not possible to have a room that is always free from these distractions, try and have an hour a day where these noises are removed from the house entirely, giving your child space to think and study in peace.
Silence or background noise?
Whilst it is important to not have too many intrusive distractions, some students do find it easier to work with some small level of background noise. If your child is struggling to concentrate on their work in an atmosphere of total silence, try experimenting with some classical music or rain sounds in the background. Talk to your child about what works the best for them, and don’t be afraid to take a trial and error approach to different methods. Remember though, even if something works once, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it will work again. Having some music on may help concentration one day, but be a distraction the next.
Comfort
More than anything, it is of utmost importance that your child is in a position of comfort when they sit down for a study session. Try and find a comfortable chair for your child to sit in and a desk that’s at a good height for them to work at without straining their back or neck. A feeling of discomfort can be a worse distraction than you think. Also, it is important that your child’s study space is at a good temperature and light-level for them to work at. If your child is shivering, feeling too warm, or straining their eyes to see their textbook, they will not be able to work at their best level. Helping your child be comfortable is the first step for them working at their best.
Screens
As well as things to try and include in your child’s study space, there are of course important things to avoid. We understand that, these days, the majority of children have access to a mobile phone or tablet for recreation and communication, however these can be the ultimate barrier to a productive study session. Even for a fully developed adult, the distraction of a screen can be almost irresistible, and for your child, that distraction can totally pull them out of study-mode and into play. Try and make sure that your child’s study space is a screen-free zone, where your child can focus on their studies free from the never-ending buzzing of a mobile or tablet. These should be out of sight - not just on silent. Televisions and radios can be hard to avoid if your child studies in a family or communal area, but do try and make sure that there is time set aside each day when these distractions are not present.
Routine
We know it can be a chore to get your child to study sometimes, but one thing that can really help is working with them to set up a study routine. After a while, settling down to study at a certain time of day will become second nature to your child. Having an end-point in sight, too, can really help your child get into the working mindset. Imagine going to work at the start of the day without being absolutely sure that you were going to leave- it would make the working day far worse! The same is true for your child and their study sessions: knowing that they have a set time to finish can really help relax their mind into study.
By Matthew