It’s that time of year again. The holidays are almost over, and children are heading back to school.

And that means – homework.

Some kids love to bury their heads in a book, some absolutely dread it. Either way, there are lots of things we can do to help.

Homework stations are great for helping little minds think big. And there are lots of benefits in allowing them to feel inspired and get creative while at home.

And by giving them a space they can relax and learn in, they’ll be able to have the best possible start in life.

To help, we’ve put together our top tips for setting up a homework station for your children.

1) Choose the right space

Setting up the right space for studying in is key for helping your kids concentrate and stay focused on what they’re working on.

This might mean setting up a space upstairs, away from the bustle of daily home life so that they can get some quiet. Or, if your children need regular support and assistance, then having somewhere close by might be more suitable – perhaps a corner of the dining room or living room would be better.

Either way, giving them a space of their own is a great way of encouraging them to enjoy their time studying while being creative.

Our favourite solution for a homework station is the drawing board. Give them a versatile and fun space to call their own.

2) Help them feel inspired

Homework can be really draining, especially if it’s a subject that your child doesn’t particularly enjoy or finds difficult.

So, helping them to enjoy their study space is ideal for creating somewhere they enjoy going back to again and again.

You can do this with lots of bright colours and soft fabrics, to help make the space more inviting, as well as providing them with opportunities to use their imagination. White boards and lots of coloured pens are great for this as well as art materials such as thick card and crafting bits and pieces.

Let them help in designing their set up and remember things like posters and inspirational quotes always work wonders too.

3) Have the right tools

Having a well-stocked study station is going to really help to get those creative juices going! Pens, paper, coloured card, paints and even glitter are all great ways for giving your children an excuse to use their imaginations and enjoy creating something new.

Stock up the cupboards with highlighters, paper, and little extras that might inspire them to put that all-important time and effort into their projects.

Having access to the internet is essential for research – and most schools use online tutor websites for homework these days too. So, having a tablet or a laptop that they can use is ideal. There are also lots of educational sites and apps that will help them learn and revise when big exams are coming up.

4) Comfort is key

Humans aren’t built for sitting down all day but unfortunately that’s what a lot of us end up doing! So, if your children need to spend an hour or so in the evening sitting down, make sure they’re comfortable with supportive chairs, soft cushions or bean bags so that they can get settled.

There are no specific rules on how they do their homework so creating an environment where they’re comfortable and settled makes it all the easier for them to get stuff done.

5) Stay organised

Organisation is key – not just for running a busy family but for busy kids too! With a little consistency as well as some helpful calendars and timetables, they can plan out their evenings and allocate time slots for different tasks.

This can be really helpful for parents as you can keep an eye on what they’re up to and what needs to be done and when.

Digital organisers are also very useful and help to make daily life run a little more smoothly.

By making studying at home as inviting and as enjoyable as possible, your children are much more likely to want to learn. It will also help encourage them to do their homework which can be another headache in itself!

Whatever you decide, make sure they get involved in helping to create the perfect place to study so that they can get the most out of their school years.

And don’t forget, there’s always room for more. Design, re-design, upgrade and let them explore ways in which they can make their workplace their own. So that it’s always a place they feel themselves, and at home.

Find us on Instagram and Facebook for more tips and inspiration @HartleysDirect.