Post updated: 16/07/15
I wrote this post last year originally but I wanted to share it again today for a few reasons.
Firstly, we’ve made a homework space for Master Frugal too that I wanted to update my post to include that and secondly because after a year of secondary school with Miss Frugal, I wanted to reiterate just how important it is that children have a space to do their homework and this seemed like as good a place as any to do that!
So, here we go – How to create an Awesome homework space (on a budget)…. (again)
The older children get, the more homework they’ll inevitably be sent home from school with and the older they get, the more important the need to complete the homework is. I’m not a fan of homework for younger children but I believe that the current guidelines suggest that by the time children are in Years 5 and 6 they should be doing around half an hour of homework every night.
Master Frugal has just finished Year 5 where they have been given two pieces of homework each week to complete – each taking around half an hour to finish. He’s not great at remembering to bring it home to be honest and I’ve often ended up writing ‘homework’ on his hand the day before it’s due in due to him repeatedly forgetting after my many reminders during the week! He knows that if he forgets, they’re allowed to do it during break and lunchtime the day it’s due so it’s not a disaster if he doesn’t do it but I’d rather we did it at home as he takes more care over it at home.
Earlier this year, we gave him a little room makeover and bought a new desk and chair for less than £30 in total. He loves his little homework area and I think it’s going to be well used going into Year 6 where we can expect even more homework.
It doesn’t matter that it’s a small area, it’s simply a quiet space where he can sit and concentrate without the business of everyone else interrupting him. As he’s older, we might need to do a bit more for him but for now, it’s perfect – and all for less than £30!
Secondary school is a whole different ball game for homework though as Miss Frugal can get a lot more homework to be completed each night and it’s detention if she doesn’t do it!
Thankfully we’ve had a detention free year and Miss Frugal has enjoyed doing her homework each night (not sure this will last though). Like her younger brother, she has her own little study area in her bedroom where she can go to do her homework although a lot of the time she sits at the dining room table because (a) she doesn’t like to think she’s missing anything and (b) I often sit with her and we talk about what she’s doing.
At least she has the area though, so if she needs somewhere quiet to work or she has a project to complete that she doesn’t want to keep clearing away then she has the space to do this.
Making her a homework space wasn’t expensive and it takes up hardly any space in her bedroom although we did have to rearrange the whole room to make the space! She has a little desk and chair that she chose herself and then lots of pretty mugs that she borrowed from the kitchen cupboard filled with all sorts or pens and pencils along with some stationery drawers by the side and a whole drawer of notebooks near by!
We bought the desk on sale from Argos, a cheap chair from the car boot sale and some other random things that we found and the whole thing cost less than £35.
A desk and a chair in a quiet area is all you need for an awesome homework space and believe me, they’ll be glad of it when the homework starts to build up!
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Image credit: Shutterstock, Khomkrit Phonsai
These are awesome ideas to attract children towards homework. A peaceful environment is important for them.
Great guidelines from you. Homework is one of the most important activities for your kids. So, it is crucial for you to provide your child a comfortable and pleasant homework area.
I love the idea of having a space that they can sit down and work, with all the things they need around them… so much better than the dining table
the homework space is marvellous
I would love to make a homework space for my oldest, it looks brilliant and is really inexpensive and so nice to give them their own area to concentrate in!
The homework space looks great, it's so important for them to have somewhere they can study.
you are so right having a quiet space for homework etc is so important.
I would love to have space for a proper desk……ours just sits at the dining table
I quite agree. Our lad just went up to secondary and we moved him rooms, got a high sleeper with desk underneath. You have reminded me about getting him a whiteboard – thank you.
Great tips. Our rooms aren't big enough for a desk space so we have made some built in desks in the hallway or they have the option of the dining room table.
Hahrrr you have just reminded me I need to get my daughters desk out .x
Great space. Wow an hour and a half a night, seems quite a lot x
great tips, her homework space looks lovely x
We put a desk in our daughter’s room as she large amounts of homework each night and she is only 8. I don’t know what we are going to do for my son though as he can only fit a bed and chest of drawers in his room.
Great tips and I love Miss F's area. We have all our stuff in the beautox in the kitchen, but they take it to the table. They also have desk in their room ready for the need for a quiet area
We've all this to come as my daughter's only about to go into Reception, but you have just reminded me that we need to actually finish the holiday mini-homework we were set back in July!