The pandemic has been tough for growing children. Online learning is difficult to get used to, and lacks much of the social interaction that children get in school. But it is the reality of the world--at least for a little while. That means we need to adapt our homes to accommodate our children’s evolving needs.
Creating a kid-friendly learning space is hard in a small home. So it’s important to put adequate thought into your design. To help you get started, our team put together its top three tips on how to create kid-friendly learning spaces in your home during the pandemic.
1. Create Intentional Zones
Overlap can be difficult for children to understand. That’s why many designers and specialists recommend having different zones for designated activities. The place where your child sleeps should not be where they study. The place where they study should not be where they play, etc. What you are trying to do here is make it so that when it’s time for your child to go to sleep, they aren’t thinking about schoolwork or other distractions.
But not everyone has a spare room that their children can use for studying. In small apartments or homes, the child’s bedroom might be the only option. That’s okay--you can still create intentional zones within the bedroom. Use a desk to create a designated workspace, and a rug or toy box to show where playtime begins.
2. Use Upgrades to Make Your Main Space User-Friendly
Many modern homes were built with an unrestricted floor plan in mind, which doesn’t necessarily lend itself to designated workspaces for everyone in the family. But that’s okay, because you can use these easy upgrades to help your child create their own space in a shared area. And when the school day is over, you still have full use of your living room.
Noise Canceling Headphones are a great investment for productivity. Buy a pair for everyone in your family, and you can all work in the same room without distracting each other. The added benefit here is that if you have small children, you are there for them if anything goes wrong!
Portable, Collapsable Desks are another way to create a designated workspace in the main room. A portable desk allows your child to have their very own workstation, and use it wherever they please. Plus, collapsable desks allow you to have your living room back when the school day is over. Some desks are even adjustable for your child’s height.
Durable Surfaces like metal chairs or wooden tables will make it easy to clean your child’s learning space. When your kids eventually go back to school, your living room will be free of wear and tear. You don’t have to remodel or spend a lot of money in order to make homeschooling work out.
3. Let Your Kids Help with the Design
We know that your children don’t have a degree in interior design. But there are some definite advantages to letting them have a say in how their workspaces are created. If they feel some ownership over their space, they are more likely to maintain it and keep it looking nice. Let them create art for decoration or pick out the color of their pencil holder. This will go a long way to help your child learn efficiently.
Kid-Friendly Learning Spaces at Home
Creating kid-friendly learning spaces at home during the pandemic is tricky, but completely doable. You don’t even have to overhaul your main space in order to make it happen. Just be sure to create intentional, workable spaces that make sense for both you and your child.