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~ Back to Articles Index Page ~  The children are headed back to school and now is the time to think about setting up a quiet area to give your kids their best shot at successful studying. What it amounts to is setting up a sort of home office for your children. Making sure your children have a functional area to work in is important. Everything they need to make the most of their study time should be at their fingertips. If you can, try to ensure the equipment and supplies they work with are the most technologically, educationally, and environmentally up-to-date. It doesn't hurt to make the space visually pleasing as well. Try getting your children involved with things such as choosing a favorite paint color, a desk and chair that fits their stature, and some of their favorite things to surround them such as a picture of the family dog, stickers for the wall, or a favorite stuffed toy. Have a look at the following guidelines. They will help you design an area that is functional, comfortable and inspires your kids to keep their mind on their studies while enjoying themselves at the same time. LAYOUT 
Best placement for your child’s study desk is with their back to the door (leave the door open so you can sneak a peak!), not directly facing a window, to cut back on the temptation to look away from their books. Have a separate desk or table for their laptop or computer, scanner and printer with a shelf nearby for things like calculators, paper clips, staplers and such. Provide plenty of shelving within reach for books, dictionaries, a thesaurus, an atlas, project materials and extra paper. Hang a corkboard on the wall in front of the desk to allow you to pin up reminder schedules and calendars to keep kids on track. Pin up a fun picture or two as well that will make them smile. You could also run pretty colors of ribbon diagonally across the corkboard that will allow you to slide in important notes rather than pin them to the corkboard. EQUIPMENT 
A room for studying should be filled with functionality, including a desk that is the right size for your child and their books, a comfortable chair styled to fit your child’s height, a stool for their feet under the desk (this will support their back), a table lamp that can bend to the right angle for your child (fitted with a non-fluorescent bulb that's not too bright) and plenty of drawers and holders for pens, pencils, calculators and such. A computer screen fitted with an anti-glare device is recommended. A portable radio or CD player could be added as some children study better with appropriate background music. Mom or Dad will have to monitor this! COLOR AND DÉCOR Borrowing from Feng Shui principles, greens and blues are colors that allow children to grow and flourish. If you can’t paint your walls, choose furniture and accents, such as pillows and blankets, using these colors. If greens and blues aren’t to you, or your child’s, liking try going with Feng Shui colors of the five elements: green, red, yellow, white and black; green for prosperity, success and harmony; red for health, strength and courage; yellow for creativity, concentration and confidence; white for truth and enlightenment and black for respect, power and authority. Freshen the air in the room with an open window and loads of green plants. Hang a few inspirational quotes on the walls. Help your child pick out a “study buddy” – a stuffed toy to keep them company while they work. Scent the room gently with uplifting, yet calming fragrances like mandarin, peppermint, marjoram, rosemary, bergamot or geranium essential oils. And a nice warm drink while they study helps them relax and enjoy their study time. 
You may wish to consider adding a chair for yourself in their study area. This allows you to monitor their progress, give them support as they need it and just provide some company while they work through their homework. Above all, a homework area should be quiet and restful. Children sometimes tend to let homework stress them and if you're there to lend your support in a soothing environment, homework times should progress calmly and successfully every time! NUTRITION By the time your kids arrive home from school, especially if they have to travel on a bus, it's been hours since they've had something good to eat. Homework snacks are a good idea and should consist of finger foods; something the kids can pick up and eat quickly and easily. Make the snacks "transportable" to their homework area and make sure they're equipped with a kleen canteen filled with plenty of fresh, cold water. Vitamin B1 helps your brain function so you can think clearly and learn better. Examples of snacks loaded with B1 would include tuna on whole-wheat crackers, peanuts, broccoli spears, oatmeal cookies (use raw sugar or Stevia instead of white sugar), raisins and plums. 
Starting in August, you may wish to consider giving your child the added benefit of a supplement specifically designed to help them learn. Natural Factors Learning Factors Daily Nutrient Boost can enhance cognitive activity, brain function and plasticity, which are all essential for learning new behaviors, adapting to life's changing circumstances and optimizing motor function. Carol Roy is a Natural Health Practitioner, registered with Natural Health Practitioners Canada, who received her diploma from the Alternative Medicine College of Canada in Montreal, Quebec. With 9 years experience in her area of expertise, naturopathic medicine, Carol has also trained to become a fully qualified Reiki Master, Quantum Touch ® Practitioner and Reflexologist. are recommendations only and not a substitute for any medical advice or a replacement for any prescriptions. Seek medical advice for any health concerns. Consult your health care provider before using any recommendations herein. |
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