Whether your child has upcoming exams to revise for or needs a quiet place to do their homework, it’s important to create a positive study environment at home.

Establishing a specific area within your home can boost focus, make studying that little bit more enjoyable, encourage good habits, and help young minds to think creatively.

If they’re enrolled in online tuition with us, they’ll also want to have a focused space away from distractions, so that they are fully engaged in our workshops.

Here are some practical tips for parents

1. Create a quiet space just for them

Allocating a distraction free area in the home is key. Ideally this should be away from high traffic areas such as the kitchen or living room, but if that’s not possible, then try to segment the space as best as possible so it becomes the ‘study area’. Get your child involved to pick out a couple of small furnishings so it becomes ‘their space’. When your child’s bedroom is also the study area, keep it separate from the bed and ensure the space is well organised with notebooks, pens and any textbooks easily accessible.

2. Lighting

If you can, position the study area near a natural light source from a window. It will help your child feel more awake and the whole study process will feel less like a chore. Add a desk lamp with adjustable brightness and a warm bulb to reduce eye strain for evening studying.

3. Make it comfortable

A desk and adjustable chair appropriate for their age are ideal so that you can check they’re sitting comfortably. If they use a laptop or monitor, then make sure this is at eye level to avoid neck strain.

4. Keep it neat and simple

The saying: a tidy space = a tidy mind rings very true when it comes to studying. There’s less chance of distraction and it will help your child to focus on the task at hand. Toys and devices should be away from view, so they only have the essentials such as pens and books on their desk for study time.

5. Add a touch of fun!

You want your child to feel like this space is just for them and so working together to personalise the area with posters, fun stickers, or their name on the wall can help to make it a place they’re happy to use, not just a homework spot.

6. Make time to talk about the school day and homework

Just a few minutes each day is all it takes to encourage your child to share what they’ve learnt at school, what they like or dislike about a particular subject, or find difficult or easy. It’s also a great way to identify any learning gaps or extra support that might be needed. Also, remember to regularly check in on them when they’re working. This will provide natural breaks in their work, and you can do a little spot check too on their activity!

7. Stick to a routine

Making homework or study time a regular occurrence means creating a routine so that it becomes a habit that’s easy to maintain. Consider establishing set times for your child to complete their homework, such as before dinner or on a Saturday morning. We always recommend sticking to short sessions of around 20 minutes at a time, with plenty of positive encouragement and small rewards for good work.

8. Promoting collaborative learning

Sometimes learning by yourself can be difficult. There are many ways to help keep up the momentum, whether sitting down with a parent or sibling to run through questions and answers, occasional study time with friends after school, or taking part in small group tuition workshops at MagiKats. Shared learning experiences can foster a positive mindset, engage a child’s mind, and boost confidence.

Need some help in encouraging your child to study? Take a look at MagiKats weekly workshops in Maths and English. We provide a friendly and supportive environment for learning either in person at one of our centres, or remotely via our online tutoring platform.

Creating the ideal home study environment