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Family organization and routines

Homework station

One set spot at home for schoolwork, stocked with the supplies a child needs, so homework starts in the same quiet place each day.

What It Means

A homework station is a spot at home kept ready for schoolwork: a surface to work on, decent light and the supplies a child reaches for most. HealthyChildren.org, from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), recommends a consistent workspace, in a bedroom or another part of the home, that is quiet and free of distractions. The station can be a whole desk or a caddy of supplies that comes out onto the kitchen table at homework time.

Try It: Compare Three Spots for a Homework Station

Pick a spot to compare. The notes are Buhata's own; the AAP's test for any spot is quiet, consistent and free of distractions.

Works well

An adult is nearby to help and to see that phones stay off.

Watch for

Dinner prep and siblings. Supplies need a caddy so the table clears for meals.

Suits younger kids who still need help.

How It Sounds at Home

  • "Your pencils are in the homework caddy."
  • "Take your stuff to the homework spot."
  • "The desk is for homework, not for the tablet."

The Breakdown

How to set one up

  1. Pick a spot you can keep for the whole school year. HealthyChildren.org's advice is a consistent place that is quiet and without distractions.
  2. Make the TV and other electronics off-limits there at homework time, as the AAP site suggests.
  3. Stock the supplies before the first assignment. HealthyChildren.org's advice for teens is to have pens, paper, highlighters and books at hand before starting.
  4. Add good light and a chair that fits your child.
  5. If the station is a shared table, keep everything in one caddy or bin that comes out at homework time and goes back after.
  6. Set a place for finished work, such as the backpack on its hook, so it isn't left behind.

Try it today. Fill one box with pencils, an eraser, a ruler, paper and a calculator, and use it at tomorrow's homework time.

A starter supply list (Buhata's own suggestion)

For every ageAdd as they grow
Pencils, sharpener, eraserHighlighters and pens
Lined and blank paperA calculator for math
Crayons or colored pencilsA planner for due dates
Scissors and glue stickHeadphones only if schoolwork needs them

Good to Know

The AAP's advice on distractions applies to the station's surroundings as much as the desk itself: the TV off and devices away during homework. For children with ADHDADHD in kidsAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children: ongoing trouble paying attention, sitting still or controlling impulses, beyond what's usual for their age. See more, HealthyChildren.org has a separate page, "ADHD and Homework". If your child can't settle at any station, or homework keeps taking far longer than the teacher expects, talk with the teacher and, if it continues, your pediatrician.

FAQ

What should be in a homework station?

A work surface, good light and the supplies your child uses most: pencils, erasers, paper, crayons or highlighters, and a calculator for older kids. HealthyChildren.org suggests having supplies at hand before starting.

Where is the best place for a homework station?

Anywhere quiet and consistent, according to HealthyChildren.org, which mentions the bedroom or another part of the home. Younger children often do better within reach of an adult.

Can the kitchen table be a homework station?

Yes. Keep supplies in a caddy so the table clears for meals, and keep the TV off during homework time.

Do It in Buhata

Tasks, Shopping

Add the station's supplies to the Shopping list in your Household Space in Buhata before school starts, and add refills there as they run low.

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Related Terms and Categories

  • Homework routine

    A set time, place and order for doing schoolwork at home each school day, so homework starts without a fresh argument every afternoon.

  • After-school routine

    The same set of steps a child follows between getting home from school and dinner, usually a snack, active play, some downtime and homework.

  • Backpack station

    A set spot near the door, usually hooks plus a shelf or bin, where school bags and the things that go with them live between school days.

  • Family command center

    One central spot at home, often a wall by the entry or in the kitchen, where the family keeps its shared calendar, papers, lists and everyday items.

  • Executive function

    The mental skills that let a person plan, focus, remember instructions and control impulses: working memory, mental flexibility and self-control.

Family organization and routines

Sources

HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), "Back-to-School Tips for Families"; HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), "Helping Your Teen Succeed in School"; HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics), "ADHD and Homework"

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