Spring is for Studying

Kids need a calming environment in which to focus on their school work. As the weather begins to warm, your teenage son or daughter may be thinking less about The Great Gatsby or the quadratic equation and more about the summer months of freedom ahead. Some of them, facing imminent graduation, may have been challenged more than they ever have been. It's easy for exhaustion to settle in as Houston's "winter" air fills with the smell of spring flowers and bird song. 

To keep your kids on task and motivated, we recommend paying a little more attention to their study environment. On the couch in front of the television is not the ideal place. Neither is the kitchen table as the rest of the family bustles about. We suggest adding some TLC to their desk space with a few easy steps. 

First, make sure they have everything they need to complete the projects for the week. Arm them with scissors, glue, tape, markers, rulers, calculators, protractors, beakers, paint brushes...whatever it takes! We love the idea of organizing things into neat, brightly decorated cups, like the one below. 

A bulletin board is a must for any high school student. It's a great way to remind them of  upcoming deadlines, quizzes, and exams, and forces them to be a little more proactive when it comes to their own schedules. A bulletin board doesn't have to be all business, it can be for fun photos, postcards, concert tickets, or anything else your son or daughter loves. 

There is nothing more irritating to a teacher than a lost homework assignment or paper. Help your high schooler keep up with all their paperwork by giving them a file organizer. They can separate topics or classes with the convenient tabs. It's also a great way to start keeping track of your son or daughter's progress as a writer, aspiring chemist, or engineer. 

Boys may have a harder time sitting still. We suggest coming up with a game plan with them. Emphasize that their work space must be functional, but allow a little wriggle room at the same time. We laugh every time we look at these rubber band holders below. Something like this would make a great addition to your son's desk as a slight distraction from too much seriousness. 

Music has stimulating effects on the mind. While your teen undoubtedly listens to their music on their iPhone or mobile device, we think the study space should be a place where no phones are allowed. They may be temped to text or browse Facebook when they should be focusing. Instead, get them a small radio just for their desk. This one has a convenient headphone option.

Our final tip for an inspired work space that will motivate your high school son or daughter is all about creativity. If revamping their study space feels more like an intervention than a joint effort, you definitely want to let them know that you want them to feel comfortable. Let them make the space their own with objects or photographs that inspire them. As an example, we chose the globe below that contains a small ocean scene.