This back-to-school season, Kimberly-Clark and Colgate-Palmolive have partnered with HealthyChildren.org and Dr. Alanna Levine to provide moms with helpful tips to set their kids up for success as they head back to school, and Clever Girls Collective is joining in on the fun! To find out more about this great program, subscribe to the Healthy Routines Facebook page here! http://on.fb.me/NhW05C. #HealthyHabits #CGC
With Sophie starting kindergarten in a few weeks, I’ve begun to think about how I can help her succeed in the year ahead. I think that kindergarten is a key time to instill lifelong study habits – things like staying organized and completing work on time will serve her well not only in school, but for the rest of her life!
I know she’ll be getting homework in kindergarten (Although I hope not *too* much!), and I think it’s important for kids to have a dedicated space to work in at home. We’ve recently redone the playroom, and both the kids have desks now. I’m setting Sophie’s up as a homework zone, so she’ll be ready to go come August!
If you’re thinking about setting up a work station for your kiddo, here are a few things you’ll want to think about:
- Keep everything she might need to complete projects readily accessible. Supplies you might want to have on hand are paper, pens/pencils, scissors, glue sticks, and a ruler. If she usually has a snack while she’s doing homework, you might even keep some yummy treats and water nearby!
- Make this a spot she wants to be in. Homework should never feel like a chore or punishment! A comfortable chair is key, and adding some cute personal touches will help make even the hardest school work more bearable (Or am I the only one who immediately feels more productive in a clean, pretty space?). I’ve added things like a comfy pillow on her chair and some pretty artwork to make the space feel more “hers.”
- Create a space that’s multi-functional and will grow with your child. Obviously we won’t be getting homework during summer break, so during those months I’ll make sure her desk is stocked with art supplies to keep her creativity flowing! I also purposely avoided anything kid-sized here, since they outgrow those tiny tables and chairs pretty quickly, and I want her to be able to use this space for years to come.
Having everything close at hand will help homework go smoothly.
Remember too, that while having a space to do homework is handy, learning can happen anywhere – from helping measure ingredients in the kitchen to sounding out words in a bedtime story, always look for ways to help reinforce schoolwork at home. And of course, doing homework is only one part of school success – visit the Healthy Routines page for more tips and tricks to help your kids thrive!
As a member of Clever Girls Collective, I was selected to participate in the Healthy Habits program sponsored by Kimberly-Clark and Colgate-Palmolive. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own. #healthyhabits #cgc
