Setting Up the Perfect Study Space for Your Child

Study spaces are ideal for children getting ready for important exams. They are particularly useful to set up when your child is getting ready for their GCSE exams, and even for their A Levels and at University if necessary.

The study space should be optimal for your child’s specific needs. It’s why they should also be involved in the process so that they can get the best out of their new study space. This private primary school in London recommends letting children have a study space from when they reach year 10, to allow themselves to better develop their knowledge in time for the most important of exams.

With all of that in mind, there are many ways to build the right space for your child to get through their revision. Whether it’s an entire room to themselves or a space within the kitchen or their bedroom, there are ways to manage a good revision space for your child.

Tailor the space to your child

Your child is going to have specific needs when it comes to a learning space. It’s important to give your child the opportunity to have their input where they feel it’s needed. There’s no point giving your child a learning space that they can’t utilise in the way they want. So to help your child fully utilise the space, lean into your child’s learning styles and how they prefer to work.

A child that relies a lot more on visuals to get them thinking will greatly appreciate a room set up with a laptop or piles of picture prompts. Highlighters and coloured pens will be in abundance, with flashcards and bright notepads. On the flip side, if your child often relies on listening to things then you’re going to need to look into getting a good headset, or speakers, to support their learning.

This can also be nailed down to specific subjects. If your child is learning a second language they might find it beneficial to have a good setup for listening and reading exercises. This can then be taken out when your child has to work on a History assignment, or some Maths homework.

Remove obvious distractions

Mobile phones and other ways to procrastinate shouldn’t be allowed in the space where possible. It can feel sad to take a child’s phone away for a bit, but you will see a big improvement in their focus and productivity if you do so. Once they’re finished their session you can give them their phone again.

The reason for minimal distractions is to ensure the information is actually retained when your child is working on something. If they look at their phone, or more onto something else quickly, it destroys the flow and it means they are less likely to remember that information in the run up to an exam.

Children can also be creative in what can distract them if the subject matter is too boring. In these cases it might be worth planning ahead – get out a pile of revision aids they can instantly refer to, or print out some past papers ahead of time.

Help your child personalise the space

If you have a study room, or a section of their bedroom for studying, it’s worth giving your child the freedom to add their own personal touches. Have your child look at ways they can make their mark in the space, like bringing in their own stationery or allowing them to organise their own breaks. It is their study space too, after all, and too much dictation from parents can mean they’re less inclined to follow orders sometimes.

Learning should feel like it’s a fun and exciting experience for kids, even when they have to revise and go over similar learning material over and over again. Those personal stickers and drawings to support their learning can go a long way, which is why it’s a great way of letting your child feel independent all of the time.