Constructing an ideal learning environment for your teen to study is extremely important.
Here is a list of tips to keep in mind when creating a study space for your teen.
- Color
Color surrounds us in the world, from the clothing we wear to our indoor environment to the great outdoors and the colorful beauty of nature. When creating a tranquil study space, choosing the area's colors is very important to set the tone. Color does not only bring us peace. Some colors affect mood, memory, and focus when studying.
According to a study done by the Journal of Experimental Psychology, visual stimulation through color is essential for a positive learning environment. Research shows that monotone learning areas may induce feelings of anxiety, distress, and even fear. What’s more, a lack of color can create a sense of restlessness, excessive emotional response, difficulty in concentration, and irritation. (Wichmann, Felix A et al.) Don’t only focus on your wall colors; also include the accessories within the study space.
- Furniture
After a long day of sitting at a school desk and chair, most teens want to come home plop down in their favorite spot on the couch or even their bed. Finding a desk and chair that will help keep them from drifting off during their studying but is comfortable enough for them to continue their schoolwork might prove to be easier than you think if you allow them to choose. If your budget does not allow for something new, try to repurpose one from around the house. A little paint on a table you already own or an added cushion on a chair within your home and rearranging an area is all you need to create an enjoyable study space. It may just turn into a fun DIY project for you and your teen to do together!
- Organization
Once you have the color palette and the comfortable chair, keeping your teen in the space will be much easier if everything they need is close at hand. Having small containers for pens, pencils, paperclips, and other often needed studying items will help keep your teen from getting distracted looking for an essential study tool. There are many excellent, inexpensive, and colorful options available. Give your teen a budget and let them help with selecting baskets, bins, and containers. Consider adding a small bookshelf, bulletin board, and calendar to help organize the study space. If the area is too small for a bookshelf, a shelf or two above the desk can help keep items handy without taking up too much of the room.
- Lighting
One of the most important things you need to consider is lighting in the area. Natural light can make or break a space. Try to locate the study space where there is at least some natural light, if possible. Any area you choose for the study space will need good lighting to keep your teen awake when daylight begins to disappear in the early hours of the evening. An overhead light might seem like it gives off enough light but remember, as the days shorten, the light will cast shadows, causing your teen to lose focus. A good desk lamp is essential to a study area. Choosing a daylight light bulb will keep things bright, even on the gloomiest of days. Remembering to place the lamp opposite your child’s writing hand (on the left side for right-handed writers or on the right side for left-handed writers) will help avoid dark shadows across the study area and allow the light to stay consistent even when the natural daylight shifts.
- Personalize
Giving your teen ownership in their study space might encourage better studying practices. And without a doubt, you will be able to get a sense of your child’s style preferences. If they enjoy the area, the color, and the comfort of the space they have helped create, they will be far more inclined to spend time in their study space. Personal touches are important to express creativity and interests. Just be sure to keep it to a modest amount, so your teen is not distracted. A few great ideas are plants, wall hangings, inspirational quotes, a chalkboard, a corkboard, posters, and framed photos, all help create a warm and inviting space.
The first day of school is almost here, and your teen can feel excited about their dedicated study space, which will help set them up for a successful school year. A great way to welcome Back to School 2021!