Some children can turn getting ready for homework into an event of its own. They need a different pencil, a drink, a better chair, and perhaps a full discussion of why the kitchen table is suddenly unacceptable. By the time they sit down, everyone is tired of homework, and no one has started it.
What if homework time had a setup your child actually looked forward to?
A familiar place and a few pleasant rituals can make it easier to get started. Your child knows where to go, where the supplies are, and what homework time feels like. You aren’t trying to make every assignment delightful. You’re making the transition into it a little easier.
The idea of “romanticizing” things has been around on social media for a few years, and it works *perfectly* with homework.
Now, it will look different for different ages, genders, and interests, but in general, here are the principles:
1. Have a dedicated space for doing homework.
Even if that space has other purposes (like the kitchen table), have a space set aside. There is a mental habit benefit of doing homework in the same space all the time.
Having a dedicated space allows you to implement the rest of the ideas more easily. It also takes away the mental burden of deciding where to do the homework, which any gifted kid worth their salt can drag out into a 40-minute process.
2. Make the space as hygge as possible.
Hygge is a Danish word (pronounced HUE-guh) that evokes a deep sense of coziness and contentment. This looks different in a homework space than it does in a living room, of course.
To make a homework space hygge, I’d suggest things like:
- a candle warmer with a favorite scent
- a color-changing lamp
- playing an ambience room on a tablet (search “ambience room for kids” or “sports ambience rooms for kids” or “pink ambience rooms” on YouTube…you get the idea)
- a lava lamp (yes, they’re still around!)
- a special mug or water bottle ONLY used during homework time
- a special blanket
- a cushion for the chair (or even a cushioned booster for younger kids)
You might be able to find many of these things lying around your house.
If not, I gathered a collection of my favorites on my Amazon storefront (those are affiliate links, and I donate 100% of the affiliate income).
3. Have special school supplies
Have fun/special school supplies that are used ONLY during homework time. This might include things like:
- very fun pencils (or seasonal pencils)
- scented pens or markers
- colorful paper
- cool clipboards
- cool/scented/themed erasers
- neat timers
- little stapler
If your child has a favorite sport or theme or interest, you can lean into that (all soccer, all the time, for example).
If you don’t have a dedicated homework space (our kids always used the kitchen table), then you can keep the school supplies in a container and the hygge items in a bin or crate (put the school supplies box in there, too).
You can try this without buying a thing. A favorite pencil, a comfortable chair, a snack, and a box of supplies brought to the kitchen table can be enough to create the feeling of “this is homework time.” When homework is done, everything goes back in the box.
The idea is to make this a special time by making it a special space with special things. Maybe you serve them a special beverage in that special cup or maybe there’s a special snack they only get when there is homework.
Humans can be simple creatures, and it doesn’t take much to convince our brains that something that used to feel like drudgery is actually special and something to look forward to.
This works for teachers for grading and planning, too. Make it special!
Of course, pay attention to what happens once your child begins. If homework regularly takes hours, causes significant distress, or requires you to teach the lesson yourself, a cozy setup won’t address the underlying problem. That’s a good time to talk with the teacher about what you’re seeing at home.
I made a list on my Amazon storefront of things I’ve used (I added more variations than I have, but I found the items by searching my actual orders). You can browse that for ideas, if you like.
(Note: If you buy from there, I get a small commission that I use to fulfill teachers’ wishlists.)
