Parents . . . do you want your children to succeed in school? Do you want less fuss when it’s time to do homework?

Most parents realize that success in school leads to success in life. So how can parents encourage children to love to learn? Consider setting up a “Child Study Zone” in your home.

These 8 tips will help you create a colorful and fun study zone that will encourage kids to tackle that homework so they can tackle life as an adult!

1. Special Place Prepare a “special place” for your child to do his/her homework. Try to find a place (even a tiny corner) that is quiet and away from the TV and other distractions. Make it a “special place” just for them. Customize the space with fun colors on the wall, dressed up desk accessories, etc. It doesn’t have to cost a lot. Get creative!
2. “Fun”ctionality Provide a good desk, chair and filing space. Purchase (or make) creative bulletin boards for class schedules, deadlines, sports schedules, etc. Use fun colors, stickers and other cute kid embellishments. Paint the furniture in bright, attractive colors.
3. Provide Desk Accessories Provide appropriate desk accessories. Use your imagination and creativity. Contact paper cut out in cute shapes and clean soup or coffee cans can make great places for pens, pencils, rulers, crayons, etc. Recycle letterhead boxes with paint or wallpaper scraps for places to file paperwork.
4. Creative Filing System Create a filing system with your child so he/she knows where papers are supposed to go. Color code for “fun”ctionality. Blue for math, red for history, green for sports, etc. Double-sided tape and cork squares are an inexpensive way to provide places to hang art, sports ribbons, etc. Consider a white board calendar. They are great for homework reminders, project due dates, etc.
5. Color Their World Kids love color and aren’t afraid to play with shapes. Paint is cheap, so paint the walls and furniture in bright, fun colors your child loves. Purchase inexpensive colorful plastic storage bins and boxes (or check out yard sales, thrift stores, etc.). Make their space as fun and positive as you can. If you (or someone you know) is handy with power tools, try making a child-size desk. You can cut wood into fun shapes (try a kidney bean shape for a desk). Make sure it is appropriately sized for your child.
6. Reference Materials Have reference materials on hand. A lot of information can be found on-line these days, but it never hurts to have a dictionary, and other reference material on hand. Put maps on the wall, find an inexpensive globe. Make a list of child-friendly sites your child can access on the computer for researching school projects.
7. Computers Computers are a must for kids in America today. Even those who cannot afford a home computer, can utilize the public library. If you have a home computer, make sure to have parental safeguards installed. The best advice for keeping kids safe on the Internet is . . . keep the computers out of the child’s bedroom and place it in a more public space. Know where your child is going in the internet. Talk about safety concerns. If you can afford a new computer or laptop, consider buying one in a fun color.
8. Set a Good Example Children learn what they live. If they hear you grumbling about learning, what will they learn? Remember little ears hear e-v-e-r-y darn thing! Talk positively about school and the learning experience, be supportive of the teacher, volunteer at PTA and other school functions. Read to your child and let him/her read to you. Share the learning experience together. Share your wisdom with your child!

By following these 8 simple tips, you will create a positive environment for your child to grow and learn to love learning — this will set the stage for a positive future!