Getting your kids to do homework is not an easy task sometimes. After they have spent the entire day stuck in a classroom, the last thing they want to do when they get home is more school work. I have found the easy solution for getting your kids to do homework without complaining. The first thing you should do is let them breathe a little bit when they get home. Our kids have a dress code at school so as soon as they get home, they change. Then, they have a snack. Then, they do homework.
Since our kids were little, every year before school starts, I set up a homework station stocked with all the things our kids may need to get homework done. In elementary school, that meant supplies that would get writing, measuring, coloring, cutting, taping and/or gluing done. When they first started bringing work home, they would run around the house frantically trying to find the supplies they needed to complete it.
Once they found what they needed, they would spread it out on the dining room table (where they like to do their homework) and then, it was a chore to put the supplies away so we could set the table for dinner. Not fun. After going through this crazy routine a few times, something had to change. Why not keep a permanent homework station in the dining room full of the supplies they need. This easy task has made homework less stressful in our home.
A homework station does not have to be fancy or expensive. Look around your house to see what you have on hand that will work. You just need something that makes every supply easily accessible and ready to go when they sit down to do their homework after school.
I used an old metal drawer I had in the garage. A wood box, tool box, tackle box, cardboard box, a bucket, etc. would work. For the “compartments” inside the homework station, I went to the recycling bin. I pulled out soup cans and jars to hold the supplies.
To make the soup cans and jars pretty, I used scrap paper and wrapped the cans and jars with it. I secured the paper with hot glue.
Aren’t they pretty?!
Once all the jars and cans were covered, I put the station together.
I put the cans and jars in the metal drawer and filled them with crayons, scissors, markers, glue, glue sticks, paper, tape, pens, pencils, glue sticks, rulers and erasers.
Now, when the kids get home from school, they sit down at the dining room table to do homework and all the supplies they need are right there. School work is a lot less stressful this way and much easier to get done.
What are some homework tips that are working in your house? Share them in the comments below so we can all learn from them.
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Love this idea, Lindsay! I could actually use something like this on my desk!
Yes Erin! It would be perfect for that too!
LOVE THIS…..best pin of the day Lindsay!!!! xoxoxo Christine
Thank you so much Christine!
I so need to do this for our homework station. Heck ~ I need a homework station!
~ Ashley
It makes homework a lot less stressful around here!
This is a great idea Lindsay! Homework time can definitely get crazy. I wish this idea was around when my kids were younger!
Thanks Leanne!
Hi Lindsay! I just found your blog today and am so inspired by some of your pics (they really do draw the eye, don’t they?) and activities. I think I’m going to dive in for a while!
You have made my day Lindsey! I am so happy to have you along my creative journey!
You always bring the cutest things to our party! Thank you. Pinned and tweeted. We feel honored that you take the time to stop by our party. I hope to see you on tonight at 7 pm. We love to party with you! Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
Thank you!
Ah, this makes my organizaton-loving heart happy! 🙂 I’m also seriously crushing on that metal drawer!! Thanks for sharing this with us at Merry Monday! Tweeted! 🙂
Your welcome Megan!