How do you like to setup your homeschooling space? Do you have a designated ‘homeschool room’? Or, do you take over the living spaces? Maybe you set up on the kitchen table? Or setup at the couch to snuggle up cosy – especially when the weather gets cooler. Every now and then do you feel the need to change up your space? I certainly do! After a while, I get tired of the layout of our spaces and like to mix things up a bit! Especially as we welcome a change of season, I welcome a change of scenery in our home!
Something that you may not have considered is having different spaces for your learning.
Depending on what style or approach of homeschooling your family likes to do may determine what type of spaces you use. Your family may tend to work at the table (if you do mostly book work) or set up on the couch (if you spend a lot of time reading together). May I suggest a few other options for spaces? Or even ‘freshening’ them up to invite curiosity and a sense of calm. No matter what you predominantly use for your everyday learning, you may wish to add a few more spaces.
Learning Spaces:
Couch - Do you like to curl up with the kids on the couch and read-aloud? Making a cosy corner in your homeschool area for a comfy couch and cushions is a must!!
Table – keep a bunch of flowers or nature finds on the table with a caddy of colourful pencils to keep the space tidy and inviting.
Nature explore table- setup a small table for the children to keep some nature finds and a magnifying glass to encourage them to explore and observe closely. This is also a calming space for a welcome break in between other more focussed tasks.
Shelving – it’s handy to keep a shelving unit in your learning space to keep your books and resources on. On the lower shelves, keep bowls or baskets of natural pieces for little fingers to use for maths and hands on learning. Keeping these things at eye level for the kids encourages them to take responsibility for their learning to grab some things off the shelf for them to use when working out tricky maths or spelling. You don't need to rush out and buy special counters, but instead, go and collect some nature finds (pebbles, gum nuts, leaves, etc) for little fingers to touch.
Play Spaces:
I love to watch my children engrossed in a game! I love that although my older children are reaching their teenage years, they still have the freedom to play! What a precious childhood! As a way to encourage further learning, we setup play spaces in our home. For example, when we are learning about money maths, the children enjoy setting up a shop and will spend time playing shops – practising their skills of adding, giving change, bargaining etc….but playing.
For the little ones learning their letters and sounds, a play corner is a welcome space to learn. As you explore the letter ‘t’, you might setup a ‘train’ play space; or a ‘dress-up’ space for the letter ‘d.’ Outside areas can be used for play spaces too! When we were exploring the water cycle, we setup a ‘water play’ area outside for tipping, pouring, mixing fun. You’d be surprised how much the older children love these spaces as much as the little ones. Plus, what a joy to give them the freedom to relish their childhood with time to play.
Moving Spaces:
Have you ever thought of how moving your body helps learning? So much!! In our home to help us get going in the morning (especially in the cooler weather), we aim to start the day outside with a run, jump rope, trampoline session or ball skills….(whatever the children are into at the time). Coming back inside after a good moving session certainly helps us all settle and engage in learning. When the weather turns cooler, having some indoor moving spaces are a great idea. Some ideas are fit ball, rocking or skate board, small obstacle course down the hallway or even an old mattress for a run and jumping area (this is my children’s personal favourite!).
Providing spaces to move in between tasks or activities is such a great way to give breaks. Another great way to incorporate moving into the day is for children to move while they practise skills such as number facts, counting or spelling. For example, have the child spell a word outloud while they are jumping down the hallway then crash at the end onto the mattress at the end. Giving options for children to move their bodies enhances their learning and helps keep them calm and focussed when sitting still!
Are you tired of your learning space? So, why not mix up your learning space this weekend. Was there something that you would like to include in your home? Are you finding that your children are having trouble focussing? Try including a moving space. Do you find your children want to play much of the time? Try setting up a play space connected to their learning and reward them with time to spend ‘playing’ in it.
Have fun creating some new spaces.
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