Back to School Challenge
 Day 2: Finding the Desk
HINT: Print this page out and bring it into your child's bedroom.
Homework woes? No way! We try to set the stage for homework success by ensuring each child has their own spot to do their homework. They still use the kitchen table occasionally. But when they have one of those big projects that take several days to complete, they use their desks in their bedrooms. That way, they can set up and keep working on the project until it is done. Our children each got a desk when they started kindergarten. We didn't buy new desks either. We made use of my husband's old desk from university, my old desk, and several garage sale finds. The secret is to really clean them up, shine them up, and polish them up so they are new to your child. Put a big bow on it, and you have a reason to celebrate!
Here's a tip. The next time grandparents start asking you what to get your children for birthdays and holidays, consider suggesting an adjustable chair for their desk. There are some wonderful secretary chairs available at office supply stores that are very reasonably priced and they come in great colors too.
If your child doesn't have a desk in their bedroom, they will still need a place to do homework. So follow the checklist in the area where they will be working (kitchen table, family office, etc). If the front of the TV has been the homework area in the past, you may want to hunt down a new location LOL.
Let's get started. The Checklist:
- Take a minute to quickly make the bed. Better yet, ask your child to make the bed. Tell them you will help if they need it.
- Get your trash bag and recycle bag ready, we are starting with the desk drawers! Start with the top drawer and empty it out (carefully) on a clear space on the floor.
- Same as yesterday. Be tough here. Trash is trash. Broken stuff, missing stuff, unidentifiable stuff, and decaying stuff - it all goes. If you find laundry, add it to the dirty sheet pile. If you find things your child wants to keep, put it where it belongs, or set it aside for the moment. If you find all the school newsletters and announcements from last year, put them directly into the recycle bag. The goal here is to end up with a couple pens, pencils, erasers, a ruler, some glue, a dictionary, some paper, and whatever else your child might need to do their homework. Mine like to do crafts at their desks as well, so there is also construction paper, stickers, scissors, and other "crafty things" in this drawer.
- Vacuum out the crunchies from the drawer and then wipe it out with a damp cloth.
- Put the pens, etc back into the drawer. Here's an organizing tip: we use a small plastic basket in the desk drawer to hold the pencils, pens, erasers, scissors, etc. The paper goes in behind the basket. Don't go buy one, I bet you have a rectangular plastic container without a lid that can be used for this. A small cardboard box cut down to about 2 inches high will also work. I also let my kids go into my office supply stash if they need to stock up on supplies for their room.
- Repeat with the rest of the drawers. Dump the trash, recycle the papers, vacuum the crunchies, wipe out the drawer, and replace with only the things your child wants or needs.
- Here's a tip: you are going to find old assignments, art projects, and other papers that your little one will insist on keeping (or that you will find too difficult to toss). We have a "grandma/aunt box" where special artwork, stories, etc. are added. Then, a couple times a year, they are mailed off to grandmas and aunts as a special treat. We have also been known to use kid's artwork as wrapping paper for presents. I only keep one or two drawings each year. The rest goes.
- Time for the top of the desk. Clear everything off the top. Toss the trash, recycle the papers, etc.
- Wash the top of the desk to get rid of the dust, pencil marks, crayon bits, and glue droppings. If you have a wood desk, you may want to polish the desk as well to really make it shine.
- Is your child a collector? Are there picture frames, penholders, clay sculptures, plastic toys, piggy banks, or other things competing for space on the top of the desk? How big is the actual work surface? Now is the time to be a creative parent and use your negotiating skills. I aim for NOTHING on the desk except a light. That way, they have a huge area to work in and no excuse not to do their homework. I achieved this using a desk hutch in one room, and some cheap pine shelves installed over the desk in another room. Now the kids had a spot for all their knick-knacks and a spot to do their homework. Win-win!
- Now, crawl under the desk and haul out all the broken pencils, bent paperclips, paper bits, and other treasures that fell in behind and underneath.
- Toss the trash, etc. (You are getting the idea now!)
- Vacuum or sweep under the desk.
- Vacuum or wipe down the desk chair. Tuck in it under the desk.
- Does your child have a bulletin or corkboard in their room? Take a look and see what can come down. Add some of that artwork to the "grandma box". It is nice to start the year with a blank bulletin board. Write a few words of inspiration from mom or dad to hang on the bulletin board. Even an "I love you" with a heart around it may give your child that special inside hug when they are struggling with their multiplication tables.
- Take one last look around the desk. Have you and your child created an inspiring place to work?
Congratulations! Day 2 of the Back to School Challenge is done.
Take care of you,
Cindy
Go to Back to School Challenge - Day 3
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