How to create a positive study environment at home

No matter what year of high school your teen is in, their home study environment can have a big impact on their academic success.

The importance of a good study environment doesn’t just apply to exam time, either. Your teen needs a space at home where they can concentrate on homework and revision all year round.

When considering how to create a study environment at home, parents should think about both physical space and atmosphere. The general mood of the household can affect your teen’s study routine and learning experience – as can the room in which they’re expected to concentrate.

Let’s take a look at what makes a good and bad study environment, and how you can create the best study environment for your teen’s individual needs.

What’s the ideal study environment?

Individuals need different types of spaces to thrive. Your teen may study most effectively with gentle background noise, whereas someone else could work best in complete silence. Chat to your teen about what helps them concentrate and the types of environments they feel most comfortable in.

Finding the right study environment in your home may take a little trial and error, and it might also change over time. Your teen could enjoy doing their homework in a more communal space like the kitchen or dining room in their early years of high school when they’re seeking your active support to learn. Once they reach senior school, this could shift to them needing a more private space for solo study.

Communicate openly with your teen about the type of space they need to study. Discuss how you can offer support when their study load shifts and how their environment can be altered over time as they progress through high school.

What makes a good study environment?

These are the general components of a good study environment for many types of students:

• minimal distractions
• a calm atmosphere
• low noise levels
• access to fresh air
• temperature control
• natural light
• a comfortable, ergonomic chair.

What makes a bad study environment?

These are the types of things that can contribute to a bad study environment and limit progress:

• mess and clutter
• a TV nearby
• keeping the temperature too warm
• overly bright or dim lighting
• cramped physical space
• a phone constantly buzzing with notifications
• no clear distinction between study and recreation areas.

How to create a positive home study environment

Here are a few ideas on how to create a good study environment in your home for your teen.

Encourage routine

Having a regular homework or study routine will help your teen settle into work with minimal fuss (and hopefully less resistance!). Study routines also help manage expectations. It means your teen knows they need to get an hour of study in before dinner or soccer practice, for example, and afterwards they can enjoy some downtime.

Ensure everyone adheres to family rules

Working cohesively as a family unit can be tricky. Try to set up rules around study time, so your teen isn’t attempting to revise for an exam or do homework while their siblings are loudly playing video games in the next room. Having designated quiet time for everyone in the family between certain hours in the afternoon or evening can help create a calm and supportive study environment.

Be engaged, but not a hinderance

Ask your teen what they’re learning before they settle down to do their homework and offer assistance if they seem stuck or frustrated. Try to be supportive without hovering or becoming overbearing. Remember that the ways they’re being taught may be different to how you learnt equations, algorithms and theories in school and that teaching them a new way to process something could hinder rather than help.

Where appropriate, enlist the help of an older sibling or go through the steps of learning something new together. Remember to be patient and positive. Telling your teen something is a waste of time, or passing judgement on their teacher’s methods, will not help them engage with their schoolwork.

Make a study space reflective of your teen’s personality

Think carefully about what your teen needs to thrive, and don’t try to fit a square peg in a round hole. You might believe putting your teen in the study and closing the door is the best way to help them concentrate on homework. But this only works for some teens and could be at odds with their personality. If they work better in a communal area where they can think aloud and use you as a sounding board, they may be better placed in the kitchen, so they can discuss their homework with you as you make dinner.

Look out for what distracts them and consider ways you can alter distractions rather than taking the automatic reaction of eliminating them. For example, if messages on their phone keep popping up and breaking their concentration, rather than confiscating it for study periods, think about apps you can download that will assist with focus rather than detract from it.

Take care of yourself

If you’re experiencing stress at work or emotional turmoil in your personal life, make sure you take care of yourself by finding someone you can talk to about this. Try not to transfer your worry and anxiety to your teen. Leading by example by managing your emotions will help your teen understand the value of emotional intelligence.

Being able to recognise your emotions and proactively seek help to work through them will ensure your teen has a stable, calm and nurturing home environment where they can concentrate on learning and growing.