I like the part in the article that advises to keep homework supplies readily available, depending on where the children are wanting to engage in homework. For our new build, we are not putting desks in their rooms (3 boys). I envision them doing homework at the second island in the kitchen, while I'm working nearby. Perhaps in the breakfast nook or dining room. We also have a large workspace in my laundry/craft room for projects. Another great place is outside at the table on the deck. Truly, there are many places throughout the house that will work as they age and their needs change. I think it's important to have structure around timing but not location. Thanks for sharing the article!

I can relate to this article. Growing up, I always had a desk in my room; after all, it's what parents who care about their children's education do, right? However, I have NO memories of sitting at the desk. I always preferred to do my homework sitting on my bed. My desk was always piled high with -- just as the article says -- crap: Art supplies, old school papers, books. Looking back, what I actually needed was good storage, not a place to sit and work. And I wish I'd had a nice chair /footstool -- that would've been nice.

Even today, I tend to sit in my recliner with my lap desk to grade papers -- even though I have two desks and two dining tables in my house. Incidentally, neither desk is making the trip to my new house. I'm planning on a large work space /craft space by the back door ... but it won't be, strictly speaking, a desk; rather, I'm thinking of a length of laminate countertop.

What this article doesn't address is the child's age.

A kindergartener's homework probably involves printing practice, which does require a desk or table of some sort. A slightly older child needs to practice his reading, which means he needs to be near a parent -- not alone in his room. But a high schooler probably needs sustained quiet to read lengthy tomes or work detailed math problems. Regardless of age, some kids are self-motivated and can be trusted to do their work on their own, even from a young age, while others always need the external motivation of a parent looking over a shoulder. Perhaps the right answer is to address the homework area every fall as the school year begins.

And a child of any age could benefit from some sort of calendar, agenda, or time-organizer. The #1 thing my high school seniors do poorly is manage their time.

Another thing this article doesn't discuss is access to electronics.

When my kids were younger, we had one desktop computer in a very visible place in the family room. When they were old enough for cell phones, we required that all phones were on the kitchen counter by 9:00 at night -- from what I hear, I have the impression that most of my teenaged students sleep with their phones literally in their beds, and they wake multiple times a night to text -- that's just insane, but, then, many of my students are literally addicted to their phones. Anyway, in just a few years, the world of electronics has become more difficult for parents to manage. Kids need access for homework, but they shouldn't have unfettered access to the sometimes dangerous world of the internet. I personally know one girl who lied to an older guy one state away /convinced him her parents were being cruel to her /she ran away to be with him; when her parents found her several weeks later, and he learned that she was an under-aged high school girl, he backed off in a hurry. I know a whole lot of kids who are not as innocent as kid were a decade ago, and it's because they're reading things /watching things that are too mature. I'm not sure exactly how parents of younger children should proceed, but the right answer certainly involves the phrase "with caution".

Oh, and on the subject of electronics, don't forget that starting maybe in upper elementary school, kids will probably need access to a printer. I don't see any point in each child having a personal printer in his or her room, but a family printer is important.

Primary math homework spot is the kitchen table. If they are bugging each other too much, one might go (or be sent) to the dining table or the upstairs computer table. Reading is wherever they want. Other homework is usually on the computer for the older ones (4th/5th grade). If the little guy has other homework it is usually really parent homework and we'll do it at the kitchen table also.

[Here are the Houzz poll responses[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/poll-best-spot-for-homework-dsvw-vd~600487)

Looks like the kitchen is the most popular spot!

Thanks for the link! I'll have to peruse all the comments in that thread.

Thinking back to my teenage years the desk in my bedroom was the spot.

Mainly the dining table, but want to put a desk in their rooms in the future for when they would like some quiet to do their work and need me less.

It really depends on the child's study style. My older son has ADHD. When he first started doing homework in kindergarten he found the kitchen really distracting. I tried moving him to the dining room but he found the noise from the kitchen to be too much even though he couldn't see it. I ended up buying him a desk that had lots of storage space and stocked it with everything he needed for homework including an electric pencil sharpener. He's now and the third grade and gets him homework done without me having to ride him. I go over his assignments downstairs before he does them and then he shows me that he's done them afterward. If he needs help then he brings his work downstairs and I help him.

My younger son starts kindergarten and I suspect he will need for me to be more hands on with him. I plan to make a space downstairs for him to do his work.

Basically, I believe that there's no one size fits all answer and you won't really know until your child has homework. Furthermore, their needs can change as they get older. For example, when my older son started school he didn't have any homework on the computer and now he has school work to do on the computer almost everyday. We've had to make accommodations for that.

nightowl, your Marriot comment terrifies me!

I'll use my laptop laying on a bed for a short bit, but it makes my neck, shoulders etc unhappy - I'd much rather have a desk to study/work on!

My dad made me a desk when I was a child - it was around 21" deep, and while I LOVE the look of it, as a teenager/young adult I wished it was deeper - I often needed to look at a binder, with my textbook open as well...which meant i either had to prop up the textbook against the wall (wasn't possible for me due to the heating vent being in the way), OR, (as I more often did), take my books to the dining room table.

I love writing letters and things on my desk though.

Our kids did homework on the kitchen table through elementary school (more or less - it's been many years). By middle school, they didn't need help, and preferred quiet. I got them each a simple shaker desk for their rooms. There was a computer desk in the family room. By high school, we had added a second computer/desk to the family room, since both needed a computer for homework.

re: marriott. right or wrong

I know my kids did about 95% of their school work at the kitchen table or on their beds or the floor (when they were little). I cannot say what is or is not best for others.

Personally, I do my "work" in a study on a desk at the house or at my office at a desk. But, I cannot say the next generation wants to study/work the same way.

I cannot say the next generation wants to study/work the same way.

Changes are coming in education: Expect more online classes for middle and high school students, which means they'll need more access to electrical outlets and less space to store books.

All, thanks for the great feedback! Some very interesting insights to consider as the young ones grow up.

I like the thought about having some extra storage in an area near or off the kitchen for these types of things. Our den likely have a family printer.

In my family (four kids...two grown daughters, two 13 yr old boys), it has been very fluid depending on the child's age. And it also depended on the child. My girls were very independent...my boys, not so much.

i bought small desks for each boy when they started first grade and they were never used, so I gave the desks away. but now they are asking for desks again. They tended to need a lot of supervision back then. They do tend to study in their rooms now. We have a family printer and a Mac in dh's office. Boys have school iPads.

when they were very young, we studied at the kitchen and dining room tables. Dh took one and I took the other.

so, I guess I'm saying...I don't think there is any way of knowing where they will want to study and do homework. If you build a designated spot...sure enough, they will never use it.

Oh, and I have a big tub of school supplies with tape, a stapler and art supplies in a designated cabinet on the back side of my island. Very useful.

As far as I can tell most kids do their homework in their beds-- as did I 60 years ago. Now if I try to read in bed I just fall asleep! Our kids both had desks but never used them. It was the kitchen table when they wanted help-- but for my comfort, not theirs. As long as it was getting done and done well I didn't figure it would be a good idea to complain about where they were doing it. Computer use evolved while my kids were in school, from none, to one desktop for the house, to multiple desktops, to multiple laptops, to phones and pads. I don't expect that's going to stop, with devices getting more personal until we just have a direct brain tap to access data. Probably not worth designing a house around a guess about future technology (or the behavior of children).