Clearing the kitchen table of crumbs and spillages after tea is fine for your little one when she wants to get on with some painting or colouring but there comes a time when she needs her own space to work and play. The quietest place in the home is usually a child’s bedroom and it is important to create a comfortable space which motivates and encourages them to study. The desk and chair are the first things to buy and there is huge range to choose from depending on your child's age and needs as well as the size of their room and your budget. Each child and family will have different needs and priorities when it comes to creating the perfect study area.

Barbara Risk, Head of Junior School, Sydenham High School says, “Each child really needs their own space – not easy in a big, busy household. The kitchen table may be OK for chanting tables or being tested on spelling lists but a personal, well organised space for homework is important for encouraging focused working from an early age. Use a timer and ensure your child doesn’t just go on and on. Schools should always give a guideline about how long a piece should take – make sure they adhere to it.”

Occupational Therapist, mother of two growing children and founder of Gripping Solutions, Sharon Kelsh, says, "From the day my children began to interact with their environment I have been there to make sure their surroundings work for them. Telling them off for not sitting still whilst doing their homework, feet dangling, not holding their pen correctly as the table was too high, was not their fault when I did not provide a stable base for their feet and a table top of a height to allow them to work in the correct position. From the first day at primary school through to the last day of secondary school, it is important that the furniture around them helps them sit and stand in the correct posture, especially during their growing phase."

There are three main types of desks or workstations for consideration. The first is the multifunction desk, which has been designed by ergonomists and orthopaedists, and has a flexible tilt and also grows with your child. The second option, especially if you are short of space, is a high sleeper, with a built-in desk and futon chair and is a great place for your child to study, sleep and relax. The third option is a classic desk but it needn't be a boring option. An investment piece, like the design classic Panton or Ghost chair, that children will have for years to come, combined with a simple white desk will inject a bit of style into your child's workspace. If you are looking for a classic desk which will last your child until she moves on to uni or college then you can't go wrong with the clean lines of the Nonjetable desk.

A good source of light, a quiet space, stationery close at hand, a clock and storage space for books and files are as important as the right desk and chair. Allow your child to accessorise the space with their own memo noticeboard and timer to create a space that belongs to them.

If your child is anything like mine, nothing makes them want to start their homework like new stationery, so splash out on this fantastic new range from Paperchase.

Street Skulls A5 Notebook & Lockable Journal £6 & £7
paperchase.co.uk

 

 

High Sleeper, Desk, Futon Chair £895
aspace.co.uk

 

 

Omar The Owl clock £74
momentumstore.com

 

 

 

Panton Chair £154
momentumstore.com

 

 

 

Noah Desk £199
Feather & Black on Mydeco.com

 

 

 

Alessi Mr Chin Timer £19.20
johnlewis.com

 

 

 

 

Ghost Chair £149
momentumstore.com

 

 

 

 

Angle Poise Desk Lamp £195
conranshop.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Dodo Homework Diary £7.95
dodopad.com

 

 

 

Stokke Tripp Trapp £132
stokke.com

 

 

 

 

Nonjetable Desk £790
bobokids.net

 

 

 

 

Moll Multifunction Desk from £350
moll-system.de

 

 

 

Tutti Frutti Desk £495
thechildrensfurniturecompany.com

 

 

 

 

Football Padded Memo Board from £23
pinsandribbons.co.uk