Regularly doing homework and learning is essential for the learning success of children and adolescents. In addition, it helps them get used to working independently and in a structured manner. That’s why it’s important to choose the right place to do homework and create a suitable learning environment.
Choosing the right place to do homework is a good way to boost children’s and adolescents’ motivation and efficiency in their homework. The four most important points in this regard are brightness, noise level, company, nd well-being. Just as every person is different, preferences for a good learning environment are also individual. That’s why we have to find what suits us personally. It can be a very interesting process – have fun!
A place in the sun (or other light source)
The ideal place for homework can be very individual. However, one thing applies to all children and adolescents: we learn better in good light conditions . The eyes are then much less tired an,d there is more energy left for the learning content. It is recommended to use a bright desk lamp and/or to take advantage of natural light.
Many consider a table in front of the window to be the ideal place for doing homework. On the one hand, this allows the use of daylight (including vitamin D) and thus saves electricity. On the other hand, we can relax by looking out the window during thinking breaks, provided that it does not distract us too much. Incidentally, it is good to look into the distance from time to time to prevent myopia. Constantly looking at books, school documents, mobile phone,n d/or computer screens can indeed develop signs of myopia (cf. Spitzer 2025).
Few distractions and quiet
Most children and adolescents concentrate better when the environment is very quiet . It is therefore recommended to choose a setting at home where the noise level and opportunities for distraction (e.g., from family members and the television) are low. Most of the time, this setting is a desk in the bedroom. Independent young people sometimes enjoy doing their homework and learn better in the library.
Some children and adolescents, on the other hand, prefer a lively atmosphere to do their homework, for example, in the living room, at the kitchen table, or in a café. Having soft music or voices in the background motivates them to achieve better academic results. As mentioned earlier, the ideal location is unique to each individual. In addition, it sometimes also depends on the time of day. Many people prefer the lively atmosphere in the morning or the silence at the end of the day.
Doing homework with friends or a study group
In other words, it’s easier to learn together. This is especially true for children and adolescents who don’t need absolute peace to do their homework and study. The advantages are numerous: on the one hand, doing homework and studying together helps combat a lack of motivation. You can vent your frustration with school and even have fun. On the other hand, you can discuss questions directly.
Learning communities with classmates, therefore, make it possible to share school knowledge and practice. In a broader sense, it is also possible to build “learning communities” with siblings and/or parents. Instead of working on the same subject, you work side by side in the same room. However, you try not to distract each other too often. Some families have had very positive experiences with this format.
Organize your office or study space in a minimalist way
Often, the perfect place to do homework depends not only on the brightness, the noise level, and the right level of company. If homework is preferably done at the desk, it should be set up in a certain way. In principle, all children and adolescents can be recommended to keep their desks tidy and clean and to relegate any distractions, such as an exciting book or a mobile phone, to a drawer.
Some children and adolescents feel more comfortable in a minimalist setting. Others, on the other hand, appreciate personal decoration in the place where they do their homework and study, which makes them feel comfortable and thus motivates them to learn. Possible decorations or motivations could be beautiful or funny postcards, a houseplant (e.g., a small succulent), a stress ball, or a candle/string of lights.
