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Homework Ready: Tips on Prepping Your Space

getting ready for homework

We are less than a month away from the start of a school year and this was the year we buckled down and got our kids dedicated homework spaces in their own rooms. No more kitchen island or dining room table for this family. Tried it, hated it, fixing it this year.

We had a lot of homework stuggles with our oldest last year. Grade 3 is an EQAO year so he had homework almost every dayin prep of the huge tests being done end-of-year. Between the younger kids being loud and me not being able to focus solely on him we had issues doing homework quickly. Somedays the process left us both in tears so this year we are being smart and setting both of the older kids with their own space.

Tips to Get Ready for Homework

Getting Ready for Homework

Make a dedicated homework space. This doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive but it should be away from distractions and noise. When your child sees this space it should let them know it is their dedicated homework space.

Have a dedicated time for homework. Decide whether your child will be better doing homework right after they come home or whether they can focus better once they had dinner. Every child is different and you may need to try out a few different times until you find one that is a great fit.

Getting Ready for Homework

Make sure they have the right tools. When I go back-to-school shopping I always buy two sets of everything my kids need so that they don’t have lug pencil cases back and forth. Back-to-school is the perfect time to stock up on essentials like paper, pencils, and colouring essentials as everything is on sale.

Getting Ready for Homework

Get in the habit of writing down to-do lists. My kids have got their un-organized genes from their mama and so we have to make lists and check them twice. We have found that the school agenda’s that are provided don’t really draw them in so we purchase them ones they are excited about. Makes them more likely to write their homework in them and actually bring it home.

Getting Ready for Homework

Don’t stop doing schoolwork during the summer. I spent a few dollars picking up workbooks for the kids to do during the summer. They do a page (or four) when they have a free moment. It prevents them from doing the “summer slide.”

How Canadian Tire is Helping Us Get Homework Ready

canadian tire bts homework

Our daughter shares a room with her sister. Space is cramped but this  Homestar Student Desk in the woodgrain desing with Gooseneck Clip-On Lamp is perfect for the small space that is now 100% dedicated to her doing her homework. Adding to the space was the Home Collection Mesh Task Chair which is a perfect fit under the desk.

When it came to keeping our kids organized a cork board/calendar combo was probably the best choice. We are the type of family that needs to write something down or hang something up so that it doesn’t get forgotten or turned into scrap paper.

Speaking of scrap paper. We always have a huge stack of paper packages in this house. Between my work, their homework, or just them wanting to colour I always stock up when I see a good deal, like this TopPrint Premium Multi-Use Paper. Make sure you grab some next time you’re in store.

What tips do you have for getting kids ready for back-to-school and in turn, homework?

Back to School with Canadian Tire Contest

 *CONTEST ALERT: Canadian Tire will be launching a contest on August 14th to help families prep for back to school this fall. Check back next week for more information. 




canadian tire bts homework

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This post is in partnership with She's Connected and Canadian Tire. All opinions are my own.
Aneta Alaei
Aneta Alaei

Aneta is a Toronto-based mom of four that loves a good meal, great company, and learning something new. In her free time, you can find her trying to keep yet another plant alive.

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47 Comments

  1. Jonnie
    August 7, 2017 / 7:53 pm

    My oldest son is entering grade 12 and is eager to redo his room to prepare for back-to-school this year. I never would have thought of Canadian Tire for doing the shopping!

  2. Kim Tanti
    August 7, 2017 / 8:04 pm

    We just always started from the first day of school. When my daughter came home I would sit at the kitchen table and read a book to her while she had a snack. She would then sit there and talk to me while I made dinner and tell me about her day. As she got older It just became a habit and that is where she did her homework.

  3. August 8, 2017 / 12:41 am

    I love that desk and table from Canadian Tire and I think it`s a great idea to have a good place to study with good lighting for the kids.Thanks for all the tips and this great feature.

  4. Lynda Cook
    August 8, 2017 / 9:07 am

    I’m so glad I no longer have to struggle on a daily basis to get homework done!! now my daughter has the job with her young one..lol

  5. Jessica
    August 8, 2017 / 10:25 am

    Homework is one thing I dread about back to school but maybe having a dedicated space where the kids can work would help. I love this desk as it’s small and doesn’t need much space which I don’t have.

  6. Sandra p
    August 8, 2017 / 11:50 am

    Will pass on these handy tips

  7. Treen Goodwin
    August 8, 2017 / 3:32 pm

    awesome tips , great ideas , thanks for sharing , the struggle is real and its a job to get their homework done ! but in a quiet room at a nice table it would help !

  8. Laurie P
    August 8, 2017 / 6:23 pm

    I need to pop in to my local Canadian Tire and check out a few items!

  9. Garnet Leib
    August 8, 2017 / 9:42 pm

    Great ideas for my great granddaughter

  10. Janine a
    August 9, 2017 / 8:16 am

    Great ideas, always good to be prepared for productivity 🙂

  11. kathy downey
    August 9, 2017 / 1:07 pm

    Great ideas,i hate the thought of the dreaded homework !

  12. Calvin F.
    August 9, 2017 / 2:01 pm

    Great tips, looking for a new chair lol

  13. kathy downey
    August 10, 2017 / 12:50 pm

    I have to look for a nice cork board/calendar combo that’s the only things to keep everyone on track!

  14. Kevin B
    August 11, 2017 / 1:37 am

    good list of ideas — thanks

  15. Janet M
    August 12, 2017 / 4:04 pm

    Thanks for the tips. We are looking for a new lamp and a chair.

  16. Judy Cowan
    August 12, 2017 / 4:41 pm

    Some great tips. Definitely good to be prepared when it comes to getting homework done.

  17. Elizabeth Matthiesen
    August 12, 2017 / 6:07 pm

    Each of my children had their own desks in their rooms but more often than not they preferred doing it on the kitchen table with mum close at hand for any questions they had. 🙂

  18. Melinda
    August 12, 2017 / 7:29 pm

    Having a dedicated work space for home work is essential.

  19. HEIDI C.
    August 14, 2017 / 1:21 am

    My girls mentioned getting ready for the fall school start just this weekend. Hopefully, this is a sign that we are going to be organized ahead a the game this year :).

  20. August 14, 2017 / 1:06 pm

    I have the same desk and lamp. I’m really looking forward to the kids getting back into a structured routine again.

  21. Jorge cabral
    August 14, 2017 / 2:02 pm

    Having a dedicated work space for home work

  22. Amanda I
    August 14, 2017 / 3:23 pm

    Having a dedicated work space for home work is always essential 🙂

  23. mike s
    August 14, 2017 / 4:11 pm

    Having a dedicated work space for home work is essential

  24. Jerry Lam
    August 14, 2017 / 5:07 pm

    I usually leave some sort of music for the kids to do homework, classical has been pretty good for them to memorize their homework.
    Dead silence is too much for all of us in the house

  25. Calvin F.
    August 14, 2017 / 5:43 pm

    Exercising regularly to keep concentration levels high, so homework gets done more efficiently!
    Also keeping a clean environment

  26. Jolie
    August 14, 2017 / 10:25 pm

    The dreaded homework!!! I have a quiet area set-up for homework and healthy treats as soon as we’re done 🙂 keeps my daughter motivated.

  27. August 15, 2017 / 12:04 am

    Being prepared and making a concise schedule so everyone is on the same page.

  28. Lilly Kavanagh
    August 15, 2017 / 2:55 am

    I’ll be starting some courses to receive a certification related to work in September while I am on maternity leave. So there fun times ahead lol. Going back to school in my 30s who knew this would happen lol.

  29. John soltis
    August 15, 2017 / 8:08 am

    Love Canadian Tire desk and chair. Good luck!

  30. David soltis
    August 15, 2017 / 8:10 am

    Love Canadian Tire desk and chair. Good luck!

  31. Sabina Edwards
    August 15, 2017 / 1:25 pm

    i’D HAVE TO hide this from my husband you know!!!

  32. Valerie
    August 15, 2017 / 1:56 pm

    Like a sponge, I soak up your suggestions.

  33. Margaret Huitema
    August 15, 2017 / 8:48 pm

    A new desk and chair would come in very handy!

  34. Miguel S
    August 15, 2017 / 10:33 pm

    I just want my kids out of the home and back in school so I could enjoy some tranquility and peace and quit. Anything would help.

  35. R.D.Elaine Scharfe
    August 15, 2017 / 11:11 pm

    Every year, same things, but it has improved alot since my kids went to school. Now my great grandchildren will be in High School! Time flies… 🙂

  36. Liz Howard
    August 16, 2017 / 11:09 pm

    Awesome, giveaway…this will definitely help both my boys who are off to college/university!!!

  37. Karen Evans
    August 17, 2017 / 2:31 pm

    So many great tips. Thank You 🙂

  38. Debbie White Beattie
    August 18, 2017 / 2:51 am

    I think the best way to prepare them is to give them small amounts of school work during the summer and that way they don’t forget what they’ve already learned either so their

  39. Rosanne Robinson
    August 23, 2017 / 5:41 pm

    Thanks for the reminder about being prepared & organized for homework. We also have a blackboard & peg board for school and sports schedules.

  40. August 24, 2017 / 10:40 pm

    This desk and chair set would be perfect for studying and getting homework done.Thanks for the great tips!

  41. Donna L.
    August 25, 2017 / 1:14 am

    Great tips. I liked all these products.

  42. Alayne Langford
    August 25, 2017 / 1:17 pm

    It is so important to get the kids back on a routine, in every way, but those teenagers have a mind of their own!! ?

  43. kathy downey
    August 25, 2017 / 2:21 pm

    Having a spot to do homework with good lighting is so important,thanks for all the great tips !

  44. Debbie White Beattie
    August 30, 2017 / 3:35 am

    I can’t believe how many great things Canadian Tire has and with very affordable prices

  45. Stephanie Mac Isaac
    August 30, 2017 / 7:54 pm

    I make sure they get a good night’s sleep, a quiet spot to do homework and the supplies they need to complete it

  46. LILLIAN BROWN
    August 31, 2017 / 4:05 pm

    organized school work with a cork board and calendar combo and I still keep myself organized this way

  47. Julie
    October 1, 2017 / 11:49 am

    Lots of great tips! I agree with a dedicated homework space. We’ve done that in our 2 oldest children’s rooms and it works well. Still need to do that with our next oldest son but our daughter isn’t quite old enough for that yet as she doesn’t do homework unassisted yet.