My family is trying to get back into the groove of school. What is an efficient system for the desk in my fifth-grader's bedroom?
"The desk is one of the most important pieces of furniture in a child's room and it's great that you want to maximize the benefits," says professional organizer Becca Clark, owner of Creative Convenience (convenientlyorganized.com) and Your Best Move (yourbestmovear.com).
Clark offers some goals and solutions and suggests including the student in the planning and organizing process.
"They may view the activities and the stuff needed very differently than you do," she explains. "Your child's input while setting up the desk is key to their success."
• Create work zones. Determine what types of work will be done at the desk -- reading, writing, computer use, arts and crafts? Once a reasonable number of uses is established, set up zones for those activities, Clark says.
"Include a place for the required tools if it's something that will be done on a regular basis," she says. "You can move things around as needs change, but they should be easily available without leaving or even crossing the room to increase efficiency and reduce frustration."
• Minimize distractions. Remove any unnecessary clutter and electronics from the desk area, especially addictive games, Clark suggests, adding that whenever possible, it's best to shield televisions from view. Clark says multitasking has been proved to be neither effective nor efficient for children or adults.
• When space is at a premium, always go vertical. Use all the wall space behind the desk and install a few shelves (not too many, as surfaces can become clutter magnets) and a peg board or white/magnetic board for tools and important papers.
"I advise against cork boards or anything with push pins for a child's space, as they always end up on the floor," Clark says.
• If more space is needed for office supplies, craft items and similar things, look for a rolling drawer cart to tuck under or place beside the desk. These
can range from ones with lots of drawers available for minimal cost at craft stores to more high-end ones like those made by the Elfa storage system. "The primary goal is keep the desk surface clear and ready for work," she says.
• Keep the work area sacred and toss, move or archive keepsakes like trophies, greeting cards, dolls, trucks, art projects, and such.
Clark's tips for organizing items in and on the desk include using drawer dividers to provide easy access and to avoid duplicate buying.
"If you can't see it, you don't own it," she says, adding that it's best to stack items such as books, binders, and papers vertically rather than horizontally. "It's too easy to lose papers and books in a pile."
Two items Clark recommends for a student this age include a paper school planner and a timer.
In conclusion, she adds that a little positive reinforcement -- rewarding the child for maintaining a neat, organized space -- can go a long way.
"An idea from elementary teachers is the 'desk fairy' who secretly places a small surprise treat on the student's desk when they've done a good job handling the clutter," Clark says. "The school is teaching and probably requiring desk management and organization skills, so don't buy any 'I don't know how' arguments," she explains. "Here's your chance to reinforce what their teachers are already saying."
-- Linda S. Haymes
Do you have a decorating or remodeling question? We'll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Linda S. Haymes, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or email:
HomeStyle on 09/05/2015