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“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin

With summer coming to an end and the new school year a few days away there’s just enough time to put a few measures in place to ensure that your child is ready to make the best out of the new year. To help keep them focus and to help them succeed we have put a few simple yet effective home study tips together.

• Consider implementing a homework schedule. Children are generally more successful with the completion of their homework shortly after school to decrease the likelihood of children demonstrating frustration, lack of motivation or behavior problems. Decide on the time homework should be started and ensure that they work in an area with minimal distractions. It is also good to offer your support when they are struggling.
• Setting up a designated workspace or study area could provide a child with a good distraction-free workspace to help them remain focused on the task at hand. For many households the ideal area for setting up a workspace is the child’s bedroom. However, a study area can also be created in the living room or kitchen as long as distractions are limited. The area should also be well organized and clutter free to reinforce the value of organization and care of the environment.
• To help keep your children organized, consider creating a “study file” by using either a file box or a cabinet drawer with separate files for the different subject area. This system gives children a place to place all their assignments, and it also helps them organize reference materials through the course of the school year.

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After several months away, preparations for a new school year can be overwhelming and intimidating.

Whether you spent the summer relaxing or working, transition to the routine of the school week can be a challenge. Some adjustments to personal habits, mental preparation, and simple organization of supplies can boost confidence of both the students and parents as the school year begins. Below are a few helpful tips:

1) A designated work area can make studying more fun and help motivate your child. Students require a work space that is quiet and limits distractions so that they can study effectively. As young as they may be it is beneficial to create an environment where they are able to complete their home assignments, study and read. To maximize efficiency in this work space, try out these simple organization tips:

a) Keep the area neat and clutter free. Ensure that there is adequate space for the basics and get rid of everything else!

b) Having a personalized calendar to keep track of assignments throughout the school term can help students remember the work that needs to be done – some children need extra help remaining organized and remembering their assignments.

c) Including a clock in the study area can also help them stay on schedule. A clock matching the decor of the study area would be a great idea. Musical wall clocks that emit a tune after a certain period of time such as a cuckoo clock are great for children.
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Many homeowners dream of having a large kitchen with ample floor space that can accommodate all their appliances and furniture, possibly designed with a decent sized island capable of sitting the entire family. But the reality is that when the total floor space of the home is limited it usually results in a small kitchen in order to allow for the other rooms to be larger. And at times it may prove difficult trying to make a small space function as it should while making the room look stylish, and spacious. Difficult yes, but not impossible. Here are six (6) tips that you can use to give your small kitchen a spacious feel.

• A functional floor plan is important regardless of the size of your kitchen. The most fundamental appliances (the stove and the refrigerator) as well as everything else in the space should be easily accessible. Also, ensure that there is enough countertop, and cabinet and cupboard space.
• It will be very difficult for a compact kitchen to effectively function with large appliances that take up most of the space. When buying items for the kitchen you will need to scale down the size of the appliances to save on space.
• Using glass is one of the easiest ways to make a kitchen look and feel larger. Glass surfaces reflect light which helps visually expand the room. Consider including glass furniture, or glass counters, tiles, cabinets or doors. One or two mirrors can also be placed in strategic areas in the kitchen where they would be most effective in reflecting light.
• Using too many colors in a small space will overwhelm the room so consider sticking with a single color or a monochromatic color scheme. Light colors are known to reflect light and draw the eye upwards making ceilings appear higher and the room by extension larger. Regardless of the color(s) that you choose keep the kitchen appliances and décor in mind.
• In a small room storage is extremely important so having ample cupboard space is a must. However, having too much of anything has its drawbacks. In the case of cabinetry including too much can make the room feel claustrophobic. One way to get an open feel while maximizing on storage space is by trading the cupboards for open shelving. If you do not like this option, cabinets with glass doors are a good alternative. Other options to consider are installing pot racks and spice holders on the walls. Or maybe including a pantry where items can be stored in bulk to cut down on the need for cupboards.
• Ensure there is sufficient light. Light plays a major role in the atmosphere of a room so no matter what you do to create a spacious environment, if the lighting in the room is bad it will always feel small and stuffy. To set an ideal ambiance, a compact kitchen requires a combination of both task lighting and atmospheric lighting.