9 tried and tested ways to set up the perfect learning environment
The ideal homeschool learning environment: some practical things to consider
When setting up a learning environment there are lots of things to consider, from what to include and where to locate it, to how to store resources and how to create an atmosphere for learning.
- Consider book storage solutions
- Consider play storage solutions
- Establish an area dedicated to free and imaginative play
- Set up a writing area
- Consider storage solutions for everyday resources
- Use strewing to enhance learning
- Think outside of the box – or rather outside of the house. Utilise the outdoors as a learning space
- Structure your day to maximise learning
- Create an atmosphere for learning
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Providing opportunities and creating atmosphere to encourage learning
When most people think of a learning environment they probably think of a place to sit down and ‘do school’ but for those that home educate, the reality of this is often very different.
Children don’t necessarily need a desk and chair or even the kitchen table to be able to learn effectively. It is how you use the space you have available and how you provide opportunities for learning that is more important.
And it is as much about how you create an atmosphere of learning as it is the physical environment.
Learning doesn’t just have to happen at home or indoors. It can happen on the sofa, on the beach, in an art gallery or even in a den under the kitchen table. And it doesn’t have to just be written down on a worksheet in order to count as ‘proper’ learning.
“It is how you use the space you have available and how you provide opportunities for learning. And it is as much about how you create an atmosphere of learning as it is the physical environment.”
nettie gallagher
Natural learning
Learning can happen from reading, following curriculum and completing workbooks. But it can also happen naturally all the time – through baking, nature walks and playing board games together; playing with lego and playdough; talking together and sharing questions and ideas. Learning happens naturally through life experiences.
If you are looking for ideas on how to get started with homeschooling – some tips, ideas of things to include or a look at different approaches then this article is a must read as it will give you all the support and inspiration you need to get started or will add some sparkle to your homeschool days.
If you already have that sorted out, then you might be wondering how to ‘set up’ an area of your home so that your children will be able to learn more successfully. If so then read on as there are plenty of tried and tested ideas here for you to choose from.
Practical ways to create a successful learning environment
The learning environment
There is no magic formula to follow to create that perfect learning environment.
The type of environment you create will depend on many factors, such as the space and budget available to you. But most importantly it will depend on your child, their interests and preferred style of learning. So the ideal learning environment for your family may well be very different to that of another family.
If left to their own devices many children will seek out ways to learn. However, some children do still need a scaffold to build upon, and by working on ways to create a rich learning environment you will open up many more opportunities for your children, opportunities that they may not otherwise have had access to.
The good news is that there are many things you can do to provide opportunities for learning, as well as to maximise potential.
“The learning environment you create will depend on many factors such as the space and budget available to you, but most importantly on your child, their interests and preferred style of learning.”
nettie gallagher
#1 Book Storage Ideas
Foster a love of reading and learning
Probably, the single most important thing you could do for your child is create an environment that fosters a love of reading and learning.
If children love books then they will read, and if they read then they will learn.
All my children love reading. Because they so often have their heads buried in a book they have absorbed so much knowledge. I’m sure my older children now have a better general knowledge than me! I rarely have to ‘teach’ English skills – through their extensive reading they have naturally picked up how to spell accurately and write with correct grammar and punctuation, they understand the key features of different genres and their general knowledge is astounding.
“Probably the single most important thing you could do for your child is create an environment that fosters a love of reading and learning.“
nettie gallagher
Provide plenty of books and read together
So how did they get to this level?
Through always having a good supply of books around and reading together.
Reading together from an early age, right through into the teenage years, is beneficial on so many levels: to begin with it helps to bring books alive and foster a love of books and reading. As children get older, reading together helps to check understanding and reinforce concepts. During the teenage years, it helps to spark discussions and helps them to form opinions.
Over the years we have curated quite an extensive ‘library’ of books, both fiction and non-fiction. We are also avid library book bingers and max our cards out with up to 100 books every few weeks.
But what is the best way to store all these books?
A solution to keep these separate from our own books so they don’t get muddled or lost is a must!
Baskets and bookshelves
We use a combination of bookshelves and baskets.
When all my children were younger and we had fewer books, I used to store them in little baskets and dot them about the house so that we always had a book or two handy to explore together. Apart from a handful of more special books, I always left them in an easily accessible location so that my little ones could pore over them whenever they wanted.
Now I use baskets in the lounge as a more informal way of storing books and making them accessible. I tend to use baskets for library books, topic books and for our Morning Basket books and bookshelves for our other books.
” . . . use a combination of bookshelves and baskets.”
Organise by category
As our book collection has grown I began to organise books into fiction and non-fiction and put most of them on a bookshelf, within easy reaching distance for the children. There are plenty of different styles and sizes of bookshelf to choose from, from this simple but beautiful one here to this gorgeous child friendly one here which is brilliant for displaying picture books. If you would like something with extra storage for toys then this one here and here look really good.
Once my eldest children reached about 8 I sorted the books by category to make it easier to find ones related to particular topics. So now I have split the non-fiction into areas such as history, science, geography, nature study and beliefs and then I have also divided up the fiction into younger fiction and older fiction picture books, younger novels and older/teen/adult novels and poetry.
After many years of having a tatty old bookshelf I finally managed to save up and buy a big one with cubby hole storage to make it easier to separate categories. I chose the Kallax model from Ikea and have been very pleased with it.
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Somewhere to snuggle up and read
Another consideration when creating a learning environment is how best to create a space where your family can feel relaxed and happy, as then they will be more likely to learn.
We always have somewhere to snuggle up and read together with plenty of blankets. This can be anywhere from the sofa or the bed to a rocking chair, or just a heap of cushions on the floor. Top tip: make sure your blanket is big enough for you all to fit under like this one here.
Snuggling up together creates connection and fosters love and a sense of security, all conducive to creating an atmosphere of learning. A huge amount of our learning takes place on the sofa.
If your children find focusing difficult then you could try making a den together, complete with cushions, blankets and twinkly lights and take the books inside. This kind of learning environment is more informal and can help your child feel more relaxed and able to absorb knowledge better.
“Snuggling up together creates connection and fosters love and a sense of security, all conducive to creating an atmosphere of learning.”
#2 Play Storage Solutions
Somewhere to play
“Play is the work of childhood” (Rogers) and it is really important to have a place where the children can play.
We are lucky enough to have a dedicated playroom/ schoolroom, with a big play-mat on the floor for bricks and small world play but typically play takes place all over our house.
You may need or want to set boundaries. Do what works best for your family. But do make space and time for play, even if it is just a corner of your lounge or their bedrooms, and let your children know that it is okay to get toys out in that area.
Play is vitally important on so many levels, not just to facilitate learning but also on a physical, social, creative and spiritual level.
Somewhere to store the toys
There are many different options for storage but we have found that a combination of shelves for the larger toys and smallish baskets for things like bricks works well.
Large toy baskets look nice and work well for a quick tidy up at the end of the day. However, they don’t tend to be very ‘user- friendly’ and actually end up creating more mess as children tend to either empty everything out when they are trying to find the toy they want, or else many wonderful toys don’t get played with as they are not immediately visible to the child.
One particular toy storage solution I would recommend is this here. We have had a similar one for the past 17 years and it has been perfect for storing my children’s Duplo bricks. The plastic boxes are sturdy and easy to clean and because they are not too big they are perfect for storing loose parts and smaller toys – keeping them altogether but also allowing children to easily see what is inside each box.
We also tend to rotate toys around, so will store some toys for a few months in a cupboard and then swap them back into the play space at a later date to keep engagement levels higher.
Play is vitally important on so many levels, not just to facilitate learning but also on a physical, social, creative and spiritual level.
#3 The role of imagination in learning
Somewhere to explore the imagination and experiment
I have always provided a space that includes somewhere to explore the imagination and experiment.
This is particularly important when your children are younger. A Dressing Up Corner, Role Play area, mud pie kitchen or a rug surrounded with bricks, loose parts or small world figures enables your child to copy, test out, fail, succeed, explore, experiment, discover, communicate, cooperate and learn from hands-on practical experience.
My children have particularly loved their role play ‘shop’ which over the years has been everything from a shop, cafe, travel agents, airport reception desk and doctor’s surgery to a space ship! It is so versatile, compact and is on wheels so it can easily be moved around. We have had it for many years so I am not sure if it is still available, but this role play shop is the most similar I can find. My children have also really loved their play kitchen, which we have found to have a lot of play value.
As your children get older a space or opportunity to explore the imagination or experiment is still important, although this will inevitably change. It could include access to a greater range of art or science materials, online music or video editing programs, as well as clubs where they can explore new hobbies and interests.
“A learning space that includes somewhere to explore the imagination and experiment . . . enables your child to copy, test out, fail, succeed, explore, experiment, discover, communicate, cooperate and learn from hands-on practical experience.”
#4 Somewhere to write
A table of many uses
A table helps to provide focus and as a central place to gather and share. It also allows you to ‘set the scene’ for learning by setting out all the resources, such as pens, pencils, paper, art supplies, playdough, etc. ready to make learning easily accessible.
We have a big table in our playroom, however, we tend to use either the kitchen table or the coffee table in the lounge for most learning where a table is useful. We also have a small table for the little ones to use along with a table in the garden.
If you are using the kitchen table, I would recommend having a tray to quickly tidy up work at the end of the day when the table is needed for dinner. We also have a wipe down table cloth for when we are doing painting, as well as ‘writing mats‘ which help to protect the table from writing indentations.
“A table helps to provide focus and as a central place to gather and share.“
#5 Storing everyday resources
Easy access to resources
How you organise your art, craft and general school supplies will depend on the ages of your children and the space you have available.
When my children were very little I tended to keep resources out of reach for safety reasons (and to avoid excessive mess!) and would fetch them down as and when needed. Now they are older I place everything within reach or in a place where they know where to get it.
Organising everyday supplies
Rotating carousel
As they got older I used a rotating carousel, which has compartments and meant I could have all the main things they would typically need in one place. I would just put it in the middle of the table without it taking up too much room. If you want to be able to separate compartments off (e.g. just put out the coloured pencils) then this one would work well.
If you have a bit more room then you could simply use separate pots for each type of resource (e.g. one for writing pencils, one for coloured pencils, one for scissors, rulers, rubbers, sharpeners, felt tip pens, sellotape, etc). This sysem can look nice and is quite straight forward to organise. You could purchase special decorative pots such as these pretty pastel ones, these brightly coloured ones or these storage baskets, although old jam jars, clear plastic food pots or even metal golden syrup pots work just as well.
Art cart
After many years of wanting an art cart, I finally treated myself to one and I absolutely love it. Besides being perfect for storing all our most used art supplies in one place, I also love it because we can wheel it around to wherever we are working . . . we have even rolled it out into the garden! Because it is near to where we are working we always have everything we need to hand. It also means that tidy up time is super fast and super easy and the children all know where everything belongs, so there is no more searching for a pencil to write with. This art cart is similar to the one I have (I chose it as it has extra side storage to store things like scissors and tape) but you can get other similar, but cheaper models here. For things they don’t use all the time (acrylic paint, collage materials, playdough, etc) I leave in pots on a shelf in a cupboard.
I organise our paper supplies into trays, sorted into plain, scrap, coloured and decorative papers.
“How you organise your art, craft and general school supplies will depend on the ages of your children and the space you have available.”
#6 Strewing
Strewing is another way to enrich your learning environment as it can encourage and deepen learning.
Strewing is similar to providing somewhere to explore and experiment, but is more intentional. Essentially, it involves gathering materials, resources or activities (such as books, puzzles, loose parts, board games, science experiment equipment, art materials or prompts) based either on your child’s current interests or based on an idea that you think may spark a new interest in your child, and placing them somewhere where your child might notice them. There is no obligation on the child to engage with them. It is left up to their free choice as to whether they do or do not. If after several days there is no interaction then simply try something else.
“Strewing is the art of casually yet strategically leaving “invitations” for learning and creativity out for your kids to discover on their own.”
Jean Van’t Hul (from The Artful Parent)
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#7 Outdoor learning space: an amazing learning environment
Of course your home can provide many different learning opportunities, but the outdoors, in all its many forms can also provide a really rich learning environment.
Besides the well documented mental health benefits from spending time outdoors in Nature, and the physical benefits of physical activity outdoors, the natural and man-made world can be used to enable learning in pretty much any subject area.
Outdoor activities to enrich learning
Nature walks, nature journalling, bushcraft, STEAM activities, outdoor play, sports activities, gardening and adventure based activities can all be used to enrich learning. Or why not simply let your children complete their workbooks in the park, or read to them as you have a picnic?
Forest Schools are becoming a popular option for outdoor learning and there are many wonderful books written on how to use the outdoors in different subject areas. Here are just a few that I love: The Stick Book, Outdoor Science Lab for Kids, Nature’s Playground, The Walker’s Guide to Outdoor Clues and Signs and my absolute favourite Earth Education.
“Let Nature be your teacher.”
William Wordsworth
Walks: as you wander spend time wondering
Making time to go on regular walks altogether can also provide a wonderful learning opportunity.
There are so many things to notice or ask questions about whilst on a walk, by either following your child’s natural interest or by intentionally looking for things.
This article gives some easy to use ideas on how you could incorporate learning into a simple walk. You can also use a walk as an opportunity to reinforce learning (e.g. chant times tables together or discuss a topic you have recently been learning about), discover new things and of course, it is also provides the perfect opportunity to spend time together, connect as a family. For teens especially, the distraction of the walk allows them the chance to talk about things that may be important to them.
“Making time to go on regular walks altogether can also provide a wonderful learning opportunity. . . to reinforce previous learning and discover new things.”
Field trips
And don’t forget all those ‘ready made’ learning environments – the museums, art galleries, concerts, plays, historical sites, geological features, nature reserves and special educational events.
It is easy to feel that you should be going to all these places and events, but it is probably more meaningful if you plan some of them in advance to tie in with topics you are studying. This way, your children can put them into context and will get more out of them.
The best time to visit
The best time to go is often during the term time when it is quieter or when prices may be cheaper. Many sites and venues have special Home Education discounts available, which are not always advertised well, so it is worth ringing up to find out what is available.
Take advantage of discounts
In the UK, a Blue Peter badge will give huge savings, and many places are often happy to provide a tour for a reduced fee (or sometimes even for free) if you explain you are a home educating family. To aid learning, many museums and art galleries now have downloadable resources you can use to support or extend your projects.
“And don’t forget all those ‘ready made’ learning environments – the museums, art galleries, concerts, plays, historical sites, geological features, nature reserves and special educational events.”
#8 Structuring your day
How you structure your day also helps to contribute to the learning environment you are trying to cultivate. For example if your day is crammed full of busy activities, without time to rest inbetween each one, then children might not have time to assimilate what they have learned or they could become tired and learning will become less effective. You can choose from several options when deciding how to organise your homeschool day: a strict timetable, a loose structure or no structure.
We have tried them all at some point and each has its own place and uses.
Timetables
A rigid timetable can help you to feel organised and is useful if you have a set amount of work you want your children to get through. It helps you keep a good pace and gives children clear expectations of what is happening and when. For those wishing to do ‘school at home’ then this might be the best fit for you and your family. However, a strict timetable leaves little room for flexibilty and impromtu learning opportunities. It can also lead you (and your children) to feel stressed if you feel you are not keeping up.
No structure
On the polar opposite end of the scale is a day where there is no structure whatsoever. No firm plans are made and learning is organic with children choosing what to learn and when. Many (but not all) unschoolers may choose this option as it allows greater freedom and choice. It also gives space fo impromtu learning opportunities. However, following this style can sometimes lead to a lack of direction and a feeling that you are just drifting through the days or weeks.
A gentle rhythm
We tend to be somewhere in the middle, although we do also have times when we are more structured to enable greater focus or have days when we have no plans to provide opportunities for more child-led learning. On the whole we tend to have a gentle rhythm to our days. We do not have a strict timetable of activities – more of a flexible one. Generally we start our day with a walk together, followed by Morning Basket, some focused Table Time work and then Project based work after lunch.
If you would like more ideas on how to organise your homeschool day here is an article I wrote for The Green Parent magazine giving more information about how we tend to structure our days.
#9 The importance of the learning atmosphere
And lastly, but by no means the least important thing to consider when planning a homeschooling environment, is atmosphere.
So you have all your supplies and storage solutions sorted out, you have all your shiny new curriculum purchased and everything planned out, but without that special ingredient of ‘atmosphere’ your homeschool could potentially look sterile and lack the magic you need to make it appealing to your children.
Atmosphere is a magical blend of both the physical environment and the spiritual environment. Creating an ‘atmosphere’ for learning gives your homeschool soul.
Somewhere unusual to learn
If your children are visual learners or find it hard to focus, or you just want to add a bit more fun into your home ed day, then you might want to try taking the learning somewhere unusual. Pack up the books or writing materials and head to the beach, the woods or the park. Or have a Topsy Turvey day and learn under the table.
Learning in an environment that they don’t usually learn in might help your children be more perceptive to learning. I am a visual learner and I remember revising for my exams whilst going back and forth to school on the bus. I learnt to associate particular points on the journey with key facts, and so managed to fix them in my mind better.
” . . . try taking the learning somewhere unusual. . . Learning in an environment that they don’t usually learn in might help them be more perceptive to learning.”
Somewhere quiet to retreat to
Something that often gets overlooked when planning a homeschooling environment is the need to create a quiet space.
A homeschool day can be very full on, with lots of activity, noise and distractions and children need space to withdraw to should they just need a little bit of quiet time or time on their own. Or they may just want to read quietly or work quietly on a project on their own. Without this quiet space children can become fractious and learning can be difficult.
This quiet space can act as a retreat, allowing your child time to rest or reflect, so that they come back to their learning refreshed. It doesn’t need to be elaborate – it could simply be a comfy chair in the lounge, a cushion and blanket on the landing or simply their own bed.
“Something that often gets overlooked when planning a homeschooling environment is the need to create a quiet space. . . a retreat, allowing your child time to rest or reflect, so that they come back to their learning refreshed.”
A magical atmosphere for learning
To create a physical, magical learning atmosphere you need to think about the feeling you want to create – such as light and happy or warm and cosy.
This will vary from family to family, from season to season and is likely to shift as your children grow. You could try adding sparkly twinkle lights, burn essential oils or incense; use music at various points in your day or have a special place to snuggle up together for Morning Basket. You might want to light a candle at meal times and let the children take it in turns to blow it out each day. Or you could create a dedicated space to display ‘little treasures’ found on nature walks or keep a vase full of freshly picked flowers on the kitchen table. If you are looking for some more permanent fixtures, you could add chalkboard paint to a section of the wall, like we did, providing a place to add little quotes, display work or just doodle.
Little touches like these help to create ritual and beauty, a sense of belonging and also help develop a family culture.
Roots to grow and blossom
Equally important is the spiritual atmosphere you create in your home. This is not something you can see as such, more something you can feel. It is about creating rhythms for learning, attitudes towards learning and expectations for work and behaviour. It is about building connections with your children and letting your children know they are loved and valued. It is about helping them to feel secure and happy.
The atmosphere you cultivate may ebb and flow from joyful to calm or cosy and slow to busy and focused as the seasons of the year and life change, but the family culture you live every day – your attitudes, your approaches, your ethics and beliefs – will provide an anchor for your children. This stablilty and security provides an environment where your children will be able to grow roots and blossom in their learning.
“Atmosphere is a magical blend of both the physical environment and the spiritual environment. Creating an ‘atmosphere’ for learning gives your homeschool soul.”
How to create your ideal learning environment
How you use the space you have available and how you provide opportunities for learning is such an individual thing. It is unique to your family and you will need to do what works best for your family. It is as much about how you create an atmosphere of learning as it is the physical environment and will inevitably shift as the ages, stages and interests of your children change.
But, ultimately, it is you that is your child’s best teacher and facilitator of learning. Even the most beautifully presented learning space cannot compete with what you yourself can give your child. Setting up a carefully curated learning environment can help your child grow in their learning, but it is how you approach learning with your children . . . your enthusiasm and attitude that will spark passions and ignite your children’s learning.