If your child is one of the 305,000 New York City students who will be learning exclusively from home this year, or even one with a hybrid learning schedule, it’s important that they have a proper educational environment. While they may only need a screen and the internet to “attend” remote classes, they’ll need a structured and dedicated environment that more closely mirrors a classroom to get the best results. New York City real estate is already tight enough without needing to add a classroom—that’s why we’ve developed these six solutions that prove you don’t need an extra room, basement, or garage to help your child learn.

  1. Don’t Table It

The living room coffee table or dining room table are not ideal for full-time learning. Set up a small desk for your child that is similar to the one they use in school with plenty of storage for books and other supplies to keep them from overflowing into the communal areas in your home. This will mark a clear separation between recreational/family time and school time.

  1. Set the Scene

This will look different depending on how old your child is; you wouldn’t hang alphabet cue cards in a 10th-grade classroom or verb conjugation posters in a preschool, so follow the same thought process at home. Surround your child with the same types of classroom decorations and instructions you would expect them to find at school.

  1. Light It Up

Your child’s learning space should be a mixture of natural light and strategically placed lamps. Children tend to get lethargic and have trouble concentrating in dim lighting, especially in the glow of a laptop or tablet screen, so this will help them stay on track. Just keep an eye out for too much daydreaming or too many distractions out of the window, especially if you live on the ground level.

  1. Post Due Dates

Whether your child is in 3rd grade or a high school senior, they probably need help remembering when their homework is due and when there will be quizzes and tests. Set up a dry erase board so you can help them keep track of important due dates and make sure they’re ready for the big test.

  1. Make a School-Friendly Snack Zone

Without the structure of school lunch (and snack time for younger kids) and with close proximity to the kitchen, your child may be in danger of picking up bad snacking habits. Enforce the habits you maintain throughout the typical school year by making a rule that the kitchen is off limits. Then set up an area with approved snacks, like fruits, veggies, and crackers, make them the same school lunch you would have packed otherwise, and, if you’re able to make a small splurge, stock a mini fridge with water, milk, and sugar-free juice.

  1. Give Them a Place to Take a Break

This is difficult adjustment for them. Not only are they learning in an entirely new format, they’re also staying in one seat the whole day and not spending time with their classmates like they used to. When they do get a school-sanctioned break to relax or have lunch, create a small oasis away from where they learn where they can truly disconnect.

If you needed to make some space to create your at-home classroom, you’ll need the right place to store your belongings until school’s out: Gotham Mini Storage. We are the most convenient Manhattan mini storage location offering affordable prices, and 24/7 security. Contact the experts at Gotham Mini Storage today to get started.