Anonymous wrote:He used a desk in the living room in second grade (we'd moved, it didn't fit upstairs but we hadn't gotten rid of it yet). We got him a desk from ikea for his bedroom in 3rd grade and he actually uses it. Because he had a desk, DD wanted a desk in K! We found hers at an estate sale and it actually helps her keep her crazy art supplies more organized. She's in 1st, but no actual homework yet. Youngest is in preK and just asked for a desk yesterday.....

Moral of the story is that whenever one kid gets a desk, the others will want them too!

Not OP but thanks for the warning. I have a 2nd grader that has asked for a desk and I've been debating it. I have twins in K and no room for 3 desks so I think I'll hold off for now.

My son has had a desk since age 3 - first a preschool type desk and then a real one. He still uses the kitchen table (which is literally 3 feet from his desk). He says he gets angry when he tries to sit at his desk. I think it might stress him out more. So, just realize if you buy a desk, it might not be used.

Although, he does keep all his stuff there (pencils, erasers, sharpeners, etc), and it is nice for him to know where everything is.

My son is in 4th grade. He has always had a desk in his room that was intended for homework. We got it from ikea for probably around $30 and an office chair which was probably $20. He always sits at the kitchen table to do his work though. Now his desk has a computer on it, so he does use it to access blackboard and other school websites, so it is useful, but was never actually used for homework.

We have a basket with all of his school supplies for at home stored in a cabinet near the kitchen table so he can grab it when he needs it and put it away when he's done. He never has to be searching for crayons, pencils, erasers, glue sticks, tape, scissors, a pencil sharpener, pens, paper, ruler etc. it's all in the school supplies box and he puts it all back when he's done.

I also have a separate folder that I store papers from school that I want to hold on to and it is stored with the school supplies.

I also stock up on extras when I see a good deal and store all of it together. And when the school year is over and they bring home all of their stuff, I sort through it and keep what can be reused and store it in the same spot and get rid of anything that is no longer useful. He's used the same binders and pencil boxes for years and I replace the other stuff as needed.

Anonymous wrote:7th grader and 12th grader here. They both do their homework at the dining room table or on the family computer that they share. We rarely have problems with them sharing, but if we do, one of them uses my laptop. A lot of my older kid's homework is reading, which he does on his bed, on the couch in the empty living room, or out on the porch.

My 7th grader has a desk in his room but almost never uses it. When we redid my senior's bedroom a few years ago, I wanted to get him a new desk (he had outgrown his junior-sized one), but he said he didn't need one, that he preferred to work in the dining room. So he doesn't have a desk at all and appears not to miss it.

(They are both good students.)

Meant to add: I myself always worked at a desk in my bedroom when I was a kid, so it just depends on the kid.

7th grader and 12th grader here. They both do their homework at the dining room table or on the family computer that they share. We rarely have problems with them sharing, but if we do, one of them uses my laptop. A lot of my older kid's homework is reading, which he does on his bed, on the couch in the empty living room, or out on the porch.

My 7th grader has a desk in his room but almost never uses it. When we redid my senior's bedroom a few years ago, I wanted to get him a new desk (he had outgrown his junior-sized one), but he said he didn't need one, that he preferred to work in the dining room. So he doesn't have a desk at all and appears not to miss it.

(They are both good students.)

7th grade currently and she doesn't have a desk. I can't afford that and age doesn't have room for one anyway. What's wrong with doing homework on your bed? I grew up with a desk and never sat at it to do homework.

homework at our house is on the island, kitchen table, or laying on the couch. the desk is usually stacked up with junk. depends on the kid though.

I did homework on the dining room table until I graduated from high school. I liked it -- lots of room to spread out. Annoying when I had to move stuff for weekend family dinners, but not a big deal. Oh, and I graduated first in my class, so the table wasn't an impediment!

He used a desk in the living room in second grade (we'd moved, it didn't fit upstairs but we hadn't gotten rid of it yet). We got him a desk from ikea for his bedroom in 3rd grade and he actually uses it. Because he had a desk, DD wanted a desk in K! We found hers at an estate sale and it actually helps her keep her crazy art supplies more organized. She's in 1st, but no actual homework yet. Youngest is in preK and just asked for a desk yesterday.....

Moral of the story is that whenever one kid gets a desk, the others will want them too!

My 2nd grader has had a desk for a while because it was given to us. He still does all homework in the kitchen and imagine will for a long time. It's convenient because I'm either making dinner or cleaning up. Growing up I had a desk but never used it. As a teen I did my homework on the floor or bed.

Mine have a school type one piece desk that they used in pre-school before graduating to the dining room table through middle school. In high school, I allow the bedroom with a lap desk.

Anonymous wrote:3rd grade. Still does homework on the dining table often.

Same. And her desk is one room away and visible from the kitchen.

It has a desktop computer and other crap on it frequently, though.

3rd grade. Still does homework on the dining table often.

My son is the same age and I haven't. Partly because we have a tiny house and there's nowhere to put a desk. And partly because he won't go somewhere alone and actually do his work. So far a clean kitchen table and quiet time (husband doesn't watch TV while we are doing homework), is the best. I sit and read while he's doing his homework and then check to make sure he actually did it.

However, that doesn't mean your kid is the same as mine. But I'd take her personality traits into consideration first, like is she ok with being in her room (or wherever the desk is) by herself? Will she actually do the work? Will she be surrounded by other stuff that's more fun (books she prefers to homework, for example?).

I am sure I'll set up something for my kid when he's older, but right now, he needs more supervision.

DD is in third and the HW is starting to get tougher and I'm wondering if it might be helpful for her to have her own space rather than use the dining room table? When did you create a study area for your DC and how did that work out?