How to set up a first grader’s learning area: 7 tips for parents

By the beginning of the school year, the parents of the future student should think not only about the school uniform, but also about how to organize a workplace for their first grader. In our previous articles, we have already talked about the need to create several zones in the room of any student – a sleeping zone, a study zone and a zone for games or entertainment. Today we will talk about how to equip the study area for a first grade student so that it is comfortable for him to study here and, most importantly, so that these classes do not harm his health. We have collected the most frequently asked questions from parents of first graders, the answers to which will help in organizing a schoolchild’s workplace..

Study area

1. What table does a first grader need?

For a first grader, you need to be especially careful when choosing a desk, because the child’s posture, his eyesight and, no less important, the desire to learn will depend on the size and model. There are several hard and fast rules regarding the size of the desk:

– the height depends on the height of the child: 45-48 centimeters will be enough for a first grader. When going to the store at the table, take your child with you, this is the only way you will choose the table that suits him perfectly. A writing desk is considered optimal if its edge is exactly at the level of the sitting child’s chest (then he will be able to lean on his elbows), he does not support the table top from below with his knees, and his legs are at right angles.

– the depth of the working surface should be at least 60-80 centimeters, width – 120-160 centimeters.

In order not to change the student’s desk every two to three years, it is better to give preference to the transformable model. By the way, experts advise purchasing a separate table for the computer, which will also eventually appear in the nursery, – doing homework in front of the monitor will be inconvenient, so you need a separate surface for writing. If the room is small and there is not enough space for two tables in it, it is better to buy a slightly larger table, for example, a corner one, in one part of which there will be a computer, and in the other there will be free space for studying.

2. Where to place a desk in the nursery?

It is best to place the desk to the left of the window, sideways, or to the right, but facing the window with its front side. The first option is convenient because the child is less distracted by street events, and the second allows you to illuminate the work surface well during the daytime. Designers often suggest turning the entire windowsill into a desk. This is a really great option for a small room..

3. Which chair to choose for a first grader?

It is important to choose the right chair, because the child’s posture depends on it. The chair should not be too high: the child’s legs, bent at right angles, should touch the floor, while his back should be the back of the chair. It is better if it is a comfortable working chair with adjustable seat height and back position, then it will be possible to adjust the height and position of the chair with the growth of the child. The seat should not be deep so that during classes the student does not hunch over and rests on the back. It is better to refuse a swivel chair and choose a fixed model for a given age.

4. Are there requirements for furniture for a student?

There are a number of requirements for the material from which the furniture for the nursery is made. It is desirable that furniture for schoolchildren be made of natural materials: it is better to buy a wooden table. It is also better to choose natural material for the upholstery of the chair. When buying furniture for a student, be sure to pay attention to the product certificate: it must comply with the GOST developed for children’s furniture. Plastic furniture, as well as furniture made of impregnated wood-glue materials, are unsafe due to possible fumes of harmful substances.

5. How to create the perfect study lighting?

To keep your child’s eyesight from being affected by the activity, it is best to combine light sources above the desk. A combination of wall sconces or a light cornice with reflected light and a separate lamp directly above the working area is considered optimal..

The classic picture – a child sitting with only a table lamp in a dark room – is an absolutely wrong approach, because the light of only a table lamp is categorically contraindicated for children. If the rest of the room is darkened, the contrast will quickly tire the eyes of the first grader, not adapted to such loads, and contribute to visual impairment..

6. How to help a first grader to organize the order at the table?

If there are no boxes on wheels in the desk, then all the items necessary for the educational process must be placed within the child’s reach – no further than at arm’s length. For these purposes, bedside tables, shelves and racks, as well as mobile plastic containers located under the table can serve. If the table is located near a wall without a window, then a fabric organizer with a large number of pockets can be placed on it, in which office supplies and other little things necessary for a child during the educational process will perfectly fit. Also, you can use cork boards to which notes and all kinds of things will be attached..

Teach your child to maintain order in the workplace from the first grade. After class, invite him to tidy up all the accessories so that each item is in its place, and the working surface of the table always remains free.

7. Is it possible to help the child remember the daily routine?

In the life of a first grader, much changes, the main role is given to the daily routine. Buy a pack of office paper, brightly colored markers or felt-tip pens and come up with your child’s first schedule. You can use such ready-made pictures or make them yourself – and hang this board near the child’s desk. The first month, such a daily routine will help your child get used to new living conditions, and you will avoid nervous explanations and children’s tears..

Good luck!