3 minute read
A Fresh Perspective
from Fine v4 2019
The new school year has always been a time for fresh starts. If you’re a parent (or grandparent) whose children are showing increased awareness of environmental issues - or are even getting worried about the state of the planet - here are some positive things to do together for the new school term.
Space to study
Advertisement
How well we learn isn’t about how much stuff we have, it’s about how well we are supported. Before I retrained as an interior designer, I was a linguist and qualified teacher, which has proved useful when designing spaces to study in.
The most useful thing that I learned during my teacher training is that individuals learn in different ways. I’m a very ‘visual’ learner, so I sketch out ideas, and use mind maps and lists to organise thoughts. And I colour code everything!
Some people seem to ignore a messy desk, others need a pristine space to organise their things neatly around them. Some people study in silence, others need a thumping beat or soothing classical music. It doesn’t have to be a large space, just one that suits them.
Creating the right space
Creating space where young people can study effectively is so important it’s worth putting a little time aside to work on it together before the school year starts. This could be a plan to get you going:
1) Look together at where they study now and talk through whether it works.
2) Work out what needs to go and sell or give away anything that still has some use left in it. Old pencil cases, half used crayons and even felt tip pens that have run out have a value or use to someone else. A quick search online (try local Facebook groups like Waste Not Want Not or parent groups) will give you ideas. Deciding how to dispose of things is a great way to show children that all the stuff we buy doesn’t just vanish when we no longer want it.
3) Look together at what tools they need. I love noticeboards as they allow me to change the display at will. A magnetic board is great for favourite pictures and quotes - add in a set of magnetic poetry for budding creative writers. Dry wipe boards are good for writing or drawing temporary things. The glass kind are nice (for older children) but be careful to get the right pens and strong magnets.
For older children (as it requires pins), there’s a great material called Sundeala pin board. It’s recycled and recyclable, comes in different colours, can be cut to size to fit the space, and can even be lightly sanded if it gets grubby.
4) Are they sitting comfortably? Sitting in one spot hunched over a desk for long periods of time isn’t really good for any of us. Think about a comfortable alternative for reading. It won’t guarantee they’ll love the textbook (I suspect I would have hated Madame Bovary wherever I’d sat) but it might make it feel like less of a chore.
My top choice would be an ecofriendly bean bag chair or an old rocking chair I could up-cycle with bright chalk paint and a cosy cushion.
5) Stock up on the essentials. I confess I loved the new term stationery shop, mainly because it meant a new set of pencils or pens to arrange in colour order! Today’s families have much more variety to choose from, and you can do your part for the planet by only buying what’s needed and choosing carefully. One of my favourite stationery suppliers is remarkable.co.uk who use recycled materials such as paper cups, plastic bottles and CD cases to make pens, notebooks and so on.
If a new bag or backpack is needed, look out for ones made of materials such as recycled plastic bottles. They’re incredibly hard wearing and a number of companies now make them.
