11 Homework Station Supplies We Love in Our Space

Michael Farina:  Chromebooks generally come with a touchpad option which is good for most browsing options, but some of the learning apps really benefit from being able to use a two-button mouse. For ~$10 on Amazon, you can get one in a variety of rainbow colors that makes a nice "present" for your young student.

Kristy Pepping:  We got these blue light blocking glasses for our daughter to see if they help counteract some of the fatigue and headaches that sometimes come along with screen time. These come in an assortment of colors and are made for kids.

Kelly R:  Instead of a standard pencil box, a sturdy upright organizer keeps school supplies like pencils, glue sticks and markers all together and within easy reach at your kids' homework station. So they won't have to rummage through the junk drawer every time they need something. A caddy with a handle lets it travel with your kids if they want to work in another room or outside.

Kelly R:  Having their own headphones is especially helpful when your kids share a homework station and need to watch videos for school. Kid-friendly headphones with a volume limiting feature will protect those delicate ears.

Kelly R:  If you don't yet have an electric pencil sharpener in your house, you are missing out! We invested in this one a couple years ago, and my wrists have been thanking me ever since. I like that it can be used with either batteries or a cord, so it's likely to work with any homework station setup.

Kelly R:  A small digital timer for each kid will help them learn to manage their own time, so they're not constantly asking you (or Alexa) how much time they have left on a homework task. Great for things like required reading, studying, or even instrument practice! I like that this one has minimal features and is easy for kids to operate on their own.

Kristy Pepping:  If you are cramped for space in your house, sometimes it makes the best sense for kids to work from their bedrooms or a couch. So a portable lap desk makes a lot of sense. They can simply put it on their laps and do their homework from anywhere in the house. This one has storage so it's easy to bring other school supplies from room to room as well.

Kelly R:  A personal-sized dry erase board is handy for so many homework tasks. Kids can write down a daily to-do list or work out quick calculations. Beyond the homework space, these also make a great travel toy for the car, so your kids can doodle and play hangman on the road.

Kelly R:  A clipboard under your kids' schoolwork will help to protect the desks or tables that get used as a homework space. They also make learning portable, so kids can do some work on the couch or outside!

Wobble chairs promote continuous movement and active sitting, resulting in better concentration for kids. Basically, the seated movement relaxes the right side of the brain and leads to better focus. This particularly helps kids with ADD, ADHD, and autism, but could be a worthy homework station investment for any child who has trouble focusing.