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I was wondering what people use for desks (if they use them at all).

 

My five year old generally does his work on the floor or on the small coffee table in the lounge, however I'm not sure that this is the best thing for him. He struggles greatly with letter/number writing due to having extremely hyper-mobile fingers, and although this is slowly improving, it will take quite some time for it to become legible. My own writing is still appalling (and it is a painful process) for the same reasons, so I can understand why he isn't keen on practicing!

 

It isn't possible for us to use the kitchen table, and I found that the swivelling chair at the computer was a major distraction for him. Do you think it would be worth buying a smaller desk/chair for him to work at, or should we continue with what we're currently doing? I'm just a little concerned that allowing him to work on the floor will set him up for trouble in the future.

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We bought a school table and two chairs ($15 total) at a PS district's surplus sale, and they're in the living room.

 

Ask around in your area--if you have FreeCycle, CraigsList, a local Mommies Network, or other sale/trade/free sections, someone is probably looking to sell something that would work.

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A homeschooling friend found a bunch of school desks for like $2 a desk.  The kids each have one.  

 

I also converted two identical closets in our playroom into tiny little cubicles.  When they want to be alone, they go in there.  They have a comfy chair and a desk top that hinges down from the wall.  The boys painted them the colors they wanted and they are adorable.  

 

We used to do work just wherever, but we've found we need a place for the boys to call their own.  And sometimes I need to have them sitting at their desks and not rolling around on the floor.  The rolling and stuff gets too distracting sometimes.  I let them roll whenever I can, but sometimes you just gotta focus.

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We used a small student table and chair when they were young and starting out, but only for writing. Everything else was done at the dining room table, upside down on the living room sofa, on their bed, on the trampoline, in the car etc. :laugh:

 

I think it is a good idea to use a chair and table of proper proportions for the student when they are writing. Here is a quick fact sheet about proper posture and writing.

 

ETI the link

http://sydney.edu.au/compass/documents/Posture_Factsheet.pdf

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We have a lot of different situations. We have a table in the school room where most of the table type work occurs, but we also have lap desks for when kids want to work on the floor, which happens often. My youngest has an artist/easel type desk in his room that he can elevate to any level and he often uses that for writing because he finds the angle to be helpful. Both boys also have regular flat desks in their rooms. Those tend to be covered with puzzles and Lego creations though so I don't think they get used much for school or writing work.

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I would want to kill myself if I had to be in one room all day at a desk. I hated that about school.  At least in Jr. High and Sr. High we changed rooms hourly.

 

We have schoolroom painted a lovely blue, whiteboards on the wall and a piano. There's a desk there because sometimes she likes to use a desk.  There's a bean bag with a clip board because sometimes she likes to do school there.  We do some school on the couch at the coffee table in the living room. We do some school in the study on my desk with the computer on it and sometimes on the loveseat or on the floor. Some of school is done at the craft table in the craft room.  Sometimes it's done on the island in the kitchen while I get a thing or two done in there. When the weather's nice we sometimes sit on the back porch and do some school there.

 

My kids are given the option of doing school in whatever room they want as long as the assignments are getting done well in a timely way and as long as they can stay on task.  As they get older their bedrooms become an option if it's conducive to school.  For one it was a distraction, so it wasn't an option for her.

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We have an office/school room. DS has an old, small kitchen table as his desk, and DD has a fairly large computer desk as hers.  Most of their work gets done there, although computer work gets done in another room on the computer, and they often take reading to the couch or out to the screened porch.  Sometimes they work at the kitchen table or counter, and  we also have a picnic table on the screened porch where they can do work, weather and attitudes permitting. :D

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Places you are most likely to discover my children doing schoolwork:

 

7. the hallway of the ballet studio

 

6. Panera

 

5. the sofa

 

4. their beds

 

3. my bed

 

2. the trampoline

 

And coming in at number 1....

 

the dining room table.

 

Honestly, I don't think it matters so much. Some kids do seem to do better with a spot their own size, but my kids didn't like when I had small chairs and a table desk for them. The big table was always more the thing.

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In the early years... at the kitchen table, at a little lap desk on the floor, on the front porch, on the back deck, on the swing, in the gardens, in the woods, at the lake...

 

In the later years...at the desks or in the club chairs in the study, in the car, at the lab, in the fields, at the lake...

 

Hmm....not much has changed.... ;)

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When they were younger we had a child size table with chairs they could work at or they would use a clipboard and work on the couch.  Now DD works in her bedroom on her bed.  The boys work at a dining table that is for school in the family room.  I am looking into rearranging things to have then work in the dining room instead, but right now the dining room table has the kids' computers on it so I need to find a place for those first.  I really don't care a lot where they work as long as it gets done.

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Group stuff at the dining room table, or sitting on the floor of the schoolroom if I need the whiteboard.

Individual book work at their desks in the schoolroom or sprawled on the floor.

Individual online work on the couch (dd13's first choice) or desk or dining table (dd10's preference)

Read alouds on the couch or in bed

 

I found dd13 tightly curled up UNDER her desk reading yesterday. She does Russian with Dh on the couch in the evenings.

 

My kids came from a Montessori elementary school, so they never had desks before coming home to school. They were pretty used to finding any quiet spot to do their work, the more nook-like the better.

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It depends on the type of work they are doing.  If they are really working on writing, then proper posture is critical; you can't work on your writing if you are curled half in a ball or propped on an elbow on the floor, in the early years when you are still learning how.   If they are learning other stuff or reading, they can be found anywhere-- in a hammock in the yard, curled up in a recliner with a cat, snuggled up with me on the couch, on a bean bag chair (no, I don't think they are evil-- just don't crawl inside them duh) or in a local restaurant  where we have been welcomed to bring our books and study between rush times (we go after lunch rush and have our lunch, then do school work and clear out before they need to set up for dinner, with the staff's blessing-- and we tip very well for our use of the booth and all the treats they bring us from time to time-- sometimes we get staffers who choose to sit and fold napkins and do other tasks in booths nearby so they can listen in on certain lessons :).  1001 Arabian Nights was very popular :)  ).

 

So . . . for seatwork . . . you can't use the kitchen table (and for littles, that's fine; they get uncomfortable when their feet can't reach the floor anyway!).  For one of mine, for a long time, I used a TV tray table with a hippity hop set in front of it as a seat-- and wrapped a blanket around the bottom as a "base" to keep it from rolling away.  The handle was pointed downward so it wasn't in his way, and it was perfectly fine for him to lightly bounce as he worked.  The height was right, as his feet were firmly planted on the floor, it was soft, the slight roll improved his core muscles without making him tired, and we could set it up in any room of the house in seconds, and store the tray flat behind the sofa when he was done; it was perfect.

 

Now my boys both seem to enjoy sitting on an exercise ball (too tall for the hippity hop) when watching TV or at the computer; it is, at least, a bit more active than slumping into a recliner!

 

 

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Mostly at the dining room table, but also on the floor of their rooms, or the playroom. When the weather is nice,outside at our garden table. Oh, also at the desk in my bedroom, and sometimes we snuggle up on my bed. Oh, and sometimes on my bedroom floor in front of my nursing chair. 

So kind of everywhere.

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DD13 works at the kitchen table. She also has a desk next to mine (I work from home) where she works on the computer. Reading is usually done on the couch or sideways in a recliner.

 

Like other posters, we try to do Coffee Shop or Library School at least one day a week. Nice to get out of the house.

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I am so inspired by everyone who actually goes out of the house to do their schoolwork! My kids are still a little young, but I am so doing school at the library and at Starbucks when they're older!

 

For now, we do our work at the dining room table. Read-alouds and anything else I have to read to them are done on the big comfy couch in the living room. I don't really allow them to do school anywhere else, as they get far too distracted.

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We use a sturdy, smallish kitchen table that Dh cut down to the right height as a school table. 28"x 35"

It is in our family room. $30 at a thrift store. We saved the leg pieces so that we can make the table taller again when they need it. 

We have some old, oak kids' chairs to go with it. $5 each from a church yard sale.

Dd has a desk in her room, but it is still too big for her and she doesn't use it much yet. Free from a friend.

 

It does make a big difference in written work and penmanship especially to have a table at the right height, so kids' feet can be squarely on the floor. 

 

That said, we do plenty of school on the sofa. Dd loves to read on her bed and ds is often sprawled on the floor. 

 

It is really nice not to have to clear the school table to serve lunch!

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My children do their work in a number of places: kitchen table, rocking chair, sprawled out on the couch or a bed, outside, on the floor if they so choose. . . Sometimes they do even work at our schoolroom tables, which are these: http://www.amazon.com/Lifetime-80160-Commercial-Adjustable-Tabletop/dp/B003DYZQKY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1410831170&sr=8-4&keywords=Folding+plastic+table. The nice thing is that they're adjustable, so you could have them on the lowest setting with a small chair, and move it up when needed. They're sturdy, lightweight and easy to move, and easy to clean.

 

I do generally insist upon the children using the schoolroom tables when I'm going over work with them, because it's easiest for me, but if they're working on their own, they're free to go wherever.

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We used a small desk and chairs when they were little and learning to write.  That way they could learn proper alignment for writing.

 

Other than that, though, pretty much anything goes.  Younger dd tends to sit on the floor.  Sometimes she uses the couch.  Or goes outside.

 

I stand at the kitchen counter to grade -- it's like my low tech version of a standing desk.  (And, yes, we're huge Katy Bowman fans here.)

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Imogen, it's not what you asked, but I'll just toss out that a common cause of pain with handwriting is low muscle tone (low tone, hypotonia).  It's congenital, so your ds could have it to.  You are correct that anything with slouching or slumping is inappropriate.  You can sit at the kitchen table and use a booster to get him to the correct height.  He should be using his opposing hand to hold the paper and he should not be slumped or putting his weight onto the wrist of the writing hand.  If any of these things or happening or if he complains of pain, you should consider evals.  It can even be something as simple as asking your ped to screen him for low tone or other causes of handwriting pain.  The ped can do that and refer you for OT or PT if it would benefit him.  

 

My dd complained of handwriting pain for years, but we didn't finally start OT until she was 11.  That's when we figured out the tidy genetic line (me to her and to my ds).  So whatever, may not even apply.  It's just your little trivia to add to your bank of things to watch for.  My dd had those signs and I didn't catch them because her writing seemed within the realm of normal.  I'm being MUCH more aggressive and careful about posture, core, where his weight is, etc. with my ds.  

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we converted part of our basement to a school room where both kids have desks, bulletin boards, a chalk board, supplies, copier, etc etc.  They usually start there but tend to float around and get comfy at different parts of the day.  I also don't care as long as it gets done.  They keep everything in a case it binder so that they can become mobile at any moment. lol  They might also grab a clipboard to help out at times.  During the long winters, when we get cabin fever, we do what I like to call, "Coffee Shop Hops" where we start at one and then end up at another, etc.  Those are out lighter days but work certainly gets done.  Library, parks, where ever they vote that I agree with.  Where the work is done in the house  is something I totally let them choose most days.

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At that age, my boys have done their work sprawl on the floor, at a kid size table and chair set, and using a lap desk while sitting on the carpeted living room floor.  If we go to the library, they use the kids tables at the children's section which are lower so that my younger boy's feet could touch the ground.  We also have a train table with a writing surface that my boys used occasionally. Their handwriting is nicer than mine.

If you are thinking of getting a kid's table and chair, the Ikea one (LÄTT Children's table and 2 chairs, white, pine $19.99) is a nice low cost option.

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We bought the boys desks last year for Christmas. The 10 year old's is a traditional desk, the 7 year old is a drafting table because he loves art and dh is an architect and has his own big drafting table. 

 

They never sit at them to do school. They do sit at them for other stuff but rarely for school. Legos, art projects. Oldest does have a laptop which mostly stays on his desk. And he uses it to store stuff. 

 

Typically if we are all doing school together we'll sit at the dining room table or kitchen table if we want to also birdwatch (we do Project Feederwatch in the winter). Then if they have an assignment on their own they can move where ever they want. As long as it gets done, I don't care where they do it. My oldest likes to do a lot on my bed, he makes himself a kind of comfy nest with pillows and blankets. He has a lot more independent work so that works well for him as he can be off on his own kind of quiet. He also likes to do math in weird places like sitting on the floor behind an armchair in the bedroom. The weirdest of all is..the bathtub. No water. He just likes to lie in the tub and do math. 

 

They both like to work outside and I let them most days. 

 

I figure it's an advantage of homeschooling to be able to be where you feel comfortable. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thank you for all of the suggestions and ideas. I ended up buying an adjustable height desk, along with a couple of child sized chairs. For things such as handwriting I felt that it was better for him to have a table with the right proportions, but I'm not really fussed where he works for other subjects.

He loves working on the floor for maths, whereas I preferred to work sitting up in bed when I was a child! It just goes to show how different we are :)

 

OhElizabeth, we both have a genetic disorder which affects our joints, causing weakness, pain and dislocations (amongst other things). The issues with handwriting are definitely genetic in nature for us, so I should probably look into an OT or physio for his hands. Unfortunately there isn't much that they are able to do to help, but having been there myself, I know how much pain handwriting has the potential to cause! I suppose it is just one of those things that we have to learn how to live with and to adapt to.

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I was wondering what people use for desks (if they use them at all).

 

My five year old generally does his work on the floor or on the small coffee table in the lounge, however I'm not sure that this is the best thing for him. He struggles greatly with letter/number writing due to having extremely hyper-mobile fingers, and although this is slowly improving, it will take quite some time for it to become legible. My own writing is still appalling (and it is a painful process) for the same reasons, so I can understand why he isn't keen on practicing!

 

It isn't possible for us to use the kitchen table, and I found that the swivelling chair at the computer was a major distraction for him. Do you think it would be worth buying a smaller desk/chair for him to work at, or should we continue with what we're currently doing? I'm just a little concerned that allowing him to work on the floor will set him up for trouble in the future.

 

When the dc are young and still developing their penmanship, I prefer them to do any written, Official School Stuff at the kitchen table. I wish I'd had a smaller table of some kind for them to write on, but still, requiring good posture while sitting in a chair and correct hand grips as much possible under the circumstances was better than sitting on the floor at the coffee table.

 

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We have a fold-up camping table and fold-up picnic chairs when there's no space elsewhere (my kids can't work in the same room without causing chaos so I have to distribute them through the house!) The table and chairs tuck behind the sofa when not being used. I try to keep the kids at a table if doing writing because they all have issues with handwriting and this helps their posture. However,for anything else they can do it where they like.

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Guest hsbean

Several years ago we found a slightly rickety, but perfectly functional, child-size table and chair at a garage sale. I have to retighten the legs periodically, but basically it works great. It's a good height for our daughter's writing. During the morning we switch off to the couch for review and quizzing. It was inexpensive and takes very little space.

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Mostly, at the dining room table.  We have a couple of desks upstairs, but they're rarely used.  If we aren't at the table, then they're in the floor, on the couch, or sprawled across their bed or mine.  It drives my husband crazy that we don't use the desks. lol

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Our K and 1sters use a Little Tikes table and little chairs as that suits their size at the time. Then they move to an adjustable table that I have. When 5yo moves up to the table it will be interesting to see what happens. I don't think there is space for her and older sister to share, and their size will be widely disparate.

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OP, great solution for your family's needs!

 

My kids are 7th and 8th grade, and we rarely use a table beyond math. The kids wander - couch for some stuff, hammock in the yard to read, lounge chairs and a lap desk.... Sometimes math is on the couch... We are pretty casual as long as it gets done and it's neat.

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I was wondering what people use for desks (if they use them at all).

 

My five year old generally does his work on the floor or on the small coffee table in the lounge, however I'm not sure that this is the best thing for him. He struggles greatly with letter/number writing due to having extremely hyper-mobile fingers, and although this is slowly improving, it will take quite some time for it to become legible. My own writing is still appalling (and it is a painful process) for the same reasons, so I can understand why he isn't keen on practicing!

 

It isn't possible for us to use the kitchen table, and I found that the swivelling chair at the computer was a major distraction for him. Do you think it would be worth buying a smaller desk/chair for him to work at, or should we continue with what we're currently doing? I'm just a little concerned that allowing him to work on the floor will set him up for trouble in the future.

 

(didn't read previous replies- sorry if I repeat)

 

Most days- I have no idea where my girls do their work. As long as they put stuff to be checked on the corner of my desk, we're good. :coolgleamA:

 

We HAD desks for everyone, but one by one, my girls stopped using them, so we got rid of them. At various times, they use: The kitchen table, a lap desk on the couch/recliner/bed, no lap desk on the couch/recliner/bed/floor/other chair, the great outdoors- grassy spot under a tree, the car, a waiting room/locker room/auditorium...  so basically anywhere. My only rule is that when they need me to work with them, they bring a chair to my desk and work with me there.

 

For your guy,  a desk does sound like a good idea- make it one that will adjust/grow with him, if you can.  Or try a low footstool to sit on if he likes the coffee table. You can also switch the computer chair to a non-spinny one.

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