Back-to-school tips

1. Address technology issues. If several people need to be on electronic devices and maintaining an internet connection at the same time, you may need to improve your internet speed and add range extenders or a mesh network system so your internet service will reach every part of your home.

2. Designer Emily C. Butler recommends that each child have an area — maybe a shelf in a closet — where they keep all of their school books and essentials, with open storage for things that need to be accessed easily and closed storage for other things such as art supplies. Boxes and other containers are available at a variety of price points, from dollar store finds on up.

3. Many desks being made today are smaller, so they’ll take up less room if space in a child’s room is a consideration.

4. Butler noted that children should get out the schoolbooks they’re using at the moment and put them away when they’re done — just like they would with lockers at school. That will help keep things tidy and keep children from being overwhelmed if they’re surrounded by stacks of books.

5. Having your child help decide how their things are organized will give them a sense of control and help them learn to be responsible.

6. If your children are good at staying on task and/or prefer a quieter environment, having a desk in their own room might be a better option when learning from home.

7. If space is tight, create a quiet zone in the home and schedule who gets to use it at different times of the day. It could be used when a child or adult needs to be in a virtual class or work meeting, or it could be for quiet study time when others are noisy, recommends Delilah Davis-Gonzales, director of field experience in Texas Southern University’s College of Education.