to buy a desk or not?

[KathG]

Where do your teenage children do their homework? Am wondering whether a desk would get used or if the dining room table will always win.. the disadvantage is it is where we normally eat.

And if a desk what type?

Thanks...

Not so much a desk, any reasonably sized table (120 x 60 minimum) but an adjustable chair on wheels with all the reference books and room for files etc alongside - very important. You'll find a computer pretty essential too.

We tried to ensure that DCs had an area in their rooms that could be used as a desk if needed, even if it doubled up as dressing table, etc. Both did use it for revision as GCSEs and A levels approached although the kitchen table was always the preferred site for general homework.

When my DCs started secondary we put a compact desk and office chair combo n their bedrooms from Ikea. They stock a range of cheap but stylish home office furniture.

DDs both have desks. They are piled high with crap.

HW gets done on laptop knee trays or the dining table.

I'd get a desk. Mine does use hers now after previously doing it whilst propped up on her bed. Never did it at the dining table though.

Desks are used as storage for huge mystery piles of paper in this house so DCs do homework in all sorts of odd places - DD2 used to sit in bed under the covers with it all spread around her!

There is a table in the kitchen that seems to be the favourite place for working. It all gets dumped on the floor in piles when we need to eat.

The kitchen table was my original plan but they both ended up in my way sat at the desk in the study. In the end we got this for each DS's bedroom. They are really solid and practical.

DS is started secondary in September and I have just updated his bedroom from kiddy to pre-teenager and have also bought him a desk (around £40 from Argos). He currently does his homework on the kitchen table, but I wanted to encourage him to have a quiet, study area in his bedroom. Fingers crossed it works.

Hollow laugh at thought of desk. DD's desk is piled high with a mountain of crap. She does her homework on the laptop sitting on her bedroom floor surrounded by yet more crap

I have high hopes for DS who is a bit tidier, but will no doubt be trying to do his homework in front of the PC or on the kitchen table come September.

Hi - like you, when our daughter started yr 10, we thought she needed to be more'professional (!) looking, and got her a wonderful loft desk from John Lewis in the sale, it has compartments, and has a pull out surface. We thought this would encourage her to work there, how wrong we were. It is piled high now with papers, make up, and general 'stuff', she sometimes uses it but the default option is usually her sofa bed with laptop on the knee, the floor, or dining table if she wants some input. The desk is a lovely piece of furniture, sadly very underused for its intended purpose, but makes the room look great :o

So long as the DC has a place to work away from the general hubbub of the household, younger siblings etc, then that's fine. I find it hard to believe, however, that a dining table fits that description.

A desk is optimum, but then again I have to admit that I invariably did my work sat in bed!

Agree with bigtilly and guineapiglet. the Ikea desk combi I bought for dd has never been used for homework and is piled high with perfume, cosmetics and other ods and sods.She has always sat on her bed to do her homework. If you think you will need to monitor your dcs homework activities I would get a small table and put it in the dining room, or a place visible to you and where they can't barricade the door. I speak from bitter experience.

hmm.. the loft desk was the one I was wondering about! It certainly seems I shouldn't spend much on a desk if we get one.

Ikea desks are about £18 so not too big a risk if not used as intended.

Mine aren't teenagers, but all have desks in their own rooms for homework as they got too distracted sitting at the same table.

Currently use my old desk(!), a table, and 2 desks from Argos.

Desks often piled high with other stuff, but it gets shoved out of the way for homework whereas my desk is left piled high and I work on my bed