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Every kid needs a Mobile Homework Command Station

Mom! I need a pencil! I hear this a lot around homework time…and I always say: look in the drawer!

My junk drawer. No wonder the kid can never find a pencil.

A photo posted by Denise Bertacchi (@stldenise) on

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After so many years of battling homework, you’d think I’ve learned my lesson.

You know that 24 pack of pencils I bought–the one that was going to last an academic life time? We can’t find it. I’m thinking the Borrowers took them to build bunk beds or something. Do you remember the Borrowers? You must have read their books in fourth grade…well I did. They’re tiny little people who live in your attic and pilfer your belongings.

The Borrowers, from the BBC

Yeah, the Borrows have all our pencils.

Anytime my kid gets ready to do his homework he can’t find a pencil. Or extra paper. Or a ruler. It’s like all our leftover school supplies got mixed up with the craft goodies and went on a world tour around the house. Oh, I’ve got 5000 stubby crayons and 14 rolls of tape…but a stapler? Er…I think I saw one under the computer desk last week??

Enough is enough! It’s time to set up a Homework Mobile Command Station

Experts say you should set up a quiet corner of your child’s room for studying, then stock it with fresh pencils, paper and whatever age appropriate supplies your child needs. However, the experts haven’t seen my house. I’m proud to say that both of my boys have desks in their rooms.

But we can’t find them.homework time

Ryan’s desk has the “secondary” gaming computer on it, with my spare scanner and a laser printer my parents bought us…and a bunch of camping gear. And dirty socks. Mitch’s desk is a little better…it just has the fish tank. And a ton of LEGOS.

Besides, kids don’t need a quiet space for homework so much as a place near mom and dad, so they can torture us with Common Core questions like: You have 15 apples, Ann has 14. What color is George’s cat?Cute little school boy with messy hair solving difficult equations written on blackboard

That’s why you need to put together a mobile homework station–an organized box of supplies that is ONLY used for homework. You can stash it in the hall closet, and take it to the kitchen table. Or that comfy chair in the corner. Or the patio. It can go anywhere, even to Grandma’s house if you need to do homework on the run.Mobile Homework Kit

Here’s my new set up: a craft box (with a handle) stocked with mechanical pencils, highlighter, crayons, three kinds of paper, a calculator, ruler, eraser, stapler and glue. I also tossed in some fun stickers…because…stickers are cool.

I found this awesome craft box at Here Today. It’s actually a roomy toolbox. You can find something similar at Micheals in the paper crafting area, or maybe you can grab a clipboard with a storage tray at Amazon. All you really need is a cool box that’s big enough to hold paper, pencils and other homework goodies.

You can also stock your homework station with reward stickersmobile homework station from Here Today

And don’t forget to think “outside the box!” Fridge clips with magnets can hang school calendars and field trip notes in the kitchen where they won’t be lost. Bright colored tumblers and food storage containers are great for pencil cups and crayon storage…Here Today mobile homework station

I’m ready now. Next time the kid says, “Mom? Where’s a pencil?” it will be ready and waiting for him in the mobile homework station! Now about those craft supplies…

homework station