How to Help Homework Focus

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dollar General for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

My kids do their homework and lessons at our kitchen table.  But, my daughter needs every craft supply imaginable close to her whenever she is writing or coloring, which then requires her running to 12 different spots in our house for her to get all the things she “needs”.  That wastes time, and drives me INSANE.  I had been thinking about how to solve the problem and came up with a homework caddy, kind of like a shower caddy, but everything you need to do homework.  A high quality homework station will allow her to stay homework focused and have the things she “needs” close by!

First, we went to Dollar General.  I knew I needed a shower caddy-type thing, as well as new supplies to fill it with, because honestly — who doesn’t love new supplies.  It totally helps your kids get focus on school just by having new things.  Totally worth it in my book!

We found lots of great stuff!

1.  Crayola Crayons (these have glitter, total bonus!).  Total brand name school supply snob.  I’m rarely a brand girl unless we’re talking crayons and markers.

2.  Pipsqueak thin markers.  Can easily color with them, or label things because the tips are small.  Good for homework-type activities

3.  Crayola colored pencils.  Snobby, it’s true.

4.  Glitter glue.  You’ll be glad to know this is my first purchase of glitter glue.  Ever.  My daughter is 6.  Please don’t turn me into CPS, but she is REALLY happy now. 🙂

5.  Post-its, because they’re just something fancy for kids to use for reminder notes

6. Pencil sharpener (again, don’t leave — stay at the table, all things can be done at the table).

7.  Mini stapler.  I can’t tell you how excited princess P was to have her own pink stapler.  {joy}

8.  Reward stickers — seriously, who can live without a reward stickers when they do a great job?

9.  Reward icee pops — I was making this for our summer learning station, and there’s no better reward for good, focused work than an icee pop.  Go Dollar General!

10. Ruler — I use mine all the time, I figure she could use one.

11.  Organizing stuff.

AND, we bought some stuff to decorate it.  Because I have a 6 year old girl who likes decorating things.  I kind of like her. 🙂

Dollar General had SUCH A great selection of this type of stuff, it was impressive!

So, we decorated….

Check out that owl sticker!  SO. CUTE!

I added the organizing stuff and put in the supplies, I also added some supplies that we had around the house (pencils).  Those things seem to multiply like rabbits in their room, but they can never find one when they need it!

One thing I felt was particularly smart. That little blue tub fits into that side pocket, but it’s so deep I thought she might have a hard time grabbing what she wanted, so I put the bin in.  That holds the stapler, post its, and the sharpener.  And then below the little blue bin…

I put the extra staples and post-its (because I could see her easily using ALL the postits in the first week).  Out of site, out of mind.

The cups even pull out for easy use of crayons, etc.

Princess P is SO excited for our lessons on Sunday.  I’m sure with a new product here or there I can keep the excitement alive and hopefully keep her a little more focused.

And, after some hard work — you deserve a popcicle, and that makes lessons all the sweeter!

So, head on over to Dollar General and give it a try yourself!  I bet your kids will thank you, and so will their brains!  Save on back to school essentials with Dollar General!  Check them out on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Youtube!