New Year's resolutions? Nah - they went out of the window as soon as Lockdown 3.0 was announced. Instead, we're focusing on getting organised with more working from home, and more homeschooling.
No doubt all your WhatsApp groups and Facebook messages are all on the same subject - how do we make this round of homeschooling easier and more straightforward. We're a bit more prepared this time - we've been here before - but maybe it's time to invest in some proper furniture for your children's school days.
We know ourselves how annoying it is to work from the dining room table, and how much more productive we are with a proper WFH setup. Same goes for our children - they'll feel more motivated and inspired if they have their own desk to work from. They're more likely to settle if they have their own area to sit down at, and that ownership will make them feel confident, too.
We've researched and chosen a range of children's desks to fit in with a variety of decor and budget, from simple offerings from Ikea and Amazon to more stylish options at John Lewis and La Redoute.
The Best Homeschooling Desks
1 of 13Premier Housewares White Childrens Table And Chair Set
Easy to clean and small enough to tuck away at the end of the school day, this option gives your kids somewhere to store their school books and pencils.
2 of 13Jaiden Writing Children's 2 Piece Table and Chair Set, £50.99, Wayfair
This super-affordable set not only has hidden storage, but also has a reversable tabletop which can turn the traditional workspace into a lego station.
3 of 13Combelle Sustainable Children's Table, £71, Smallable
For an eco-friendly option, look no further than this simple desk from Smallable which is crafted from wood produced in sustainably managed forests – and available in 5 pretty colourways.
4 of 13Cerise Wooden Toddler Desk in White, £79.90, Petit Amelie
Step away from the gaudy colours… This affordable retro desk and chair set is so neutral it's guaranteed to blend in with the rest of your décor.
5 of 13Rathbone Eco Easy Writing Desk, £55.99, Wayfair
For something that bit different, this 100% recyclable desk is made from cardboard and wood. It can fold down at the end of the day and comes completely plain so can be personalised with pens and paint. What a find!
6 of 13Ikea PÅHL Desk with shelf unit
Need a simple update? This Ikea offering is effective with no frills, like all Ikea products, and quickly gives your little one someone to work plus handy storage. You can get it with green accents if you wish, but it's not our favourite.
7 of 13Blue Desk and Stool Set, £95, Fy
We love these colour-popping desks and stools that come in a choice of pink, blue and white. And with that built in hidden storage, it will be easy to tidy up at the end of the day.
8 of 13White Great Little Trading Co Tall Whittington Desk, £225, John Lewis
This handy little desk not only comes with a built-in drawer and notice board, but even has a cut out section to pop laptop or tablet cables through.
9 of 13Yellow In2Wood Kids' Desk, £267, Smallable
Splurge on this cool little retro desk that has built-in stationary holders that match the colour of the table legs, and a hidden shelf for all that paper. With six colourways, you'll be spoilt for choice.
10 of 13Ferm Living Dark Blue Little Architect Desk, £289, Amara
This super-chic desk is crafted from ash veneer and comes in three colourways. This is a must for any Scandi stans.
11 of 13Jimi Desk + schoolboy bench, £170, La Redoute
If you can afford to then elevate their workstation with this grown-up scandi-style desk and bench. It's not only chic, but also has a shelf to hide all their messy bits and pieces.
12 of 13Buton Vintage Wood & Metal School Desk and Chair, £175, La Redoute
This sturdy traditional-style desk and chair set will take you right back to those school days and contains a hidden shelf to tidy all that mess at the end of the day.
13 of 13deAO 3-in-1 Multi-Purpose Building Block Construction Activity Table
Finally, one for the tiny ones at the back. If your older children are working alongside toddlers and preschoolers whose nurseries have closed, treat them to their own table too - it's never too early to get them ready for schoolwork after all. This is designed for building blocks, but is multi-functional with a writing board, storage room and height-adjustable chairs.
Free online homeschooling resources from Amazon:
Did you know that Amazon is currently offering free learning resources to help parents, carers and students learn from home? Yes, that’s correct. Not only can you buy a desk for school work from the shopping giant, but you can get involved with science, mathematics, English and physical education lessons.
What do these lessons cover?
Science:
Amazon’s Hour of Code Dance Party uses dance and chart-topping pop songs to help children develop computer science skills. If this wasn’t exciting enough, Dr Ranj Singh - NHS doctor and TV presenter - is providing a short brain-busting lesson in biology.
Maths:
Rachel Riley, Countdown legend and the nation’s favourite mathematician, has created a math lesson unlike any other. Plus, you can get Alexa involved in the home learning, just say: “Alexa, ask the Maths Coach to start a test.”
English:
Head on over to Audible, where there are currently free audiobooks for young people and parents. We’d recommend Littlest Listeners and Elementary. If you have a Kindle Kids Edition, you can also access a range of free literacy content with Amazon Kids+, if you’d like to find out more read our buyer’s guide to the Kindle range.
Physical Education:
Want to make sure your little one gets enough exercise? Take part in a football lesson with British freestyle footballer and TikTok superstar Lia Lewis. They'll be able to learn loads of skills, like the neck stall, knee block and cross catch.
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