Separate Study Spaces

When it's time to pause the playtime and buckle down on homework, kids who share a room can benefit from having individual study spaces. Delonge says when parents add a desk near each child's bed, they're really giving their kids their own mini-room without resorting to dividers. "Even just a light and a desk at the end of the bed gives it more of an intimate touch," she says.

If space in the room doesn't allow you to create separate desk areas, using one unit with designated areas for each child can be a good compromise. The Galant desk system from IKEA can be customized with different legs, end caps and desk pieces to create a workspace that will address individual needs.