Beyond Belongings
Reflections on the LA wildfires and what stable spaces mean for child development
Like everyone else, I've been thinking a lot about the families who lost their homes in the LA wildfires. People keep talking about the meaning of "stuff" and the impact of material losses. But a home is so much more than a structure that holds a collection of possessions, and the past week has made me reflect on the importance of physical space.
While there's obviously deep emotional significance to home and the comfort and safety that it offers, I want to focus on another critical dimension to the loss of one's home: its impact on learning and development. Housing stability is, unsurprisingly, one of the strongest predictors of academic success. The space inside the home supports learning not with any particular square footage or fancy furniture, but instead with consistency. That consistency forms the foundation for crucial routines. Let me illustrate this with the two clearest examples: sleep and homework.
In terms of sleep, kids don't need elaborate setups. Plenty of children share bedrooms with siblings and even parents, and they do just fine. I see this every day in New York City where space comes at a premium. What matters instead is that kids know exactly where they'll sleep each night. That predictable sleeping space becomes an essential part of their bedtime routine.1
The same goes for homework. There is no need for fancy home offices or elaborate desk setups in kids’ rooms. (In fact, I actually advise against these sorts of arrangements; screens don't belong in bedrooms!) Instead, what works best is a comfortable chair and table top in a shared family space. This configuration lets adults keep an eye on progress and gently redirect when needed, and it helps kids develop the vital skill of focusing on work in the presence of everyday distractions. But it's important to have a designated spot that is part of the daily homework routine.
When people lose a home, they lose more than simply belongings; they lose the consistent spaces that make routines possible. These routines simply require having a reliable place where kids know what to expect, day after day. That predictability frees their minds to focus on what they are learning instead of wondering where they'll be learning it.
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I love this almost as much as I love what replaced it!