AP–Kids may want to do their homework at the kitchen table with a sea of activity surrounding them. Many experts say they shouldn’t.

“Build a space dedicated to homework and eliminate distractions,” advises Douglas C. Merril, author of the new “Getting Organized in the Google Era” (Broadway Books).

According to Merril, everyone thinks they can multi-task, but our brains just aren’t cut out for it.

In her new book, “Right-Sizing Your Home”, consultant Gale Steves agrees. She writes, “Although kids gravitate to the kitchen or family room — where parents can keep a watchful eye on them — ultimately having a workspace of their own is important.”

And Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, founder of the design blog Apartmenttherapy.com, taught school in New York City before he became an interior designer. Each year he would visit students’ homes, and here’s what he observed: “Invariably, the children who did best in school came from homes that were calm, well-organized and attractive,” he says.

“A child’s homework space should be as simple and practical as possible,” he believes. “Children need a private, separate environment where they can concentrate and get through their work.”

While homework space must be functional and well organized, it also should be somewhere the child wants to spend time.

“Get your child involved in the design,” advises Susanna Salk, interior designer. “Have them look at pictures and say what they like.”

Most children are inspired by having something like what their parents use, Gillingham-Ryan suggests. When selecting furnishings for homework space, keep in mind that your little girl or boy is going to get bigger and older.

“Don’t just look at kids’ stuff,” Salk says.

Consider good adult task lighting, and keep in mind that a nice wooden table can serve as a good desk. Gillingham-Ryan favors desks made from wood.

“Natural materials help a child to feel grounded,” he says. He believes there is a healthier energy from natural materials and fewer propensities for a child to write on them.

“If their homework space is well organized, children are more likely to keep it that way,” Salk says.

Fortunately, you do not need a large space to create a good homework area. If space is limited, Steves suggests placing a desk under the top bunk instead of another bed, and creating storage with a small file caddy on wheels.