Everything You Need to Set Up a Child’s Remote Learning Station for Under $400

Attending school from home isn’t a new idea, but it’s become a sudden necessity for a lot of kids and parents. You don’t have to set up a dedicated schoolwork area via a remote connection, but take it from someone who’s worked from home for over a decade—it helps a lot.

We’ve selected a few essential tools to set up an inexpensive computer desk for remote school (or work) on a shoestring budget. Assuming you already have a computer your child can use, the rest of the items on this list will help him or her buckle down and study in comfort.

If you don’t already have a computer, we can help you with that, too.

At this writing, the combined price of the items below on Amazon is just under $400. With so many people transitioning to working or learning from home, though, these could change rapidly. However, you can probably find substitutions if the prices increase beyond your budget.

A Sturdy Desk

You’ll want a desk or table set aside just for school time. Just about anything flat will do, including a folding card table, if you’re desperate.

If, however, you want something a little more permanent, designed specifically for working for hours at a time, this sturdy table with a faux wood finish will do the trick. At 40 inches wide, it’s big enough to spread out, but not so big you’ll struggle to find a place for it in a crowded house or apartment.

An Exercise Ball for a Chair

Even the comfiest chair starts to wear on you after a few hours. I’ve found using an exercise ball instead builds up my core muscles and allows me to move around more while I work.

One of these should be excellent for fidgety kids trying to focus on a lesson. Just pay close attention to the sizing guide and make sure your kid will be able to sit on it!

A Monitor for Easy Reading

Reading or watching lessons for hours on a small laptop screen is straining, even for a child. So, bust out an HDMI cable and let them watch on a big Dell LCD instead.

You can simply plug the laptop into the monitor so your child can use that screen instead. Or, they can use both screens to boost productivity. Of course, if you already have a desktop computer, you already have a monitor, as well. In that case, you can skip this entry and save some coin.

A Mouse and Keyboard for Long Study Sessions

Even the nicest laptop can’t replicate the speed and comfort of a dedicated keyboard and mouse. This set isn’t the fanciest, but it comes with Logitech reliability and is wireless, to boot.

The dedicated media buttons are a nice bonus, and the mouse is also ambidextrous.

A USB Microphone for Clear Communication

A laptop’s webcam is probably fine for learning remotely. But its microphone? Well, that’s another story, as manufacturers often cheap out on those.

This dedicated microphone will allow your child to communicate with her teacher loud and clear. Plus, the setup is easy as can be: just plug and play (no drivers required). It even comes with its own stand.

Some Extras

If you already have some of the items above, or you can stretch the budget a bit further, you might want to consider some of the items below.

I swear by my standing desk for long workdays. You can adjust the height of this small, hand-cranked model if you have multiple kids in the house.

If your child will be learning in a shared space, we recommend some decent headphones, too. This Anker set works with either Bluetooth or (when the battery runs out) a direct headphone cable.

If you don’t have the space for the exercise ball we covered above, this wobble stool can provide your kid with the same fidgety motion in a much smaller package.

If what you really need is a webcam, well, get in line. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has put them in short supply pretty much everywhere, and it doesn’t look like the crunch is letting up.

However, you might have an alternative lying around you didn’t even realize you could use.