AD. At a certain age in life, it will be time for your kids to have a room of their own - and through sleeping, homework and other pursuits, that is a place where they will end up spending a lot of their formative years. It’s important therefore to get it just right, because we all remember the rooms in which we spent our childhoods, and we want to make sure that our own kids have fond memories of the rooms in which they do the same.
Getting everything right seems like a tall order, although it’s less terrifying when you remember that kids grow into whatever situation you put them in - and you can always tailor it as time goes on. What is most important is providing a place for your kids where they can feel safe, undisturbed and entertained - and which they will fill with memories, the way you did when you were their age.
What Needs To Be In There?
The first and most important thing is obviously a bed. It needs to be safe, made from the right materials, and ideally inexpensive - because the one thing you can be sure of is that it will be outgrown at some point. So you can start them off with a simple single bed and, as they grow, upgrade to mid-sleeper beds for kids who are a little older. The latter are useful, because they can include a desk for your kids to do homework or journalling.
The other essentials in the room include a bin - it’s handy to be able to teach good habits by reinforcement, and if they have their own bin they’ll be more likely to tidy up after themselves. Equally, and for much the same reasons, a wardrobe and a laundry basket will help your kids learn where to put clothes when they’re clean and when they’re not so clean.
A simple addition like a beanbag can make a huge difference in how comfortable and inviting the room feels. It offers a cosy spot for your kids to relax, read, or play games, and it can be easily moved around to fit different layouts as their needs change. Plus, a beanbag is a fun and casual piece of furniture that can reflect their personality through various colours and designs.
Should Kids Share Bedrooms?
For as long as you only have one kid - or just one who’s old enough for their own room - this is a question you won’t need to answer. That’s a relief, because experts don’t seem to be able to agree on whether it’s preferable to share or not. The decision may be made for you by the number of bedrooms your house has, but as far as making a decision yourself goes, it’s tough. Kids who share bedrooms can certainly form stronger bonds with their siblings and build their social skills.
Bunk beds are a great option for siblings sharing a bedroom. Not only are they great for boosting sibling bonds and relationships, but they're brilliant for saving space too which is much needed when you have multiple children.
What Are The Essential Bedroom Rules?
The sitcom cliche is that parents will insist on a tidy bedroom while kids just want to let it all go, but the truth is that a bedroom doesn’t need to be like a pristine shrine all the time. Kids are messy, for the most part, and browbeating them isn’t likely to get results. One thing you should insist on is that the floor is clear at all times, free of tripping and slipping hazards. That’s a safety rule more so than a cleanliness rule. It is also preferable to ban food from bedrooms, because although you know what happens when food rots, your kids don’t - and the smell can take forever to get rid of. That aside, expired food can be a health hazard, so keep it out of there at least until they’re in their teens.
