Ideas for Siblings Sharing a Bedroom
Children share a room with a sibling or siblings in many homes. At times, problems arise in sharing a bedroom with other people, usually due to lack of space. Issues may arise concerning decorating, personal belongings, privacy and communication. But there are certain steps you can take to try to make the living situation as smooth and conflict-free as possible. Does this Spark an idea?
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Decorations
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Just because siblings share a room doesn't mean that they need to share everything. Each sibling should be able to decorate the room according to his individual preferences and have items that symbolize who he is and what he likes. Allow each child to have his own bedding set and decorate his side or area of the room with colors and pictures that represent his personality. You can take it a step further and buy or make a divider that gives each sibling a sense of privacy and his own space.
Belongings
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Siblings don't need to share everything that they own, along with their bedroom. Designate a "side" or area of each part of the room that is specifically for one sibling, and the other is not allowed to touch anything in it without permission. Also create a "common area" where items are shared between siblings.
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Cleaning
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Designate the rules for cleaning the bedroom ahead of time. Specify that each child is responsible for keeping a certain area clean, regardless of who makes the mess. Alternate who cleans the common areas to keep things fair and reduce problems with arguments or resentment.
Private Time
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If lack of privacy is a major issue, attempt to implement a schedule where each child has the room to herself for a certain length of time, such as a half-hour to an hour, during which the other sibling should be instructed not to enter the room. Alternate times and be willing to make adjustments to accommodate each child's needs.
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References
- Photo Credit Toy hare on a bed in a children's bedroom image by terex from Fotolia.com
