Young Child
being neat,” observes Katillac. “Like clever ways to create them and teach
Toddlers and
magpie nests, their rooms are typically the kids to clear them while waiting in
grade school
a collection of favorite things—baubles, anticipation of the next project.”
kids need
souvenirs, picture of their heroes: sci-
calm and quiet
entists, superheroes, athletes, musicians Pre-teen
periods, too,
and movie stars. They collect stamps, From junior high through high school,
but they also
dolls, rocket ships, planetary models, privacy and respite become crucial for
require a place
horse statues, records and books. Ant children weathering the turbulent ado-
to be creative.
farms and musical instruments sit side- lescent years. Doe suggests that “If your
“Children paint
by-side.” child wants a cozy, private, snug nest,
every day,
Over time, however, all those suspend sheets from the ceiling on all
and love to show their works on walls
dinosaurs, pretty rocks and doll clothes four sides of the child’s bed. Purchase
and refrigerator doors. We assume, I
can pile up. More and more stuff can curtain rods from the hardware store
suppose, that children are just learning
crowd a room and seem chaotic, so a that screw into the ceiling; sew tabs on
motor coordination and alphabets,”
good storage system is a must. Closet the sheets and hang them up for a low
comments Thomas Moore in his classic
systems, bookcases, toy chests, bulletin cost, royal canopy bed. If two or more
Care of the Soul. “But maybe they are
boards and shelving can help corral kids share a room, ensure that each has
doing something more fundamental:
kids’ collections and art projects. “Kids privacy—bookcases or rice paper pan-
finding forms that reflect what is going
like structure, although they would els to divide the space is one solution.”
on in their souls.”
never ask for it, so giving it to them in Adolescents also need as much free-
Mimi Doe, publisher of the online
their room is a real gift,” says Butler. dom as possible to change room colors
magazine SpiritualParenting.com,
She suggests making an art proj- and posters, arrangement of furnishings
agrees. “Allow your child’s room to be
ect space out of a closet or a corner and even bedding, in order to reflect
a safe base for soulful exploration,” she
space in the room. “Keep it set up so it their growing individuality. Thus, their
counsels. “Give him a choice in color,
encourages art to be happening at any room becomes a welcome respite from
fabric, and furniture. Allow her to deco-
moment.” For example, the door can the peer pressure to be just like every-
rate the door with silver paint, if she
be removed or closed when not in use. one else.
so desires, or collage her closet with
Mount an extra table on the wall to
images she loves, cut from magazines.”
be dropped down as needed, like old Judith Fertig is a freelance lifestyle writer
“Children are far more concerned
ironing boards did. “There are never in Overland Park, KS; for more, see
with what they can make than with
enough tables,” says Butler, “so find AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com.
natural awakenings March 2010
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