healthykids
Goodnight, Moon
Creating Soulful Bedrooms for Children
by Judith Fertig
A
child represents “a shift, a cel- Young Child
ebration, a milestone” in the life Toddlers and grade school kids need
of any family, remarks author calm and quiet periods, too, but they
and artist Jill Butler. In her recent book,
Provide comfy pillows on the bed
also require a place to be creative.
Create the Space You Deserve, she
along with a good reading lamp.
“Children paint every day, and love to
explores how loving parents want their show their works on walls and refriger-
little ones to feel happy at home every
New Baby ator doors. We assume, I suppose, that
day in a loving, nurturing safe place,
An infant’s room needs to be soft and children are just learning motor coor-
where they can grow into the fullness
soothing, so a baby can adjust to the dination and alphabets,” comments
of who they are meant to be.
“less-cushioned” life outside the womb, Thomas Moore in his classic Care of
“All kids need a space of their
note Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison the Soul. “But maybe they are doing
own, a sacred place, where everyday
Forbes, authors of The Peaceful Nurs- something more fundamental: finding
realities like peer pressure, family
ery. Babies are stimulated enough by forms that reflect what is going on in
issues, bullies at school or low self-
modern lifestyles; the one place they their souls.”
esteem cannot penetrate; a place of
should be able to simply drift off to a Mimi Doe, publisher of the online
comfort and creativity that reflects and
peaceful sleep is in their room. magazine SpiritualParenting.com,
encourages their own positive inten-
Feng Shui principles can help agrees. “Allow your child’s room to be
tions and beliefs, values, goals and
parents create the environment that a safe base for soulful exploration,” she
dreams for life,” elaborates Kellee
promotes quiet calm and sleep. To counsels. “Give him a choice in color,
Katillac, author of Kids’ Sacred Places:
encourage relaxation, consider paint- fabric, and furniture. Allow her to deco-
Rooms for Believing and Belonging.
ing the baby’s room a soft color, such rate the door with silver paint, if she
She advises that no matter what is go-
as cream, pale blue or lavender. Add so desires, or collage her closet with
ing on in the outside world, the interior
soothing artwork, monochromatic images she loves, cut from magazines.”
world of a child’s room should be a
or pale, printed bedding and gentle “Children are far more concerned
refuge of calm, comfort, creativity and
aromas from traces of essential oils with what they can make than with
renewal.
(chamomile, rose, vanilla or lavender) being neat,” observes Katillac. “Like
“Their rooms are like the French
in baby-safe products. Position the magpie nests, their rooms are typically
expression le jardin secret... their
crib so that the baby can see the door a collection of favorite things—baubles,
secret garden,” continues Butler. “It’s
to help quell anxiety, and remove or souvenirs, picture of their heroes: sci-
their most basic nest, so encourage
push a distracting mobile to the side entists, superheroes, athletes, musicians
and allow it to grow into their space
when it’s not playtime. Also, choose and movie stars. They collect stamps,
just as they want it.” Making a child’s
furniture with rounded edges and keep dolls, rocket ships, planetary models,
room such a soulful sanctuary is an
a window open or a ceiling fan on low horse statues, records and books. Ant
ongoing project, as periodic changes
to let air and energy circulate through farms and musical instruments sit side-
reflect the individual growth and
the room, suggests Rodika Tchi, a feng by-side.”
changing interests of a child, from the
shui consultant in Vancouver, British Over time, however, all those
crib to a teenager’s digs.
Columbia. dinosaurs, pretty rocks and doll clothes
1 Rockland & Orange Counties www.naturalawakeningsro.com
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