healthykids
Goodnight, Moon
Creating Soulful Bedrooms for Children
by Judith Fertig
A
c

hild represents “a shift, a cel-
Young Child
ebration, a milestone” in the life
Toddlers and grade school kids need
of any family, remarks author
Provide comfy pillows on the bed
calm and quiet periods, too, but they
and artist Jill Butler. In her recent book,
along with a good reading lamp.
also require a place to be creative.
Create the Space You Deserve, she
“Children paint every day, and love to
explores how loving parents want their
show their works on walls and refrig-
little ones to feel happy at home every New Baby
erator doors. We assume, I suppose,
day in a loving, nurturing safe place, An infant’s room needs to be soft and
that children are just learning motor
where they can grow into the fullness of soothing, so a baby can adjust to the
coordination and alphabets,” comments
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 peaceful sleep is in their room.
magazine SpiritualParenting.com,
and encourages their own positive Feng Shui principles can help par-
agrees. “Allow your child’s room to be
intentions and beliefs, values, goals ents create the environment that pro-
a safe base for soulful exploration,” she
and dreams for life,” elaborates Kellee motes quiet calm and sleep. To encour-
counsels. “Give him a choice in color,
Katillac, author of Kids’ Sacred Places: age relaxation, consider painting the
fabric, and furniture. Allow her to deco-
Rooms for Believing and Belonging. She baby’s room a soft color, such as cream,
rate the door with silver paint, if she
advises that no matter what is going on pale blue or lavender. Add soothing art-
so desires, or collage her closet with
in the outside world, the interior world work, monochromatic or pale, printed
images she loves, cut from magazines.”
of a child’s room should be a refuge of bedding and gentle aromas from traces
“Children are far more concerned
calm, comfort, creativity and renewal. of essential oils (chamomile, rose, va-
with what they can make than with be-
“Their rooms are like the French nilla or lavender) in baby-safe products.
ing neat,” observes Katillac. “Like magpie
expression le jardin secret... their Position the crib so that the baby can
nests, their rooms are typically a collec-
secret garden,” continues Butler. “It’s see the door to help quell anxiety, and
tion of favorite things—baubles, souve-
their most basic nest, so encourage remove or push a distracting mobile to
nirs, picture of their heroes: scientists,
and allow it to grow into their space the side when it’s not playtime. Also,
superheroes, athletes, musicians and
just as they want it.” Making a child’s choose furniture with rounded edges
movie stars. They collect stamps, dolls,
room such a soulful sanctuary is an and keep a window open or a ceiling
rocket ships, planetary models, horse
ongoing project, as periodic changes fan on low to let air and energy circu-
statues, records and books. Ant farms
reflect the individual growth and late through the room, suggests Rodika
and musical instruments sit side-by-side.”
changing interests of a child, from the Tchi, a feng shui consultant in Vancou-
Over time, however, all those
crib to a teenager’s digs. ver, British Columbia.
dinosaurs, pretty rocks and doll clothes
34
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