As a parent, all we really want is peace and quiet – but if you have more than one child, that’s never really the case. If they aren’t playing rambunctious games that you’re worried might just shatter your home into pieces, then chances are they’re fighting as loudly as possible – and this might happen even more if they share a room. Not having your own space can be rough on kids, but luckily there are things you can do to make it easier on everyone.
Set Up Room Dividers
If they’re having problems separating their possessions from each other’s, then add room dividers so that they have the illusion of having their own space. It’s important, especially as you get older, to have your own private space. A lot of kids feel happy and secure knowing they can go into their rooms and close their doors for a little breathing space – but if this isn’t possible for your family, putting dividers across the room might do the trick, whether they’re folding ones or simply a curtain that can be pushed back.
Give Them Separate Storage
You’ve probably already heard numerous fights about who stole someone else’s favourite toy – honestly, it can be exhausting to have to deal with. You can get around this by giving them separate spaces to store their toys and possessions, along with another container for toys that belong to both of them.
Although sharing is a key skill that it’s important for them to learn, it’s also important for them to understand to respect other people’s things.
Move Furniture To Give Them More Space
If there isn’t much floor space so they tend to be crammed in together, then why not go for children’s bunk beds? This will free up a lot of the room, and it’ll also help them to feel a little more alone as they’re trying to get to sleep at night. Bear in mind that this might make dividing the room into two a whole lot harder – but the extra space might just be worth it.
Give Them Another Place To Do Homework
Make sure that there’s another place in the house for your kids to do homework or to go to generally be quiet and have their own space. It’s crucial for every child to have their own quiet orderly space to study, and if they’re being interrupted by a sibling in their shared room that might be hard. It’s also important for them to know that if they need to, there’s a place in your house where they can go to chill out and destress and be alone.
Lead Their Communication
It’s important for you to show them what good communication is. Make sure that you and your spouse are always polite and loving towards each other, and that you apologize after any disagreements or harsh words that you might have. If you encourage your kids to do the same thing when they have disagreements with each other, you’ll find that they’ll be kinder and more gentle with each other and that fights will get resolved much more quickly.
a cooking pot and twisted tales 
Jackie,
Wonderful words of wisdom there. Thank you for sharing !
Growing up my sister and I had a lot of fights. We shared the same bedroom. We never had too many clothes each and both of us were of different sizes so we couldn’t wear one another’s clothes even if we wanted to but we had separate study spaces. We fought both inside and outside the house and sometimes there were fist fights too. We pulled each others’ hair too, on occasion.
But if a third person came between us ,then woe betide them. My sister took up cudgels for me and fought tooth and nails with them.
Sibling fights are fun and make for gorgeous memories and a few laughs in later life.
Susie
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I know exactly what you are talking about. My parents home with six rambunctious kids was interesting to say the least and now raising children of my own, I’m a constant referee. Bless God for these young blessings 🙂
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Hmmm sibling fights😀 my children have something to fight about as soon as their feet touch the ground early in the morning. I remember myself saying, “it is too early to start the day with a fight”.
Great tips for sharing room Jackie.
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My dear sis, they squabble over everything, sometimes, it’s that the other sibling is laughing or looking at them, or stepping on their toes…It’s amazing 🙂
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Wonderful tips! As a Nanny, I can agree these suggestions are right on point 🙂
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Thank you for reading and commenting J.L. As a parent I learnt a whole lot by trial and error 😉
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Our kids had bunk beds as their bedroom was small until we were able to extend and give them a room each. Bunk beds worked well.
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My boys used bunk beds till two years back when my first grew over 6 ft 2 inches and couldn’t fit into his bunk bed anymore. Both boys share a room for now, luckily their bedroom is quite large and can take two beds 🙂
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6’2″ – wow !!
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🙂
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Hmm, while this seem very helpful. My concern is, for a child who has tendencies to be quiet and withdrawn, isnt that like encouraging too much independence and less interactions? Just thinking
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I get your point. I have a daughter who’s a bookworm and loves to have her own space (like me) at the same time we have loads of stuff done together that simply makes it impossible for any of the children to become withdrawn. I think part of the job of parents is to keep an eye out for such issues and make sure that there’s joint recreation time, meal times together etc.
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Good post. Thank you
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