From religious rituals to lighthearted activities, this time of year is chock full of traditions, for most of us and our families. While we may feel obligated to carry on traditions we learned as children, as parents we can add to those long-standing customs with rituals of our own. Not only can traditions create a sense of unity and belonging within your family and larger cultural groups, but they can also create strong memories that relate to what you find important. Here are a few keys to f …
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Today’s parents are getting smart. Many are aware of the dangers of a pervasive materialistic, entitlement mindset fostered by modern advertising. Others are constantly purging their home of toys, for various reasons, including these biggies: Educational purposes Household peace Attitude adjustments But Christmas is coming. Lists of non-toy gifts abound on parenting blogs, with ideas ranging from classes and event tickets to “coupons” for “dates” or other fun outings, even m …
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If you have more than one child, the issue of whether or not to have siblings share a bedroom has probably come up. Maybe it hasn’t even been a debate, because you simply don’t have enough rooms in your home to allow your children to have their own bedrooms. Whether you’re still on the fence or you feel bad about your kids having to share a room, it may surprise and encourage you to know that many cite benefits to having siblings share bedrooms. Sharing a Bedroom Really Isn’t a Ha …
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While only 3.3% of children between ages 9 and 19 are reported to struggle with Seasonal Affected Depression (SAD), many more who live in areas with cold winters experience what some call “cabin fever” or the “winter blues.” The physical, psychological, and emotional benefits of regular physical activity are relevant throughout the year but are extremely important to keep in view during cold winter months when kids are often cooped up inside, day after day. While you may not be able t …
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While there are probably dozens (hundreds?) of bells and whistles your kids might think they need in their bedrooms, there are only a few they really need in order to get a good night’s sleep. And here’s a hint: they don’t include bells or whistles, or anything loud, for that matter. Visual Stillness I know, I know: Kids like all things bright and shiny. And with cartoon characters. And . . . you get the idea. All that visual “noise” can subconsciously create anxiety or …
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The culture of “my kids are my entire world” may sound great, but is it, really? Are we doing them a favor, or are we actually robbing them of something better? Some parents are pushing back against the system and evaluating whether in trying to love and serve our families well, many of us modern parents are actually teaching them to be “great receivers and lazy givers,” contributing to the widespread culture of entitlement that really benefits absolutely no one.Exemplifying, Not Enabling I th …
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If you’re like most modern moms and dads, you immediately assume your kids don’t get “enough” time outdoors, but you probably also feel like it’s pretty typical. It may be the norm, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with some pretty high stakes. Among the many culprits accused of contributing to childhood obesity, depression, anxiety, ADHD and numerous other maladies, too much time indoors is definitely an oft-cited one. Unlike many treatments, making sure your children’s lives i …
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I get it, I really do. They’re all so adorable! And you know they’ll look even cuter (or more debonair) on your mini-me. Then they go on sale, and you just have to! After all, they’re called “must-have pieces,” right?! Maybe in the artificial lighting of a department store (or blue glow of your tablet) it seemed like a good idea, but in the natural lighting of your child’s bedroom, you’re confronted with a moment of truth: Your child has too many clothes. Like the common first …
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If you had two rooms for your two kids, maybe it would be easier to decide whether to have them share a bedroom or to have one room designated for sleep and the other for play, entertainment, and study. But you just have one room — so you’re stuck, right? Mass chaos and frustration is your only option — or is it? Here at The Bedroom Source we’d love to show you how you can achieve your goals and create functional spaces, even if you do have more kids than rooms. We’ll look at a few possibiliti …
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In Part 1 we looked at the two basic ways to consider organizing your kids’ shared room. Whatever you decide, you’ll want to make some kind of clear division between the sections. The way you choose to divide the room will depend on many things, such as how separate you want the spaces to be, how distinctive the decorating styles are, and how much privacy you think your children will require.Option 1: Visual (or Virtual) Room Dividers This type of divider provides a visual distinction between …
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