My children are 2 and 4 and for most of their lives we lived in a 2 bedroom townhome. We are now moving and they will be getting their own rooms. They are attached to each other and both aren't exactly excited about it. I think once they see their own rooms and get to put their own stuff in it they would like it but what if it doesn't work like that?
well I was pretty much thinking the same thing all of you were! I did for get to say that i have a boy and a girl but it doesn't matter at this time. We have issues at nap time right now with them playing so we have one nap in our room and they take turns. but I agree with the both of them in a new place and that is what they are used to then we'll make the 3rd bedroom into a play room, besides its the only room down stairs. thanks for all your thoughts!
My first guess on that would be that if they WANT to be together, why not let them?? Use the other room for an office or guest bedroom. Then, if you're still there when one decides they want their own space, then just move stuff around then. But, I wouldn't split them up if they don't want to be, especially if they get along well!
GOOD LUCK!
When my girls were younger they always had their own rooms, but when they were 3 and 5 my husband, who was in the military, had to leave for months. They found comfort in each other so I moved them into the same room and made the extra bedroom a toy room. It was actually very nice. All their toys were in that room. They did fall asleep better together then separate at the time. After about a year they decided they wanted their own rooms, so we moved it all around again. I say, IF they go to sleep without playing and screwing around, why not let them stay together. Enjoy the extra space and keep the toys all in 1 room. IF they don't sleep and keep each other up, then they will get used to their own rooms. You may have a few weeks of complaining, but they will get used to it.
Let them share and turn the extra room into a playroom!!!
Kids don't spend a ton of time in the bedroom anyway. Let them enjoy this time together at night. They may become best friends for life because of it!!!
Hi K.,
I would let them stay in the same room. Use the extra room as a guest room or office space. Eventually they will want seperate rooms and by then you probably won't want to give up the extra space.
we are moving too...from a 2 bedroom to a four bedroom...I have told both my 4.5 and 2.5 year old they could have their own room...the 4.5 seems okay with it, the other oblivious.. could care less.
however, they find comfort in one another at night, just having that other there helps them sleep...so we are making one the new babys room and they will still share their room and the other will be a playroom...when they are alder and do want to switch, fine by me...
if they don't want to don't make them, they might just be very comfortable sleeping in the same room and find comfort in it just as mine do...
There is some good ideas here and while it won't hurt for a 2 and 4 year old sharing a room when the 4 year old starts school, you might want them seperate. You can also try to put them in their own rooms and give them a walkie talkie to "talk" to each other at night. Then move them in together if there is a problem.
Why force it? You can have one for their bedroom and one for their playroom. Someday they may want their own room, until then leave them together. I once heard that the people with the most sucessful marriages are those that shared a room as a child. They are used to sharing space and compromising. I have 3 kids that share the same room and they wouldn't want it any other way. Right now it's 2 boys and 1 girl and in a few years we'll split them up but for now they love it and it makes bed time so much easier for us.
K.-
Maybe instead of separating them when you move, make one of the bedrooms their room to share and the other a playroom. This might also make the move easier on them. As they get older they will request to have their own room and you can make that change then when they are ready.
One idea is to let them share a room and keep that one for beds and clothes and use the other as a play room so when they are suppose to be in bed that is what they are doing. Either way they will adjust :) If you are moving it might be easier for them if they stay in somewhat of the same routine though.
Hi K.~
my middle boys are 8 and 9 and had thier own rooms for 3 years up until this past year when I needed them to share again so the baby could have a room of his own. They threw a fit even though they have always slept in each others room. They would go in to the others room with thier blankets and pillow and sleep on the floor or crawl into bed with the other. we put a sleeping bag in each room so they didn't have to drag the blankets back and forth and it worked great. We have a "kids room" with thier toys and a tv and couch in it and more times than not when I go to wake them up in the morning all 3 boys (12, 9,8,) have made thier way there so they are all sleeping by each other. They have their own rooms but like the idea of having someone next to them also when they sleep, as long as you don't have a problem with that the kids will happy and if its like mine they sleep better that way.
If they want to share still I would let them its a security for them. Maybe some day they will be ready to go into thier own rooms... or if like mine they still like being by each other.
Het Krisit, we just moved and our two girls went from sharing a room to having their own. Now the only difference was they were both excited about having their own room. But my worry was they would fight over who got which room. So my mother in law went to the house and decorated it before we got there, one said Kayla's room, the other said Kylee's room. It worked out well. This may work for you too. Have the rooms decorated with baloons on the door and ribbon with their names on the room, maybe it will give them something exciting to look forward to.
You have to ask yourself what it is about YOU that makes you want the kids to have their own rooms. Do you see other family homes set up that way, and you want to be more like the mainstream? Or, is the issue organizing all the kid stuff that comes along with having a bedroom shared by two. I don't know, just because you have the room doesn't mean you've got to make everybody have their own room. Personally, my sister and I saw our closeness diminish greatly as children when we moved into a house bigger than our old one. We got our own rooms and became lonely and mad at each other for new stuff. I think it is good to encourage the kids to maintain their closeness. How about letting them decide if they want to share a bed in the same bedroom, or have separate beds? This way, you've got a whole extra room for storage or a guestroom or a homeschooling/study classroom or whatever. I think it is healthy and deserving of encouragement that they appreciate their closeness as much as they do.
Just because you move into a bigger house and there is the capability for them to have their own rooms, doesn't mean you HAVE to do it that way! Keep them together while they are young and enjoy each other ... trust me, when they get older, they will want their own rooms!
I agree with the others, I think it would be great to leave them together if they would like it that way. No reason to force the issue. I'm sure there will be a time in the future that they would like their own room, you can move them then. I woudl always encourage a strong bond between the siblings.
You know it's okay if they want to continue to share a room.
S.
Maybe since it's going to be such a big change moving already, you could just keep them in the same room there and when they're ready to separate, then you can make the change. (I also have 4 and 2 year old girls who share a room) Just a thought. Congrats on the new place and best wishes!
