Switching Rooms Around

I'd keep the older two together. It sounds like they're happy sharing a room. As long as they don't fight or keep each other up at night, I wouldn't change things. They are close in age and probably have similar likes etc... If the older one wants to have friends over, you can just tell the middle daughter she'll have to let her sister have the room for that afternoon, and likewise when she starts having friends over to play.

My girls are 4 and 5 and share a room. They are very close and I don't think it has mattered at all that one goes to school and one doesn't. I would keep them together until there is a problem.

I would leave the 5 and 3 yr olds together. Homework stuff at the table is good plan. and its not to early to give the 3 yr old stuff to do to. Looking at a book, doing a coloring page , drawing circles etc. We gave my daughter that lined printing paper you use whenyour learnign to write and she made circles and triangels etc on it. very good pre writing skills to have. but then i have moved off subject lol. good luck

First, talk with her about it and INCLUDE her in your thoughts on it.
Until then, it will be just guess work.
If she does want her own room, include her in the planning of it. If she does not want her own room... yet, then that's fine too. Let her know that the option is there for her... and she can when she is ready.
It will also be a "change" for the 3 year old to adjust to, also.

All the best,
Susan

I did that with my boys. I gave them their own rooms and they still wanted to sleep in the same room. They are now 8 and 10. So, now I still have 2 beds in one room that they sleep in,and my 8 year old has his own room with a bed in it and all his "stuff". So they technically have their own "space" but still like sleeping in the same room at night. Not sure that helped any, but you might want to at least keep a sleeping bag ready at bedtime :)

I wouldn't change for something that you think may happen. If things are going well, don't mess with it. Soon enough they'll start to have issues on their own, where they may not get along. Only then would I consider changing. Based on the kindergarten premise, they'll each need their own room when they turn 5. I say if it's working don't mess with it. My girls are 15 and 16 and wish they got along well - treasure this time as it may only last a short time.

If you are moving your 3 year old in to the room with the baby, I would say don't move them. If the older girls are close and get along, you might have resentment from your 3 year old. Also, the 3 year old and the 5 year old are closer in age than the 3yr old and the newborn. Think about in just a couple of years when they are 9, 7 and 4. Big difference when your 7 & 4, not so much at 9 & 7. If they are doing good sharing a room, I would leave them alone. If they aren't complaining about sharing a space, leave it alone. Your daughters will be in grammar school together before you know it. It will all even back out then. When your oldest turns 16, that is when she is really going to need her space. :)

Remember that although she is your oldest, she is only 5 years old. I don't think there is any reason to move her unless she really wants it. Sharing a room with a sibling is often a lifelong treasure. Plenty of time for her to be independent in the future. Give the baby the room so he/she gets into a good sleep pattern.

I think before you go to all the trouble of completely switching rooms around, (if space allows and the furniture isn't too heavy) try a trial room divider. Maybe something as simple as a cardboard box covered with printer paper that you let the kids decorate? If your kids develop anxiety over this arrangement, then maybe they need a little more time and going back to how it was before won't be nearly the trouble you might encounter with an actual room switch. I hope all goes well-above all, watch how they respond and acknowledge their feelings.

I am the oldest out of 3 girls. I had my own room and my younger sisters shared a room but that didn't occur till I was about 10! I would have really been upset if my parents had forced my middle sister and I to split! I am so close to my middle sister because of the years we share that room. By the time I was about 9-10 I was ready to have my own space.

As for kindergarten - maybe you're thinking she could do homework in her room and not be disturbed? She isn't going to be doing homework by herself in her room. She's going to need to be sitting at the kitchen table with you helping her. The tricky part of that is keeping the younger ones busy and quiet while you're helping your oldest.

True, by having her own room maybe she would get a better night's sleep and therefore preform better at school but since they have been sleeping in the same room for a while now that shouldn't be a problem. I would see the problem being with your 3 year old not getting a good night's sleep for a while with a 4 mo old in the same room!

My 6 and 4 yr old boys share a room and they love it! My "baby" (she's almost 2) has her own room and it works for us. My oldest is in Kindergarten and has expressed no interest in having his own room...I am sure that day will come but for now I am happy that they are still close and want to be together. What does the oldest say? Has she asked for her own room? My only concern would be whether or not the 3 yr old and the 4 mos old will be able to be on the same schedule??

If you're unsure, ask your children what they think... Your 5 year old may want her own her or maybe not... =) We have 4 kids and one on the way. We've switched rooms around but now they all have their own room... now the baby will have to share with one of the kids. We spoke to them all to get their take on it... thankfully, our youngest is a boy and the baby is a boy too, so that helped... good luck!

C.,
I think it is better for the baby to have the room. You are inevitably going to have to deal with sleep issues in the future. Until they are able to sleep all night in a toddler bed, I like them separated, no reason to disturb the other kids sleep. I also think it is good for the older ones to be together. It is a great time to learn how to share and get along even when they don't want to. I would wait until she comes up with the idea herself. Let them enjoy their time together.
My two oldest had their own room until the second was 2. They have shared a room since then and they are 8 and 6 now. We have room to split them up, but I don't want to. They are forging a strong relationship right now:)
Just my thoughts
E.

I would wait until the oldest one really wants her own room. At 5 and 3, they probably still really enjoy sharing a room. My girls are 9 and 11 and I can't get them to seperate yet! Make it really special when she is older, she can help decorate and feel really independent. Plus, who wants to mess up your 3 year olds sleeping when the baby is teething at night, etc.

Good luck! Enjoy the early years when they still want to be together!

I have an 11 year old an 8 year old and a 3 three year old. All Girls, my oldest and my second daughter shared a room until my oldest was 8. Then she got her own room but gess what?? they all sleep in my middle daughters room beacause they all want to be together. So, why make the expense just see what happens she'll tell you when she's ready to have her own room. I think sharing a room makes them closer. I love to wake up in the morning and listen to them talk about what they were saying to each other last night, or how we thought they were sleeping but really they were talking (like we didn't know that already) they have a special bond and I think it's great don't take that away just yet TRUST me your oldest will eventually ask for her own space at that time give it to her : )

ask them what they prefer!