Author Topic: Children and Bedrooms (Read 2848 times)

MaterDominici · « **on:** April 15, 2015, 05:54:11 PM »

Saw this discussion elsewhere and would be interested to hear what those here think...

If one is able, should a child be allowed to have their own bedroom? Is age a relevant factor?

Matto · « **Reply #1 on:** April 15, 2015, 05:58:51 PM »

If a mother has many children it is impossible for the children to have their own bedrooms because only a rich man would be able to afford that big of a house. So I guess in most Catholic families the boys will share one room and the girls will share another.

MaterDominici · « **Reply #2 on:** April 15, 2015, 06:05:30 PM »

It's not always a non-issue for large families. One family, for example, has seven children and a 4-bedroom house. Presently, they have a parents' room, girls' room, boys' room and guest room. They are considering letting the oldest child move into the guest room.

Nadir · « **Reply #3 on:** April 15, 2015, 06:44:04 PM »

I had a friend once who had several children and intended to have each child have its own room, which I thought was putting unreasonable demands on himself as a provider. Of course he ended up an emotional wreck but there were other factors in that.

I had my own room. I had four brothers. Then my 12-years-younger sister came along and then we got double bunks. It was quite a small room.

Is there something wrong with a child having its own room?

It would make sense to have the eldest of four move into the guest room, then give it up when a guest comes to visit.

JezusDeKoning · « **Reply #4 on:** April 15, 2015, 06:47:23 PM »

Quote from: Matto

If a mother has many children it is impossible for the children to have their own bedrooms because only a rich man would be able to afford that big of a house. So I guess in most Catholic families the boys will share one room and the girls will share another.

4 or 5-bedroom houses aren't very expensive in most suburbs. Especially because most of them compromise in number of bathrooms (only having 1.5-2 bathrooms). Probably even more if you buy a foreclosure or a fixer-upper.

As for the question, sure, if the circuмstances allow.

Dolores · « **Reply #5 on:** April 15, 2015, 06:53:32 PM »

Children, of course, never need their own room. However, I see nothing wrong with a child having his own room if wealth or circuмstances allow individual rooms to be provided. Case in point: my mother-in-law has four brothers and no sisters. As the only girl, she always had her own room, while the boys shared. I don't think it has to be limited to just situations like that either. If, for example, there is a large age gap between the oldest child and the others, I see nothing wrong with allowing the oldest to have his own room. Also, if the parents are wealthy enough to have a large house that gives each child his own room, I see nothing wrong with that either.

I guess in sum, there is nothing wrong with sharing, and there is nothing wrong with individual rooms for some or all of the children. It's up to the parents.

songbird · « **Reply #6 on:** April 15, 2015, 09:34:59 PM »

The Waltons: John Boy had his own room. I think when they get older, they may need quiet for study purposes. Their own room without the TV, maybe good music and no phones and such.

I came from a family of 9 children, 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. I shared with 6 sisters a room, shared dresser drawers, closets and bed, sometimes. I had my own room when I joined the Army. Ha! My room mate used drugs, I complained and that is how I got my room to myself.

Jaynek · « **Reply #7 on:** April 16, 2015, 12:47:57 PM »

I don't think there is anything wrong with having his or her own room in itself. All but our youngest three have grown up and moved out now and the three that are left ( ages 20, 17, 14) have their own rooms.

What I recommend being careful about is children having a computer or TV that they keep in their bedrooms. There is a lot of potential of abuse of these things, especially if a child is left alone with them. (Of course it is questionable whether one should have a TV in the home at all.)

Ladislaus · « **Reply #8 on:** April 16, 2015, 02:23:22 PM »

Quote from: JezusDeKoning

Quote from: Matto
If a mother has many children it is impossible for the children to have their own bedrooms because only a rich man would be able to afford that big of a house. So I guess in most Catholic families the boys will share one room and the girls will share another.

4 or 5-bedroom houses aren't very expensive in most suburbs. Especially because most of them compromise in number of bathrooms (only having 1.5-2 bathrooms). Probably even more if you buy a foreclosure or a fixer-upper.

As for the question, sure, if the circuмstances allow.

A 4-bedroom house would allow 3 children to have their own bedroom. That is not a "large family". I would need a 7-bedroom house; most I was ever able to find online was 6, and they were asking 750,000 for it.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #9 on:** April 16, 2015, 02:25:23 PM »

I've noticed that older houses were smaller but had much bigger lots; most of everyone's time was spent either outdoors or, when the weather didn't accommodate it, in common areas. Now you have these 3,000 square foot houses on .1 acre lots. Says something about how culture has shifted.

MaterDominici · « **Reply #10 on:** April 16, 2015, 03:53:23 PM »

Quote from: Ladislaus

I've noticed that older houses were smaller but had much bigger lots; most of everyone's time was spent either outdoors or, when the weather didn't accommodate it, in common areas. Now you have these 3,000 square foot houses on .1 acre lots. Says something about how culture has shifted.

Yes, I was thinking any quiet time that a child or teen might desire is better spent outside than in their own room.

MaterDominici · « **Reply #11 on:** April 16, 2015, 04:11:15 PM »

My thoughts were that I couldn't think of any advantages to giving a child their own room, but could think of disadvantages, mainly the increased opportunity for sinful behaviors. I think the level of trust of that particular child would be considered if we were making such a decision.

Janine of Bruthen · « **Reply #12 on:** June 21, 2015, 08:22:36 AM »

I've four children, a girl and three boys. An older style house that technically has two bedrooms and a storage room. I've converted the dining room into a bedroom for the oldest and youngest boy to share, with double bunks. It's right next to the living room with the fireplace. The middle boy sleeps in what is meant to be a storage room...its behind the kitchen, near the wash house. The big boy was not keen on sleeping alone, but the middle lad likes it. My daughter has her own room.

Janine

Nadir · « **Reply #13 on:** June 21, 2015, 05:39:25 PM »

Come to think of it - our own children each had his own room. We had two boys and a girl in a three bedroom home. Our eldest son tended to be a bit of an anchorite. Although very outgoing and sociable, he would spend hours as a child reading bible stories. He asked us could he sleep in our old house on the same property and we allowed him to. Later when we moved to a town, he set himself up in the very large garage. He joined a religious congregation.