What if I share a bedroom or sleep place?
Believe it or not...
…most kids share a bedroom or sleep space with at least one other person, usually a brother or sister. Sharing a bedroom has both pros and cons.
- Is my sibling doing something that makes it hard for me to sleep?
- Sharing a bedroom can be hard. Some kids say:
- “My brother is too noisy.”
- “My sister stays up late doing homework in bed.”
- “Our bedroom is a mess. I can’t relax with so much stuff everywhere.”
- Can you relate? What’s hard for you? What could you do?
Get some ideas that have worked for other kids.
Learn the benefits
- When kids share a room, they learn a lot about how to live and deal with others. They learn how to see each other’s points of view and work things out.
- People who share rooms develop close bonds. If possible, chat with your roommate as part of your wind down.
- Kids who share a bedroom often sleep more soundly once they fall asleep.
Work things out
- Instead of getting angry or frustrated, practice your negotiation and compromising skills. Set rules you both agree to follow. Here are some ideas:
- No television in the bedroom.
- No homework in bed.
- Phones off at an agreed-upon time.
- Tiptoe quietly when others are sleeping.
- No turning on bright lights when others are sleeping. Use a nightlight or flashlight.
- Keep the bedroom door closed when others are sleeping.
- Keep the room neat. Pick up your stuff to create a restful environment.
- No eating in the bedroom.
- Use headphones to listen to music or podcasts (inexpensive earbuds are widely available).
- Think about how you might create a personal space to read or listen to soothing music in one corner of your bedroom. Put a pillow in the space, hang a few pictures on the wall.
- Will any of these ideas work for me? What else could I do?
