Siblings Share And Grow

Positives Of Siblings Sharing Bedrooms

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

My husband's job was just re-located so our family is moving to a new city. While house-hunting, we found our dream house in the perfect location and in our price range. The only problem is, there's only two bedrooms, which means our two daughters will have to share a bedroom. We don't think this will be a problem now as they are both young and enjoy each other's company; however, we don't want this to have a negative impact on their relationship. Is it a good idea to make your kids share a bedroom, or should we keep looking for a house that will give them their own rooms?

Sincerely,

One Bedroom Short

Dear One Bedroom Short,

Environment is a huge factor on relationships, but having a big house or small house doesn't have to have a positive or negative effect on sibling relationships.

Sharing a bedroom is a wonderful opportunity for siblings to learn about living together, making compromises, tolerating other peoples' habits -- all tools that will serve anyone well through their lives. Children who do share bedrooms and do so successfully, are at a definite social advantage later in life because they have acquired skills through bedroom sharing. However, just because children don't share rooms doesn't mean that they can't learn these habits -- it's just that they will learn them later in life when they share a dorm room in college.

There is often a time when rooms should not be shared, however. When families blend, it is better if children of the same age and maturity share rooms. It's inviting trouble to have children who have an age gap share a room because the younger child may be introduced to older behaviors prematurely.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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