Take care of our children

Raising our children

It seems that we are raising our children in a world that is full of violence and cruelty. Daily headlines remind us that there are many who are suffering. We feel rather helpless when there are so many problems in the world that need immediate solutions. When we offer help to the needy, we are helping our children too. Today’s children are exposed to too much violence and cruelty. There are children who are told that they should not be too generous. In the classrooms, some children are discouraged from assisting their classmates, fearing that they may lose points while others gain. The best way to teach our children virtues is being good role models. We should live by the motto “Do as I do”. We should care enough to do what we can as individuals or as a family.

It has been found that in families where parents help out in the community, their children enjoy doing good deeds for others too. We need to encourage children to be caring from an early age. When they care, we can reinforce their positive behavior by telling them how they have helped. We should praise them when they work hard or study hard. When they score high grades, we celebrate their achievements. When children have done an act of kindness, we should not brush it off as nothing to shout about. Find ways of sharing your enthusiasm for helping others with your child/ you can talk to your child about how you feel. Write down your thought and share them with your family during quiet times together. Children who have participated in charity activities in schools and organizations tend to gain greater confidence and become more sensitive to the needs of others. They are more willing to contribute to making other people’s lives better.

Some parents worry that their children may become traumatized when they visit children’s homes or spend time with those who are terminally ill. But these fears are unfounded because children can gain a better understanding of why they need to show compassion to others. You can start enriching your children’s live by doing small acts of kindness together as a family. Whenever there is a disaster fund or a charity drives in your child’s school, support these efforts whole-heartedly. Your behavior will set an example for your child to follow. Your child will also discover the joys of contributing towards making other people happy.

Author: Ruth Liew Articles The Star, June 8, 2006

Share bedroom with your child

If you have more children than you have space, it’s time for some creative solutions. Sharing a bedroom means having two of everything – duplicate beds, dressers, storage units etc. To avoid conflict over who has the better desk or dresser consider the same furnishings for both children. Their individuality is expressed in your creative approach to decorating each child’s own space. One good approach is to give each sibling his own set of belongings in his own color and seek input from him regarding how he wishes to decorate his part of the shared bedroom. It’s important that shared bedrooms have some consistent design elements that tie the room together and a storage system which encourages organization from both parties. To eliminate major design and décor conflicts it’s important that you harmonize the individual spaces.

By carefully meshing two tastes into one overall environment you can create a welcoming space that’s ideal for both sleep and play. Encourage your children to either decide on two different but coordinating room colors or one main color in two different shades. Keep things simple, separate and color-coded. Add variety and distinction to each siblings area by incorporating brightly colored storage bins and laundry hampers. Consider adding striped and patterned accessories to an otherwise basic colored backdrop. Bed linens are another great focal point for individual tastes.

Think floral and plaids or stripes and solids. Reversible bed coverings are also ideal in shared rooms. Consider stackable storage cubes that not only divide the space but also serve as storage compartments for each child's belongings. When it comes to physically dividing the room, screens with hinged panels may be just the answer for siblings who have a real love/hate relationship. The hinges make folding and storing easy when your kids are having a good ‘shared’ space day. More creative room divider ideas can be found by visiting http://www.decorating-kids-rooms.net/divider-rooms.html Regardless of whether you’re looking to visually or physically divide a shared bedroom space it’s always important to get the occupants of the room involved in both designing and decorating their space. Encourage each child to select his own bedding, accessories and storage bins.

For more tips on how to create a sense of peace, privacy and a sense of individuality in shared bedrooms visit

http://www.decorating-kids-rooms.net/siblings_sharing_bedroom.html by:

Author: Sherrie Le Masurier Articles The Star, June 8, 2006