Want to help your child grow up happy, healthy, smart and balanced? Make sure they eat well, take their vitamins, and exercise. Of course you already do all of that. But have you taken a good look at their bedroom? What you do there can help your little one grow or it can hold your child back.
Here's Master Peter Reiss' Feng Shui Guide to Creating a Good Ch'i Child's Room.
COLOR
In Feng Shui colors have multiple uses. Each color has its life area meaning and its own energy.
Intensity: Ch'i (energy) intensity varies as the color intensity changes.
A baby's eyes need contrast, vivid colors and light to develop. Strong primary colors are important to have in baby's environment. Toys and pictures are a great way to bring them in. What you don't want is a primary color room. Way too jangly ch'i!
Try a light off-white early on - good for contrast. Later go to soft blues or soft greens to create a calming environment.
WHAT? NO PRETTY PRINCESS PINK?
Color Choice: In Feng Shui different colors have different energy "meanings." Some are very appropriate for kids' rooms, some very much not.
Good choices:Blue -- Knowledge
Green -- New growth
Yellow -- Health
Not so good choicesRed - Fire (very high intensity)
Pink - Love & Marriage (More about this later.)
You can always add accents of red, pink or any other colors. Use your artistic and design sensibilities. Just avoid doing the whole room that way.
SPACE, SIZE & PLACEMENT
Space Size:
In Feng Shui we look not only at the physical balance of the space and its contents, but also at the balance of the space to the person living there.
Rule of thumb:
Grown-ups big: big space
Kids small: smaller space
Try to create a protected environment. Cozy is a good goal.
Bed Size:
Remember as your child grows bigger in size, he or she is still a child. Bed sizes should progress from crib to youth to twin. (More about larger beds later.)
Bed Placement:
So, where should you put that single bed in that small room? In a corner with head and side against a wall. The primal urge for safety is to retreat to the cave. Create that safe cave or den for your child. (More later about this too.)
STUFF
I know you were waiting for this one.
Many of today's kids live in a permanent state of overwhelm. Help them maintain a personal space (their room) that is supporting balanced focus instead of adding to the chaos. (Be realistic, though. It's a matter of degree. Some chaos is a normal state for most pre-teens and teens. Think back.)
Start the conversation early. Help your kids learn the difference about what they want and what they really need and will really use.
Try the Feng Shui In-Out Yin-Yang Clutter Preventer.
Of course, accumulating "stuff" is inevitable. This creates the perfect opportunity to teach your little one how to make deposits in their Good Karma Bank Account.
Charity is one of the two most powerful ways to bring good things into your life (The other is education.)
When your son or daughter gets a new toy, help them pick out an older one that isn't used anymore and bring it to a thrift shop. Show them how good giving can make you feel. (Hint - this works for adults, too. A good example is always the best teacher.)
Okay -- here's the "more later" I promised you.
A pink bedroom with a double or queen bed set up to allow access from either side -- this is an adult bedroom. It's the wrong ch'i environment for your little girl. (Size and placement also applies to boys.) Our jobs as parents is to encourage our kids to be kids.
Finally-
No matter how you set up your baby's room, the most powerful Feng Shui tool you have is...you. Give them your time and your attention, your support and encouragement, and, most importantly, your unconditional love. Now that's good ch'i!