Cultivating a place for family to relax, unwind and feel safe is the essence of home. Taking this nurturing act one step further is to create a child’s bedroom sanctuary. Offering a space of refuge and comfort for your little one to retreat to when feeling sleepy, overwhelmed or simply needing time alone is looking after their needs. Giving children the ability to find peace and quiet themselves is a tremendous gift.
A popular 1950’s routine, of which I can see many benefits, was for a mother to settle a child in their bedroom for quiet time after lunch. The child could nap or just play quietly in their space for an hour or so of downtime. These mothers were already onto creating a child’s bedroom sanctuary!
Whether children share the space or each child has their own bedroom, there are a number of elements to thoughtfully consider in a child’s bedroom sanctuary. It isn’t surprising that a child’s sanctuary welcomes many of the same features an adult would desire.
Adding Nature When Creating a Child's Bedroom Sanctuary
Welcome nature into your child’s bedroom sanctuary. Inviting at least one living element to the room makes it warm and welcoming. A house plant placed on a shelf or a bright goldfish swimming in a fish bowl connects your child to nature. Introducing nature into a child’s life not only outdoors but indoors as well improves their psychological and physical well-being.
Another benefit of including fresh plants in a bedroom sanctuary is their ability to purify the air adding oxygen through the night for a better sleep. As a helpful guide, this article lists easy-to-maintain plants that are practical for the bedroom.
Windows let in natural light, fresh breezes and an invitation to the wonder of nature outdoors. So let the daylight in and let it in often! If possible and considering safety, position a child’s bed or a comfy chair to enable peering out of a bedroom window. Looking out onto a mountain, a tree, a field, thunderclouds or the blue sky invites the imagination to soar. Windows connect a child to the weather and the magnificent, natural world outside. A child falling asleep while gazing at the moon is a magical, childhood experience.
Consider how to include nature as you create a child’s bedroom sanctuary. It is a simple way to enhance the quality of their day with a myriad of positive outcomes to their life.
Keep it Simple
Keep a child’s bedroom undersigned to allow full roaming of the imagination. Children do not need fancy, decorative, expensive furniture nor toys. Quality over quantity is a mindful rule to follow when it comes to your children’s bedroom sanctuary. First focus on providing a comfortable bed, pillow and linens made of natural products. Providing warmth, durability and materials suited to your child’s needs is the goal. A bedside light fosters an atmosphere of coziness and a nightlight offers security. Store comfortable blankets and welcoming throw pillows within your child’s reach. They will be available to create an impromptu fort, tent or nest for looking at books and imaginary play.
A number of young families I know not only limit eating to one area of the house but technology as well. This guiding rule keeps screens out of bedrooms, parents’ bedroom included, which supports the goals of a bedroom sanctuary. This effort provides a calm and peaceful place of respite, a destination to rest and nurture young minds and bodies. Instead, invite a bookcase into the bedroom sanctuary offering a conscious and carefully selected array of toys, mementos and books.
Art for a Child's Bedroom Sanctuary
Create a child’s bedroom sanctuary with intention to include beauty. A study at Harvard conducted by Nancy Edcoff concluded, “The conscious inclusion of beauty in your daily life improves mood and compassion towards others.” This is true for children, as well. Hang beautiful artwork in your child’s bedroom sanctuary. Beauty is powerful. When children are introduced and exposed to quality art and illustration, the bar rises in their acceptance and expectations of visual stimuli.
If you are drawn to classic children’s art, prints of illustrations in children’s literature such as Winnie the Pooh or A Child’s Book of Verses are available. Mary Cassatt, Jessie Wilcox Smith, Beatrix Potter, Tasha Tudor, even Renoir chose children or children’s settings as subjects for their work. Contemporary artists’ work I can recommend include Sarah Jane Wright and Tabitha Paige. The selection of beautiful art to consider as you create a child’s bedroom sanctuary is bountiful and exciting.
Caldecott Award-winning picture books are an exceptional choice for the bookshelves in your child’s bedroom sanctuary. This annual prize is awarded “to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.” The outstanding writing and stories are complimented by stunning illustrations exposing children to beautiful artwork. Such high quality visuals nurture a love of books for a child. Golden Days at Home has created a full year preschool curriculum inspired by Caldecott Award and Caldecott Honor Award picture books. The charming, weekly lesson plans enable parents to teach their preschooler at home. Further explore these quality picture books connecting with your child through learning and play.
Cultivating Peace and Calm in a Child's Bedroom Sanctuary
When do you feel calm and at peace? A quiet, tidy and organized space with minimal distractions invites a sense of serenity. The same is true for children. Too many toys, too many clothes, too many choices can overwhelm a child. Feeling overstimulated takes up space in mind and body. This makes it difficult to feel at peace, think clearly, calm oneself and dream.
Invite only what is most important to your child into their bedroom sanctuary. A few favorite toys or activities will inspire imagination and play. For simple clean up, create a place for everything and when not in use, store everything in its place. With fewer distractions, daydreaming and creativity flourish. The less is more principle is an appropriate adage to keep in mind as you create a child’s bedroom sanctuary.
Colors are another consideration. Soft greens, blues, whites, grays, as well as gentle yellows are calming colors to consider in a child’s bedroom sanctuary. Consider these peaceful shades when choosing paint colors, linens, lampshades, blinds or curtains. If your child adores a more stimulating color, choose a special accent pillow or throw blanket to include their color of choice.
Sound influences an environment. Studies have found listening to bird song to be calming and relaxing. In contrast, traffic noise raises stress levels causing distraction and sleep disturbance. Consider these factors in your child’s bedroom sanctuary. Play ambient bird noises in the background from playlists found on Spotify and YouTube. Close windows from disturbing noises inviting peace and calm.
Learn, Grow and Thrive
A young child can become overwhelmed by the noise and busyness of the world around them. When you create a child’s bedroom sanctuary, you gift a welcomed destination for your little one to unwind, relax and feel safe. Through the day, this calm and peaceful environment invites creative freedom and play. At day’s end, it supports a nurturing and happy space to savor children’s hour together. Consider comfort and beauty, use mindful touches with attention to quality details. With loving care, you can create a child’s bedroom sanctuary that provides a manageable and beloved environment for your little one to learn, grow and thrive.
Written by Janet Nicole Meyer for Golden Days at Home.
I am sharing a small yet invaluable gem from my family’s household archives. It is a simple list of “House Rules”. I can’t emphasize enough its value in running the day to day life of our young family and nurturing individual responsibility. Before hanging up the rules, we gathered for a family meeting to introduce the grand plan. From then on, it was just a simple finger point to the list reminding family members of their responsibility in helping our household run smoothly. Print and frame the “House Rules” for all to refer to in your home.
