Getting Direction
Ideally, the best location for children's rooms is wherever there is sunlight. As flowers need sunlight to grow, so do children. Take a look at the yin and the yang of it all, first.
The Chinese believe that the birth order of a child is what helps determine the child's potential for success in life–and that the room should ideally have more yang influence than yin. In other words, the room should be full of life and potential, with mentally and visually enriching items.
Yang Opportunities
Consider the following yang additions to a child's room:
Posters or colorful pictures on the walls
Bright or colorful painted walls
CD player or radio with plenty of learning-oriented tapes, stories, and songs
Be careful of things like poison arrows (sharp lines), most often seen in the form of pointed shelves, study tables, or bedposts. Minimize harsh edges by draping soft cloth around them (as you might with a canopy bed), or deflect them by placing round or curved furniture (such as an inflatable or soft, rounded chair) nearby.
Things to avoid in a child's room: open doors, thick or heavy furniture, clutter under the beds (or anywhere else), headboards that are directly below windows, and electrical equipment that stays on constantly.
Speaking of poison arrows … avoid sharp objects that depict any kind of war theme, including toys or pictures on the wall. To be able to sleep in peace, your children must also live in a peaceful room–that means no Ninja Turtles with swords, no Power Puff Girls punching any-one out, and definitely no play guns hanging on the walls. Keep these kinds of toys stored away to keep their negative energy from interfering with your children's study or sleeping time.
Braving the Elements
When it comes to kids’ rooms, don't forget the five elements of feng shui. Balance them in your children's rooms just as you would anywhere else in your home–except here you'll want to be a little more mindful of safety issues.
For instance, if you have a curious three- or four-year-old, you might not want to put a Zen fountain in your child's room for fear of having a carpet full of rocks and water. But if you have a preteen who has trouble concentrating on homework, a Zen fountain may be just the thing to help settle his or her nerves and maintain focus. The water element is good for reflection.
Our children are the souls of our future. Nourish their minds and hearts with wisdom, love, and tenderness.
–African saying
Children can have specific elements associated with their Chinese birth sign, too (see the chart in Appendix C). Determine which element your child's year of birth corresponds to, then balance out that element with its opposite for maximum yin-yang effect.
Get Oriented
Now, on to location. You shouldn't locate the child's room in the center of the house or the back of the kitchen. Such locations are considered to be unfavorable in feng shui. A square or rectangular room works best for children. If two kids need to share a room, make sure they both have adequate and equal space, or there will be lots of arguments. Each child will also need to have something in the room that is uniquely his or hers in order to have a healthy spiritual attachment to the room.
According to Chinese thinking, the best locations for your child's bed or study table are:
North for the middle son
Northeast for the youngest son
East for the eldest son
Southeast for the eldest daughter
South for the middle daughter
West for the youngest daughter (or mei-mei, which is Chinese for “little sister”)
Since the sunlight tends to come in through the east and southeast corners of your home, these are the best locations for your children's bedrooms. The west is also good, especially for hyperactive children, because the sun comes into this area of your home later in the day.
Face the Sun
East is favorable because it is associated with the dawning of the new day and the beginning of new growth and development. This energy is really very invigorating and encouraging to children, who need the pro-mise of a new day in which to grow.
The chi energy in the southeast is a bit more calming than the east, although it, too, promotes lively activity. If you want smoother kids who are neither hyperactive nor totally lethargic, look to the southeast for placement of the bedroom. Western energy is quite settled and most auspicious for children who need lots of rest and a bedroom that is more of a peaceful retreat.
As a parent, you are your children's guide through life. It is your responsibility to help shape them, and to get them moving in the right direction in life. In essence, you are the director of their chi, since you help shape their lives.
If you cannot have your child's room in any of these sections of your home, you can tone down the bossy chi of a northern room by hanging a mirror that sends the dominant energy of the room back to yours–putting you back in control of the house, which, as parents, you should be. A simple feng shui cure will help you keep your rightful place as “the law” of the house.
