There are no bad children, only bad behavior.  Our environment affects our behavior.  We know what to expect if we give our kids a lot of sugar or caffeine.  They will bounce off the walls. We know what to expect if the temperature in the house is 90 degrees on a summer day.  Tempers will easily flare.  These are normal responses to negative stimulation that most parents know about.  But what most parents don’t know is that there is negative stimulation in the home that affects their child‘s behavior, their health and even their grades.  This negative stimulation is invisible, however, it can be easily remedied using a combination of ancient Chinese wisdom and modern day science. Applying the practical techniques of Feng Shui and holistic living to your home will help you create a balanced environment. This will help your child grow and develop in a positive way and enhance family harmony.

Sleeping Direction 
We spend the most amount of time in one spot every day in our bed, so the sleeping direction is very important. The goal is to align the child's bed so that the top or crown of the head is pointed towards one of their good compass directions .  If your child's bed is pointed in one of their negative compass directions, it can throw their life out of balance.  They won't be feeling as well as they should and they may express this with negative behavior. They may have trouble sleeping, difficulty accomplishing things, and can even have problems with others treating them badly or "bullying" them.  Pointing their bed in their "wisdom" direction can help your child get better grades and improve their attitude about school.  The "marriage and family harmony" direction will help decrease fighting and arguing in the household and help your child sleep better. Be sure to use a compass to determine actual compass directions in your home.  (Related article: Positive Sleeping Directions for Couples)

Dark Bedrooms Are Healthier
Melatonin is a hormone that regulates sleep and mood. Melatonin is produced by the body at night, in the dark.  Light makes the body think its daytime.  If a light, night light, tv or computer monitor is on while your child sleeps, their body won't produce the natural amount of melatonin.  This can create sleep disorders, depression, and/or anger and moodiness.  Are you getting enough dark?

Exposure to EMFs
EMFs (electromagnetic frequencies) are harsh energies emitted by electronic devices. They also decrease the body’s production of melatonin.   Arrange furniture so that your child’s body is 2 feet away from computer towers, CRT computer monitors, and power strips.  Keep them an adult arm span away from TVs.  Never use an electric blanket or waterbed heater and don’t let them stare into the microwave waiting for the popcorn! Stay 5 feet away while it‘s on.

Yin/Yang
Bedrooms should be "yin" or quiet.  Things that can create "yang" energy in a bedroom are aquariums or fountains, live plants, and light during sleeping hours. Mirrors in the bedroom keep the room "awake" and can make it harder to sleep. 

Negative Flying Stars
If you do not know the flying star energy patterns in your home, you can at least keep up with the annual stars that shift each February 4th.  In 2008, the 5 Yellow star known for illness and accidents is in the south compass section of every building and the 2 Black star known for illness is in the northwest.  If your child's bedroom is in the south or northwest, this can translate into more visits to the doctor, more frequent health issues or health problems not responding normally to treatment.  The 3 star which is known for arguments is in the west. If your child's bedroom is in the west, they may be fussier or get into more arguments in 2008.  In 2009, the 5 star moves to the north, the 2 moves to the west, and the 3 moves to the northeast.

What the Child's Eye Sees: 
Look at what your child sees every day.  A happy family photo visible from the child's bed is comforting to see before they fall asleep and when they awaken.  It reminds them they are part of a happy family when they are alone in their room.  Posters of kittens, puppies and favorite cartoon characters are non-threatening and comforting for the little ones.  Get to know the meaning behind the images in your teenager's room and keep the cool "negatives" to a minimum. 

Clutter:
Cleaning up after a small child is like shoveling the sidewalk while it's snowing.  What's the point!  But children do need a place to store their stuff to keep clutter under control. If a child's bedroom is also their study room, they won't be able to focus in a lot of clutter because clutter is "eye noise".  Children should frequently clear out the space under their beds, which tends to become a catchall for trash and treasures and creates "stuck" energy.  Need some help with your clutter? Check out Clutter Queen Boot Camp

Furniture Placement:
The bed should have its headboard against a solid wall. Make sure there is room to walk around each side of the bed - don't push one side up against the wall. Avoid placing the bed under a window or directly in line with the door.  Standing in the doorway, if you can toss a ball straight ahead and hit the bed, energy flowing into the room will also hit the bed and this is not good for the child.  What's behind your bed?

Color:
Your child’s sleeping habits will let you know whether their room is comfortable. If you keep finding your child in bed with you, then their room is not working for them. Avoid using energizing colors like red and other bold, bright colors in the bedroom as they can cause tempers to flare during playtime and too much hyperactive energy for the little one to fall asleep at night. Bright colors are good for playrooms but bedrooms need to be more subdued. Pastels are best. 

Creating a comfortable, harmonious bedroom makes for a good night’s rest.  And a good night’s rest makes for a refreshed, healthy child.

©2002RobynBentley/Feng Shui Diva, LLC