Transitioning Your Child to Their Own Room? Here are 7 Important Tips.

Transitioning your child to their own room is a big step, especially if your kid is still on the younger side. Just recently we transitioned our girls to their own rooms. It was a big step for both them and us because they had been sharing a room since our 6 year old was born.

Honestly, we were not quite sure how it would go. But by using the tips below we were able to make it a smooth and somewhat easy transition. So if you are considering moving your child to their own room soon, you’ll want to check out these 7 important tips below.

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Talk About Them Getting Their Own Room

When you are about to move your kids to their own rooms, you definitely want to talk about it. I guarantee you that they will have a lot of questions, and even some concerns, about their big move.

My youngest definitely had a lot more questions than my oldest did. All of my oldest daughter’s questions revolved around what she could and couldn’t do in her own room. My youngest was more concerned about how she would feel without having her sissy close by.

We talked about the transition a least a month before it happened. It gave the girls time to ask us whatever they thought of, and it gave our entire family time to process the change. Whenever you are ready to switch your child to their own room, I highly suggest you start the conversation sooner rather than later.

Let Them Have a Say in Their New Space

Your kids will love their new rooms even more if you let them have a say in how they get set up and designed. I know that sometimes space is limited and the bed can only go in one part of the room. But there are other ways that you can give them control in the decision-making process.

For example, I let my daughters decide how they organized and decorated their desks. Because both of their desks are second-hand and in need of a little cosmetic love I even let them put stickers on their them. It made them very, very happy.

There are other ways that can give your child a say when it comes to setting up their own room. Another way that I let my girls have a bit of control in their own spaces was to let them set up their toys in whatever way they wanted. The only rules that I have are that the set up has to be safe, and the toys have to be taken care of. If they want to arrange their Barbie doll furniture in a super silly way in their doll house, so what? If it makes them happy in their own space then I’m good with it.

Give Them Confidence

Some kids will need more confidence than others when it does come time to get their own rooms. While my oldest daughter was ready for the change, my youngest wasn’t so sure. At 6 years old she’s still very scared of the dark and all of the unknowns/what-ifs that a kid can think of at night. And so we had to help her gain some confidence while we made the big change.

One way you can give your kid a boost of confidence as they switch to their own room is by talking about how much of a positive change it will be. We kept telling our youngest how much more room she would have to play, and how she could have her own toys out right where she could reach them. We also noted to her that she would probably start to sleep better (her big sister often woke her up early each day). All of these positives have definitely helped her have a bit more confidence.

Another way you can help to build confidence in your child as they transition to their own room is through affirmations. We are a big fan of affirmations in our household. I have them posted all over my office. My youngest daughter says them at bedtime every night, too. As you transition your child to their own room, say affirmations with them daily that reinforce that they will in fact be okay in their new space.

Let Them Feel All of the Big Feelings

As your kiddo moves to their own room, do them and yourself a favor….let them feel all of the big feelings. They are likely going to be scared, nervous, excited and upset all at once. I know my girls were. The youngest especially felt nervous about leaving the security blanket of having her sister only a few feet away each night. She shed tears a few times, but it was okay.

It might be hard not to, but please don’t tell your kid to “suck it up.” It is totally natural for a child to feel a sense of loss or grieving after leaving a shared room with their sibling. If they’ve shared a room together for a long time, they’re probably going to feel kind of upset about breaking that bond. Let them feel all of the big feels as they move on…it will definitely help with the transition down the road.

Make Their New Space Special

I had a lot of fun with this part of our big transition to separate rooms. Because I knew it was going to be a big change, I wanted each girl to feel like their new space was special. To make this possible, I got them new comforters that were a bit more “big girl” than the ones that they had before. When they had shared a room their comforters were the same. As they moved on to their own spaces, I picked out comforters that matched their styles and their favorite colors. They loved it!

There are other ways you can make your child’s new space special. Whether it’s decorating the walls with new posters and decor, or buying a special new gadget for their room (we got our youngest this awesome glitter lamp)….there are so many ways that you can make this happen.

If your budget is small like ours was you can also check out your local neighborhood marketplaces and free groups. Often times there are other families out there willing and ready to give away their old things so that someone else can use them. That’s how we got our oldest daughter’s desk. And now that we’re done, we plan to pay it forward with some of the things that they don’t want anymore. Get creative! I have no doubt that you’ll find a way to make it special.

Spend Time With Your Child in Their Own Room

Once you start to get their things moved over, spend some time with your child in their own room. Seeing that Mommy and Daddy are comfortable in the new room might make your child feel a bit more comfortable in their new space.

Playing with your child and making new memories in their room can also help the transition process. When a child associates positive and safe feelings with a space, they are more likely to enjoy being in that space. I’ve already spent a lot of time in each of my daughter’s rooms. They get excited when I come in to hang out. It’s been really neat to witness and be a part of.

Be Patient and Keep Your Expectations Low At First

Once your child has transitioned to their own room, be patient with them. It may take some time for them to adjust to their new environment. My 6 year old has had trouble falling asleep on some nights, likely because she doesn’t have her older sister in the room with her anymore. I have spent several nights in their with her hanging out, saying affirmations or giving her extra snuggles so that she’ll feel safe and at home.

I know that they say, “Don’t stick around until your child falls asleep,” or “You don’t want to start that habit!” Don’t listen to that kind of stuff…do what is best for you and your kid. If your child needs a little extra love and security as they transition to their new room, give it to them. It’s been a little over a week for our girls, and already my youngest has fallen asleep on her own a few times. It’s not been easy, but I know that she’ll get to a point where she won’t need me every night. Expect that they’ll need a little extra help, give it to them when you can, and before you know it they will be fine on their own.

Transitioning Your Child To Their Own Room

Transitioning your child to their own room, no matter what age they are, can be an exciting experience that is also hard and full of different emotions. But it doesn’t have to be super stressful every step of the way. If you follow some of these tips like I have, I promise it’ll be easier for both you and your children.

When did you transition your child to their own room? Do you have any other tips to share that are not on this list? Let us know in the comments below!

-Meg