Decorating a child’s room goes beyond simply beautifying a space; it is a unique opportunity to foster their creativity, personal expression, and emotional development. “It will be a moment in which the little one will feel important when making decisions. It is essential to consider their tastes and hobbies at the time of this process,” says Mag. Mary Castro, psychologist of our institution, who gives us valuable insights on this topic.

Why is it important for children to decorate their room?

• Allowing children to actively participate in decorating their own space gives them a sense of belonging and autonomy, as well as stimulating their imagination.
• In their room, children will not only be able to sleep or do their homework, but they will be able to play, dream and be themselves. Therefore, it is essential that they are part of the process of creating this space.
• In some cases, this will be the first environment in which they will be able to express their tastes, hobbies and, depending on their age, establish the colors and designs they like.

In what other ways can children express their preferences?

As with room decoration, there are other means by which a child can express themselves. For example, they can show their tastes through their clothing, the television programs they watch and the way they decorate their notebooks. From puberty, we can also observe their hobbies through the music they listen to.

How can parents accompany this process?

• It may happen that, during the process of getting to know their children better, parents discover unexpected or very different tastes from their own. For example, the child may have a liking for rock music, metal, or may want to paint his room only in black and grays.
• In these cases, parents should keep in mind that the child is expressing himself/herself and that tastes are usually given by periods. Depending on what is present in the environment, pubescent and adolescent children go through different stages and interests.
• If parents notice that their child has or presents them with a different proposal, it will be important to address these preferences, asking and exploring the reasons behind them, as they may simply reflect something they felt at the time, without necessarily being negative.
• It is important to pay attention to these methods of expression, as children are exposed to many social stimuli in relation to the outside. In this way, parents will be able to know if something in their circle is bothering or affecting them.
• Accompanying your children to decorate their room will always be important. In this way, they will know that it is their own space and that their opinion is valued.
• For every child it is very important to feel that their parents support them, that they support their decisions. Therefore, it is essential that you talk to your children during this process and validate their tastes, opinions, and decisions.

Remember:

It will also be important for parents to establish limits to control possible distracting elements in the room, in order to prevent the space from being too cluttered, since it will also be the area where your children will study and do their homework.

Mag. Mary Castro
Psychologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma