A Room of One's Own

 

Iver has been very into fort-building for many months, and I think it's cute. I love that he uses his imagination and hands to spend hours constructing a "safe space" for himself, even though many of our household chairs, stools, pillows, boxes, and blankets disappear in the process.  I want him to have the time and space for free play, his (and so many other children's) life (lives) and imagination being co-opted (or threatened to be) by the distractions of gadgets and technology (screens), which we firmly believe have to be carefully limited for the mental and physical health of our young children. 

After his living room forts started expanding to block us from viewing the communal TV, we suggested that he make himself "garage forts." More and more, he has been requesting a "place of my own," like an office (like we have in one of the bedrooms of our home) into which he can retreat.  He shares a bedroom (sleep space) with his (often destructive) younger toddler brother, but he is understandably wanting to have space and distance at times (it's been a long pandemic year of togetherness!).  It's also really great for highly sensitive children to have a place/corner to "calm down."

Here's the result (including some borrowed indoor houseplants and complete with tiny unicorn decor):

(Even though he allowed Niall's name on his "lounge," he doesn't really like his brother [or apparently mean/bad people or adults] to enter/mess up his space).

The space is perfect for couch naps, which he does not take (despite the faked picture below), but also reading, chess-playing, and movie-watching during his allowed weekend screen time.

Despite sharing the bedroom, the kids spend very little time in there except for sleeping and sometimes bedtime reading-- their toys are out (strewn about) in the living room and in the garage.  Maybe one day (if we have a bigger house), Iver (as the oldest) will be able to have a true "room of his own." Until then, his turf is a corner of the garage.