Annieneeds to be able to do her homework without someone interrupting and sheneeds a place to go with her friends. They havevery different personalities, too, so things are a lot better now. But parents shouldn't feelguilty if their kids have to share. Sharing is not detrimental, nor is havingyour own room. It's all in how you manage it.
Practicality plays a large part, of course.
Although it's theAmerican middle-class ideal for each child to have his or her own room,it's not within every family's means, says Janette Benson, associateprofessor of psychology at the University of Denver. You might remind them that inmany cultures, and time periods, sharing was the norm. And they have someoneto help chase away the bogeyman. Sharing usually works best, she says, when the kids are the samegender and no more than four years apart. After that, there will bedevelopmental differences to contend with.