Evening star., 1942-08-30
Make Tot s
Room Fit
Need
By Marqaref NoweH

Every school child has ideas
about the way he would like his
own room to be. If he is beyond
kindergarten age, the feeling of
comfort and contentment that
comes from ones own quarters
will be reflected in behavior and
work at school. 1t is simple
matter to coordinate good deco
ration with the occupants wishes,
for a good decoration is based on
arrangement for comfort and use,
and children almost instinctively
pull tables and chairs around so
that they get the best light and
the most elbow room" However,
their way of doing this may not
conform to the lines of the room,
and that is where an adult, versed
in the "looks" of things, as we'll
as the technique. may help.
If you place the young persons
desk or work table away from
the light you will probably find
that he does his studying curled
up by the window and makes his
airplane models on the floor
where the light is good. If you
place the table right under the
window so he faces the light,
you will find him working
"sidewise" to avoid the direct
light in his eyes. The best solu-
ton to this is to place the table
with the snort side against the
window, so the child works with
the light coming over the left
shoulder. This is technically cor
rect, from both health and a
decorating angle, and it is so
comfortable that study and play
win progress under the most ideal
conditions
1t is good plan to "it the
furniture to the child" as far
as possible. Table legs may be
cut off to make the writing sur
face the proper height, and
chair legs may be cropped to
bring the chair into scale with
its occupant. Pictures and wall
decorations in the room should
be of interest to the young
person, not collection of items
left over from the rest of the
house. To take care of the in
Vulnerable things which children
love to pin up on the wall give
them a bulletin board. This
will save the walls from being.
marked. make uniform ar
rangement of all their "whims
and fancies" and also provide
a place for parents to post re-
minders of things that should be
done.
Most children are happier
when their bed is placed on an
inside wall. The feeling of Sc
curity when they are tucked
into bed is very comfortable
one and walls within reach are
a great protection. Most little
girls of 8 or over love their
own dressing table, and small
boys like a cupboard or shelves
on which to store their valuables.
The most practical way to keep
the room looking neat and tidy
is to provide place for things
and make it convenient, as we'll
as q rule of the house, to have
everything put in its proper
place.
1t is not fair to healthy, stren-
uous youngsters to dress their
rooms with fragile, delicate ma
terials. Every hour will be spent
in reprimand, or the child will
have no pleasure at all in his or
her room. Use sturdy, washable
materials for bed covers, counter
panes and slip covers. and select
draperies that go right into the
washing machine. Linoleum or
small washable rugs on the floor
may be kept clean with little
cost and effort. If you create an
environnent IN which yo,,r chil
dren love to bring their friends
you may feel that you have
solved your problem correctly.
If on rainy days "all the kids"
come to your house. you will know
that this is in direct response
to the happy atmosphere you
have created.