A Cool Room For Teenagers: How To Make a Teen Room Into a Great Hangout Spot
“A child is a curly dimpled lunatic.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Numerous studies have shown that teenagers are more likely to get into trouble when their parents aren’t around. While you might not relish the thought of having 5 or 10 teenagers skulking around your house, there’s good reason to keep your teen and his friends around.
If your house is a welcoming environment for teenagers, your child is more likely to stick around. This makes supervision easier. Further, by getting to know your teen’s friends, you gain an important window into your teen’s life and mind. Her friends can also be helpful allies if she ever encounters serious trouble. A teenager’s bedroom is her sanctuary and is likely where your child will spend most of his or her time with their friends. Here are the best ways to make it a great hangout spot.
Give Privacy
Parents often struggle with their teen’s burgeoning independence, but teens are more likely to hang around the house if their privacy is respected. Ensure that your child has a door with a lock and avoid lingering outside the room or spying. It’s fine to check up on the kids a few times an hour, and your teen should always respond when you knock on the door.
Giving your teen privacy shows that you respect him. His friends’ parents might not offer them the same respect, which gives them further incentive to hang out at your house rather than somewhere else.
Plan for Sleepovers
Most preteens and teens love nothing more than a sleepover. This can, however, get logistically complicated. Boys are typically especially reluctant to sleep in the same room as their friends. Consider installing bunk beds or sleeping lofts. Not only do they look cool; they also provide lots of additional sleeping space without cluttering up your child’s room.
Bedroom Extras
Teenagers are perhaps best-known for the strange hours they keep. If you don’t want to be awakened all night by kids running down to the kitchen for a midnight snack, consider giving your teen a mini-fridge in her room. Unlike computers and video games, this is likely an item that none of her friends will have, adding to the “cool factor” in her room.
A large closet with lots of storage space is a teenager’s best friend, and will allow her to spend tons of time modeling clothes with her friends. Consider removing items such as desks and bookshelves to allow more room for interactions. Any childlike displays, including teddy bears, dolls and baby photos will decrease your teen’s bedroom’s coolness.
Managing Technology
Most parents have heard the advice that computers, laptops and televisions should be kept in shared family areas. This allows you to monitor what your child is doing and to prevent technology from becoming a major distraction or a problem. This advice, however, poses a problem if you’re trying to create a cool room for your teenager, because teens love technology and don’t relish being supervised while using it.
Consider putting a computer and television on a rolling cart. This way you can allow your child to use these items in private when her friends visit while still preventing her from using them in private on a daily basis. Alternatively, place the family computer in a relatively private public area such as a side room or basement. This allows you to periodically pop your head in without making your teen feel like he’s being constantly monitored.
About the Author
Christobel Edwards became a grandmother two years ago for the first time.
She feels this is not only the next step in life but also a time when you often
have to learn to keep your mouth shut. She loves buying things for her
grandchild and recently bought her bunk beds with stairs for kids.
Parenting viewpoints from parents in the trenches, because parenting doesn’t come with a manual. In addition to
I love these suggestions. I loved the fact that you said computers could be put on a rolling cart. We have a laptop the kids use and they can move it around. We would never give them technology for their rooms. We believe the bedroom is for doing homework, reading and relaxing. It’s a place they should be able to relax in – not be stimulated. My friends have trouble already with their kids not sleeping. This is due to the fact that the bedroom is just like a living room, and not a relaxing sanctuary any more. Great post.
i do not know how to do this
Wow! These are fantastic ideas… I have learned so many things here that I can suggest to my cousin. Please keep it up! Thanks for sharing these helpful tips!
Teenagers are often difficult to please, which may have become evident to you upon attempting to decorate your teen’s room. At this awkward age, a teen’s main goal is can be to try and fit in and be on top of the latest version of cool. This coolness typically also applies to her room..
I like all the ideas thanks for sharing. I like the managing technology so much. 🙂