Last time we talked about how twin-sized kids’ beds, trundle beds and bunk beds are fun options for helping your children express their personality and age. In part two of our article, we’ll go ahead and touch base on the alternative to the traditional twin-sized youth bed - futon bunks, workstation beds and updating your child’s bed into one fit for a teen with the addition of head and footboards.

Give your child the option of maximizing his space by purchasing a futon styled bunk bed. Usually, the bottom part of the bunk easily converts from a sofa into a full-sized bed with a standard twin-sized futon on the top bunk. A unique piece of bedroom furniture, futon bunks are even great for teenagers and college students. The only downside to them is that you have to remember to flip the futon every month or so, otherwise it’ll lose its firmness.

Another great alternative to children’s bedroom furniture is to find a bed that includes a workspace built on the side of the bed itself. Usually found in bunk beds, workstation beds are a great long-term investment for your child. Instead of purchasing your child’s bed and desks separately, everything can be purchased at once with this type of bed. Quite grandiose in size, I wouldn’t recommend it for small-scale bedrooms, but if you happen to have the space I say it’s a wonderful alternative. If by chance your child has enough space to spare, I suggest looking into workstation beds that also include a small closet and drawers on the side for clothing and shoes.

Once your child becomes a teen, consider making some minor changes to their kid-friendly bed without having to spend a ton of money. By adding a head and footboard to your child’s bed, the transition from a kid bed to a teen bed is immediate. Head and footboards do come sold separately for most beds; all that’s really required is some light assembly on your part. What you should keep in mind is that boy beds look better with just the headboard, while girl beds can use both the head and footboard, or the headboard alone.

As your child grows older, know that beds are meant to be a long-term investment because once they come home from college, they’ll look forward to sleeping in the same bed they’ve slept in for a good 15 years.

By: Vicki Duong

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Satellite Pictures

About fifteen years ago I read a book by Alice Miller, For Your Own Good: Hidden cruelty in Child-Rearing and the Roots of Violence, a book that left a lasting impression on me. Miller was a psychoanalyst who, after twenty years of practicing psychoanalysis came to the realization that she could do more good by writing about the parent-child relationship for the general public. Her earlier work had led her to the conclusion that parents and teachers can harm children even when they believe they are acting in the best interest of the child.

I was particularly struck by her descriptions of child-rearing in Germany a century ago. Miller cited the work of Dr. Daniel Gottlieb Schreber, the inventor of the Schrebergärten (the German word for “small allotments”) and whose widely read books had an enormous influence of the way parents treated their children.

One of Schreber’s convictions was that when babies cry they should be stopped by the use of spanking, assuring his readers that “such a procedure is only necessary once, or at the most twice, and then one is master of the child for all time. From then on, one look, one single gesture will suffice.”

In effect, the experts of that period were saying that children were essentially little savages who needed to be tamed for their own good. Moreover, the abuse required for this taming process would simply fade from their minds once they matured into “civilized” adulthood; childhood experiences mattered only as a means to that end.

As Miller writes, “Many people - motivated by what they thought to be the best of intentions - complied with the advice given them by Schreber and other authors about how best to raise their children. Today we would call it a systematic instruction in child persecution and maltreatment.” Indeed physical punishment of children was finally officially condemned the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1998.

But there is absolutely no reason to think that German parents a hundred years ago loved their children any less that parents do now. They certainly did not set out to harm their children. They were simply using “approved” methods in much the same way that parents today rely on the advice available to them.

Intellectual honesty requires that we be open to the possibility that a century from now, some of our own parenting practices will be seen as having been as harmful as we today view those of 19th century Germany.

My own personal candidate for such a negative “look back” lies in field of posture - specifically the factors influencing postural development in our children and the ways in which parents and our schools attempt to promote good posture.

Most parents of school-aged children have become aware in recent years of the increasing weights their children are expected to carry to and from school in their backpacks. There has even been some discussion in the popular press about the harmful effects these packs have on the development of childrens’ posture.

Nonetheless at the same time, some middle and high schools are now being built without storage lockers - presumably to prevent students from storing drugs - thereby forcing them to carry these overweight packs from class to class. All the while their packs get heavier and heavier.

As I write this, I can picture a small child I recently noticed on his way to school. He was probably nine or ten years old. I suppose he would be about four feet tall if he were standing normally. But he wasn’t, thanks to his immense backpack. It was so heavy that his whole body curved sharply forward as he trudged along the sidewalk. He looked a little like an undersized and overloaded Sherpa on his way to Mt. Everest!

What makes me particularly upset is that I know what’s in store for kids like him once they reach school. They will be forced to use standardized chairs and desks that make no allowance for the natural variation in childrens” shapes and sizes - furniture chosen to save a few dollars and make them easier for the custodial staff to stack and move.

To add insult to injury, they may well be required - while sitting in those horrible chairs - to watch a video on the importance of good posture!

The conditions found in most schools today would never be tolerated in a workplace thanks to government regulations, union pressure, and the threat of lawsuits. But they are widely accepted for our kids in school, even though their young bodies are far more at risk of developing harmful posture patterns that can lead to pain and poor physical functioning in later life.

How can loving parents allow this to happen? How could the parents of the boy I saw possibly allow him to to leave their home carrying such a heavy pack? How could they fail to raise a fuss about the furniture in his classroom?

I believe the answer flows from the same sort of blindness that allowed parents of earlier generations to beat their children. In part this blindness is caused by genuine ignorance of the effects of heavy backpacks and poor school furniture design. But I believe the main reason is a pervasive tendency on the part of adults to discount the importance of childrens’ experience - the same sort of discounting that Alice Miller describes so eloquently in her books.

I would strongly advice parents to read one or more of Alice Miller’s books - they present compelling and well-documented evidence of the psychological harm caused by methods once thought to be good and proper. And then I would urge them to ask themselves if perhaps they aren’t inadvertently allowing a harm of a different kind to come to their own children.

By: Robert Rickover

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Get Magicjack

Baby furniture can be made up of many different pieces and often makes an ideal baby shower gift. With an endless variety of choices to choose from such as cribs and dressers or toy boxes and rocking chairs you can be sure to find that timeless shower gift.

Furniture goes in phases

A baby has furniture needs that older children and adults do not and happily there are many pieces of nursery and baby furniture to select from. One of the first pieces to look for when selecting furniture for a nursery is a baby crib. Depending on style, exuberance or functionality, this key staple in kids bedroom furniture can often set the tone for the rest of the room.

After cribs, a baby dresser is a much needed item in any nursery. This highly useful piece of children’s furniture provides much needed storage for all of baby’s things. In addition, the dresser has the potential of being a creative and fun part of any kids bedroom furniture set when painted in a bright color or theme. Nursery furniture can also include items such as changing tables, mattresses, toy boxes, rockers and bassinets.

Bringing make believe into your child’s world.

Children’s furniture can also help you add that whimsical touch of fantasy. Many designers and manufacturers of nursery furniture produce complete lines of childrens furniture in fun and colorful themes. Animals, cars, butterflies or fairies are all designs used to decorate lamps, bookcases, wall art and clothes stands for your little prince or princess.

Whatever your taste or budget you can find that classic piece of baby nursery furniture to give as a memorable gift.

By: Leo Cuccione

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Baby Clothing

Research has revealed that school library resources play a vital role in the developing judgment and practicality among students. School library furniture is the most fundamental component that makes up a well-organized library and encourages students to come and study.

Ideas for Children’s Library Furniture

Library furniture for classroom is generally a reduced version of the furniture used in other areas of the library. Main components of the children’s library furniture include tables, shelving units and chairs.

Shelving units that are shorter with small tables & chairs are ideal for a children’s library. This helps children to make use of the library and stay here for long periods as it provides them a better environment for enhanced learning.

Fundamental Elements of School Library Furniture

The most fundamental elements of school library furniture depends on how they will be utilized and what stuff the library will store. A few necessary library furniture items include bookcases, chairs, circulation desks, tables, periodical display stands, study carrels, book trucks and library shelving.

In some cases, media equipment is also used in advanced libraries, so before buying library furniture, estimate the requirements of the library in the long run. This will help you deal with any troubles in the future.

Using Mobile Library Shelving

Mobile library shelving units are perfect for transporting books from one place to another in multiple usage areas. It helps remove the shelving units when they are not in use. A bookcase on wheels, display books with drawers and cabinets are some different forms of mobile library furniture.

Utilizing Round Library Tables to your best advantage

Round library tables are extremely advantageous in majority of the libraries as they help students to sit in groups for discussions and activities. Therefore, watchful consideration should be granted to the arrangement of round library tables. These tables are ideal for areas where interaction is maximal, for example meeting rooms.

However, when arranging round tables, make sure you provide spacious aisle ways to leave room for moving around. Also, they should be well placed so that they do not get in the way of safety exits of the library.

Where to buy Library Furniture Supplies?

Library Furniture can be easily found in different places; usually the furniture stores near you or you can search online too. Getting library furniture from schools that are renovating their libraries and selling off their old furniture is also a great idea.

By: Lois J. Wright

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Dating

Children and dogs can be great companions, but what if your child itches and sneezes whenever he comes in contact with a dog? You can still own a dog in spite of your child’s allergy, but you just need to be more selective on what breed to choose.

The cause of your children’s allergy is usually the dog’s saliva, hair or dander. Dander is the skin flakes and scurf that’s constantly shed from a dog’s skin. Symptoms of an allergy to dogs include red and itchy eyes, a runny congested nose, sneezing and wheezing.

Fortunately, there are number of “hypoallergenic” dog breeds (also called low-allergy dogs or allergy-friendly dogs) available so your child can enjoy the companionship of a dog without any added health problems.

Allergy friendly breed choices include:

The Hairless Breeds

The Mexican Hairless Dog and the Chinese Crested Dog are unusual looking and because they have very little hair, if any, they can be good companions for children with allergies. However, they are not 100% allergy free, as they still shed dander, which can cause an allergic reaction in your child.

Maltese

Maltese are adorable, fluffy little dogs that love babies, children and even cats. That out-going attitude is part of their natural fearlessness. They shed very little, but their soft, silky coat does require regular grooming to preventing matting. Keep in mind that toy varieties can be too fragile for children, so choose a Maltese larger than seven pounds.

Poodle

Surprisingly, the dog breed famous for its abundant hair is actually low-allergy. The toy Poodle may be the best known, but poodles come in several sizes, ranging from toy (less than 11 inches) to standard (over 15 inches). These curious, acrobatic dogs are very intelligent and make great playmates. They require lots of interactive play and obedience training or they’ll invariably get into mischief. They don’t like to roughhouse, though, so children should be taught to play gently with them, and they need regular clipping and grooming.

Puli

If you’re looking for a larger dog with an unusual look, the Hungarian Puli might just be for you. Highly intelligent, agile, and protective, these dogs are ideal both as watchdogs and companions for active children. Just remember that they were bred as working dogs, so they need obedience training and plenty of daily exercise to prevent boredom and behavior problems. Also, although their coat is low-allergy, it does require considerable care.

If an allergy specialist has diagnosed you or your child with a dog allergy, it doesn’t mean you have to give up your pet. You can discuss the possibility of allergy shots or medication with your doctor, but there are also ways to reduce the allergens in your dog and your home so that you can continue to live happily with your dog. There are medications such as antihistamines that can treat your children’s allergy to dogs. If the allergy is particularly severe, you can have desensitising injections made which can stop your child reacting to the allergen.

A little extra work can also cut down on dog allergy symptoms. Vacuum the floor and furniture daily to pick up hair and dander using a machine with a HEPA (High-Efficiency particulate arresting) filter. Regularly clean walls with water to further reduce exposure to allergens and dust. Use washable blinds or shades, cotton-covered furniture, and limit the number of rugs, upholstered furniture, and drapes in the home. Opt for hardwood floors or tile rathe than wall-to-wall carpeting.

Regularly wash your dog’s bedding to make sure no hair builds up. Groom your dog as required for the breed. Be aware, though, that over-bathing can cause dry skin, which leads to more dander and more allergic reactions, so only wash as needed.

Look for symptoms of dermatitis in your dog, which often leads to accelerated skin sloughing and fur shedding. Always wash your hands after touching your dog and do not touch your eyes or other areas of your face before your hands are washed.

For most children, allergy problems don’t have to mean a childhood without pets. Choose a low-allergy dog like a Maltese, Poodle or one of the many other allergy-friendly dog breeds and your kids can have a puppy playmate to love without any sniffles or watery eyes.

By: Robert Lord

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Credit

It’s never been better to be a kid and sent to your room than it is today. The furniture market has finally started appreciating that even though they aren’t old enough to own credit cards, kids are a powerhouse when it comes to family furniture purchases, and have quite discerning tastes.

There has been an explosion of children’s bedroom furniture in recent years to cash in on the power of children to convince their parents what to buy for their personal space. Where there used to be just a basic bed, or bunk bed, dresser, mirror and maybe a nightstand, there are now complete themed pieces with matching desks, play areas and more.

Even before kids have a chance to tell their parents what they want, parents like to show off cute furniture for them. They may put their baby in a crib that looks like a pirate ship or a massive football. As the child grows, and is able to voice their own opinions, the bedroom furniture will change. It could become a car shaped bed for a NASCAR fan, a larger pirate themed bedroom set for the young swashbuckler, a 4-poster princess suite for a young princess, or even a complete carnival setting for the child that loves a day at the circus.

As a parent you have to decide a few things. First, how much is enough when it comes to themed bedding and second how often do you want to have to pay for a whole new bedroom set. These two questions really go together.

When you are purchasing the pieces of children’s bedroom furniture, you need to know if you want to pay a lot of money for all the pieces of a set, including a theme specific bed, or if you want to create the right look, by using not as theme specific furniture pieces.

There’s no doubt that a themed bedroom, complete with all the themed children’s bedroom furniture is fun and cheerful to see. But in a few years your child will be growing out of the theme phase they are currently in. That means they will want the look of their bedroom to go through a complete transformation.

Do you want to be hounded to completely change all the furniture in their room each time those likes and dislikes change? If your answer is no, you need to go about the decoration of their room a little differently. Instead of a bed shaped like a pirate ship, maybe you want to take a dark wood bed and cover it with theme appropriate bedding. You could even add a mast and sails going up the wall behind the bed, but those would be removable and can go away, for a fraction of the cost, when the theme preferences change.

Decorating with children’s bedroom furniture can be a fun and fantastic way to help your child develop their own space and character. Just make sure you have created a room they will be able to live with, as their character and wants change.

By: Jennifer Akre

About the Author:

Probate Lawyer

It doesn’t matter what type of kid’s play furniture you are looking for, you are able to find a massive selection that ranges in all types of materials and colors. Children feel much more grown up when they have their own furniture for their room that was specially designed with them in mind.

You can choose from kid’s rocking chairs, kid’s recliners, beanbags, and even small kid sized sofas that fit perfectly in their bedroom or play room. If you are looking for furniture for your kid’s room then the quality and craftsmanship is highly important. Make sure that you don’t select any kid’s furniture that tips over easily or has sharp edges of any kind.

For additional seating you can consider adding a kid’s table and chair set to their play room, bed room, or even the kitchen or living room. This will give your kids a special place for them to eat, do arts and crafts, read, or do school work. Kid’s tables and chair sets come in both wood and sturdy plastic and metal designs that are brightly colored.

When you are purchasing furniture for your kids’ room you need to make sure that you are investing in the most durable pieces. You need to invest in furniture that is strong enough to withstand your children and their friends playing and rough housing as children often do.

You can stick with furniture that is plain so that you will be able to keep it and use it as your kid grows. You will also be able to pass it down to your other children as they continue to grow. Some pieces of children’s furniture should be looked at more closely than others for safety reason such as a toy chest or box. These can have heavy lids of sharp corners, so make sure you choose one that is child proof.

By: J Anderson

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Affiliate Marketing

It is no secret that you can have a love for interior design even if you do not practice it as your profession. Basically, simply having a love for furniture and accents can bring you closer to the world of interior design than anything else. However, when you have children, you should know that you can get them involved in all of the aspects of interior design as well. Before you know it, you could have children surrounding you that are involved with not only the planning of the design of their bedrooms, but they could also help you execute the look.

In order to get started, go ahead and ask your children to see if they have any ideas or suggestions on the kinds of pieces that they would like to see in their bedroom. Talk with them about the kinds of colors that they would like to use as well as explain to them how textures can play a large role in bringing the complete look of a room together. Next up, you can work with them to get a selection of childrens bedroom furniture and interesting accent pieces that you can bring together to make their bedroom shine.

Start with the bed. Depending on their age your child may need a twin bed rather than a double bed. If their room is rather large you could include bunk beds or two twin beds in their room to accommodate guests. And choosing these beds or this bed is more than getting a mattress. Do you want a shabby chic white bed for a little girl or perhaps a car shaped bed for a little boy? And then you need to look at the accent childrens bedroom furniture to complete the look.

Table and chair sets are always a nice way to liven up a child’s room. In addition to that, storage options can also help to reduce the clutter and get your child organized. Storage chests or benches are a great way to store toys and other things for your little one. When it comes to children’s bedroom furniture the possibilities are endless.

Another thing to consider is purchasing childrens bedroom furniture that will grow with your child. Furniture that works for every phase helps to create a great space for kids that can be easily adapted as they mature into their own style. So when they leave the nest a few tweaks can transform their room into a fabulous guest room.

Once you have decided on the large pieces of childrens bedroom furniture you can add a few choice accessories to the look you have created. Good lighting with fun accents can round off the entire look of the bedroom. From bright lamps to whimsical chandeliers the right light completes the look and fills the space with light and life. So unleash your little one’s imagination and let them make choices and create their own space. Your child, or children, will surely benefit from learning all about interior design.

By: Jennifer Akre

About the Author:

Part Time Income

You’re searching for unique and beautiful decorations for your child’s bedroom. You’ve visited countless stores to view the largest possible selection, poured through children’s and parenting magazines to make sure your up to date on the latest styles, spent hours on the phone trying to find that unique child’s room accessory that will complete your child’s bedroom. But you didn’t have to spend all that time and energy! Shopping for children’s bedding, furniture and room décor is now easier and more delightful than ever. The secret? Shopping online! If you are still unconvinced, here are 5 compelling reasons why shopping online for all your children’s room décor needs is easier, cheaper and more fun than shopping in brick and mortar stores:

1. More selection than any one store can hold –
Shopping online offers you virtually unlimited selection. A brick and mortar store can only hold so many samples for display. And you can move from store to store with a simple click. Don’t know how to find a reputable online store? Simply type in what you are searching for into any search engine and volumes of online store options are instantly at your fingertips.

2. Better pictures give you better viewing of products -
Online companies make their business by selling with their pictures. Their photos are generally better and higher quality than print catalogs. Online companies also typically offer you views of products at various angles. In a brick and mortar store, space is limited so you will often be shopping by catalog anyway if you prefer a style or color that is not on display.

3. Saves you time and energy – If you are a new parent or soon-to-be new parent, these are the most precious commodities to you right now! Instead of spending hours driving from store to store, dealing with harried salespeople, waiting in lines, asking questions, try browsing a children’s bedding and furniture store online. You can accomplish your shopping in one tenth the time and effort and also view all available color and style options instantly.

4. Buying online is often cheaper – Online stores offering children’s room décor are often able to offer designer quality products at less cost to you. Why? They have less overhead costs without a storefront, less salespeople to pay salaries to, less utilities to pay. These savings are passed along to you. Not to mention all the hidden savings to you when you shop online: gas to drive from store to store, meals and snacks often accompanied by shopping trips, paying babysitters or taking time off from work to shop.

5. Less buying and delivery hassle – You’ve found the perfect children’s furniture to fit your child’s room décor. Now all you have to do is enter in some information and click. No waiting in a long line for the next available salesperson. No waiting for someone to check on delivery dates and times. Purchasing online eliminates all that hassle by allowing you to pay securely and informing you of shipping times and cost right up front.

So start building your child’s ideal bedroom right now without leaving your seat!

By: Amber Lipson

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Gifts for Babies

Lest you think that feng-shui is Chinese mambo-jambo based on superstitions, feng-shui actually contains common sense advice and good aesthetic sense in decorating your house. You will delightedly discover that feng-shui can even be applied to the kids’ table & chairs in your children’s bedrooms.

Color Me Light and Happy

Color plays a very important part in our lives - it can both influence our moods and convey our feelings in ways more powerful than actions and words. Thus, you have to choose colors for the kids’ table & chairs that not only harmoniously blends in with the general color theme of the bedroom but will also favorably influence your children’s moods.

According to the principles of feng-shui, your best color choices for children’s furniture are earth-toned light colors that encourage relaxation and happiness. You can opt for colors like warm yellows, light oranges, soothing terracotta, pleasing greens, pale violets and baby pinks. Of course, this color scheme also goes for the entire bedroom.

On the other hand, you have to avoid installing dark-colored kids’ table & chairs that induces dark moods. Stay away from depressingly dark blues, sinister black trims, and boring gray shades in kids’ furniture if you wish to make for a welcoming children’s bedroom.

However, you have to consult your children on your color choices especially when they are of an age when color preferences are more pronounced. You can compromise by explaining your reasons for your color theme and allowing your child to pick out the style of the kids’ table & chairs he wants.

Location, Location, Location

In feng-shui, the location of furniture and fixtures in the bedrooms is paramount. Thus, you will hear of beds accessible from both sides, beds not facing the door’s direct line of sight, and beds with headboards in feng-shui.

For kids table & chairs, the best location you can provide for is at the northeast corner of the bedroom. With a study lamp to complete the setup, you are reinforcing the value of education and the value you attach to his accomplishments, big and small, academic and artistic and athletic. On the south wall, you can set up a display area for all his accomplishments like crafts, citation letters, awards, ribbons, trophies and even test papers with good scores!

The important thing is that the bedroom’s layout of furniture and fixture is conducive to free and easy movement during the daytime and relaxed contentment during the nighttime. In this line, remember that for children, less clutter is better.

Optimal Lighting

Though you have to encourage children not to be afraid of the dark, you have to ensure that their bedrooms have optimal lighting. Not only is this strongly advised by feng-shui practitioners but it holds common sense advice because children do need to see well within the confines of their bedrooms.

That said, you can put in lights in the bedrooms that contain several levels of lighting, of which dimmers are the best choice. However, if you do not want dimmers, then just ensure that the lights are neither too strong nor too weak. The latter discourages good sleeping patterns while the latter strains the eyes, both of which are definitely not good for children’s health.

Again, you have to ensure that the kids’ table & chairs set that serve as their study-cum-studio area contain appropriate lighting. You don’t want your little Einstein and Little Picasso to suffer from sub-par lighting!

Indeed, with a little practice, feng-shui can be easy and good for you and your children!

By: Rony Pollock

About the Author:

Baby Health