Feng Shui Tips: Using Feng Shui for Children with Special Needs

Whether you want to believe in it or not, incorporating feng shui into your life can have tremendous benefits. You don't have to believe in 'magic,' or that your life will 'miraculously' change for the better in an instant. When it all comes down to it, the principles of feng shui, or the Chinese philosophy of creating peace and harmony in a persons life through yin and yang balance, can help anyone become more organized. When you are leading an organized life, things just naturally feel better. Organization is one of the key to success. Organization can also leave anyone feeling less stressed, less disoriented and free.

Feng Shui and Mood Disorders in Children

When it comes to children with special needs -- autism, ADHD, ADD or other mood disorders, feng shui can be particularly helpful in balancing these mood imbalances. According to Maureen Calamia, author of Feng Shui for Children with Special Needs, "through the arrangement of objects, use of color, shapes, textures, and some common sense, Feng Shui helps to remove environmental stress." Environmental stresses may influence or exacerbate certain mood disorders in children. While feng shui cannot totally cure children suffering from autism, ADHD, or ADD, feng shui does change the energy flow in a child's environment, causing an improvement on behavior, cognitive ability, improved relationships, focus, mood, learning and memory.

Improving the Chi, or Energy Flow in Children's Bedrooms

The bedroom is supposed to be a child's safe sanctuary, and emit 'yin' or soft, healing, quiet energy. Environmental stresses in the bedroom can cause the 'yang' effect -- clutter and disorganization can create disruptive, hyperactivity in children if it is not removed. Clutter and disorganization can interfere with the natural energy flow in the room, obstructing healing energy from flowing through a space like it is supposed to. Clutter produces 'chaos' and 'disorganization' which can in turn, contribute to a child's nervous system, causing them to lose focus, limit concentration and alter their mood.

Removing Clutter

The first step to changing a child's environment is to declutter it. One of the important things to do is to remove unwanted items and give them away (or toss out) that decrease the child's mobility. For instance, stuffed animals that are no longer being played with, books lying on the floor, or toys and clothes thrown in the corner in a heap is a huge no-no. Everything has a place where it should go. Invest in containers and boxes to organize items, encouraging your child to assist in the organization and clean-up process.

Mood Improving Bedroom Colors

Studies have concluded that colors make an impact on a person's mood. As you can imagine, children with special needs need calmer, cooler hues to help them balance. Calamia suggests that younger children have a light colors -- light blues, yellows, purples -- pastel colors to relax their mood. Teenagers with mood disorders can benefit from deeper colors (like mature ).

Bed Location

This one of the most important pieces of furniture in the child's room. Proper sleep is an obvious must for children with special needs. First thing first, the bed should be an appropriate size for the child. Invest in a new bed if the child has outgrown it. Beds should have a sturdy headboard to signify strength and stability. Headboards should be sturdy and solid and against the wall. The bed frame should be at least 20 to 30 cm above the ground. Position the bed in a direction that won't contribute to poor sleep or irritability; make sure that the bed is not in line with the door. Nothing, not even storage boxes, should be underneath the bed. Clutter should be removed from underneath the bed in order to allow energy to flow freely throughout the room.

Desk Position

Like the bed, do not place the desk in line with the door (and don't allow their backs to face the door). Posters and photos that adorn the desk should not have sharp edges, or violent depictions of art (it creates bad mood/energy).

Air Flow

Natural light and a good amount of fresh air circulation can naturally lift a child's mood. During the summer or spring months, place light colored blinds/curtains up in the windows so that the natural light can seep through. Allow the air to circulate freely - utilize fans, air conditioning and natural air flow when necessary to prevent the room from getting too hot and stuffy.

Things to REMOVE

Remove all traces of water like aquariums and fountains, live plants, and mirrors because they create yang energy. EMTs or electromagnetic frequencies that are found in televisions, video games, computers, cell phones and other electronic devices should not be placed in a child's room. Harsh energies emitted from electronic devices zapp children of energy which contributes to restlessness and imbalances in mood and behavior.

For More Tips on Feng Shui visit the Feng Shui Tips Blog