Reasons why curtains should be opened ...

[crimboAkimbo]

I've been trying for several years to train my teen to open his bedroom curtains in the mornings. It's not a huge issue, but I don't think it's an unreasonable thing to aspire to is it?

Thing is, his bedroom is at the back of the house and he doesn't go in it much between getting dressed in the morning and getting undressed at the end of the day. So, being in possession of a hyper-logical teenage brain, he just doesn't see the point.

Whenever this comes up (regularly) I have to go round the "but why?" loop, so I trot out the same old arguments - it's the respectable thing to do, it's good training for the future when you're living with other people, it's simple and I've asked you to do it so why not, it's my house and my rules, no play-station till they're open, etc etc. However, clearly none of these arguments are clinching enough to drive a permanent change of habit.

Any advice? (I know I will get "stop worrying about it and give him a break" but I'm hoping for some more positive steers too).

I think the reason that you are struggling to find a good reason for this is because there isn't really one. It's just a preference you have. I don't really understand the reasons you have listed here tbh.

This ^ from P1.
I've read all 9 pages and still can't see any reason for this to be worth hassling him over.
We rarely open the windows in one of our rooms (as no-one tends to use it during the day) and we've never have any issues with damp, mould, or smells, so not sure where you are getting that one from.

It's rare that you get such polarised views on MN.
As usual this type of thread brings out nasty judgmental comments. I highly, highly doubt a future girlfriend would dump him because he doesn't open his curtains, don't be so bloody ridiculous. For all you know she could be exactly the same! There are far, far worse things a partner could do than not open their curtains.
Don't nag him about it. As I'm sure you're aware, teenagers hate nagging. It won't achieve anything.

We live in a ground floor apartment with huge windows (106 inches x 72 inches), we leave the blinds in the bedrooms closed most days, unless it is a day we are in and it is hot and then the windows are open as wide as they will go. The lounge we open the slats on normal days and fully with the windows open on hot days. The bedroom windows do have the vents open and when it gets a bit warmer they will be opened as much as you can and still close the handle. This does allow air circulation.

many, many houses and not one had curtains closed. Most normal people don't

Depends where you live - I live in a terrace house where our front window overlooks a busy street with a lot of passing foot traffic. I keep the curtains closed if I'm using the room because I don't enjoy being stared at by all the passing pedestrians.

I do open the curtains when I remember but sometimes if we're rushing to work/school then they stay closed in the morning and then by the time we get home it's getting dark so no point opening them again.

"at most it atkes 5 seconds to open the curtains". That my darling depends upon how many windows one has

And whether you have curtains or blinds and what kind of windows. I worked it out if i went round in the morning opening all the binds it would take about 25 mins then again in the evening to close them. Considering I don't have time to shower every day, it's not time i would spend on that!

I do it twice a week when i clean the house and open all the windows. Also i think of our blinds as wall art. I like to look at the fabric.

Because there will be more light in the hall way with the door open. I don't see what other purpose it would serve though. Maybe just remove all his light bulbs so he has no choice but to open them so that he can get dressed.

But what about natural light?

But what about natural light?

Babyplaymat What about it?

Agree that there is no reason for opening bedroom curtains except that some people prefer it.

We never open our bedroom curtains but the windows are permanently either open or on vent except when below freezing outside so they are constantly aired.

In contrast, because we aren't overlooked at the back, we never close the curtains at the back of the house and some rooms don't have curtains at all.

We do close the back living room curtains in winter to keep the heat in, and close the front living room curtains when dark for privacy.

Your current reasons for telling him to open them are not really logical and are purely about asserting your control. If you say open the curtains and window slightly to give the room an airing , that makes logical
sense and he may not feel he’s just being put upon. I’d also suggest you tell him that if he doesn’t and there’s mould, condensation etc....in his room as a result you’ll whack him with the bill.

I'd hate the curtains shut all day. When a child is young, they need to know the difference between day and night to regulate their body clock for sleeping surely? Just can't see why anyone would not want natural light in their house. I hate curtains not being opened when it's daylight.

When a child is young, they need to know the difference between day and night to regulate their body clock for sleeping surely?

That might be a point if they spent all day every day in the one room with the curtains closed.

Plus, OP’s DS is a teenager. Teenage body clocks are all over the place anyway, they aren’t the same as an adult one.

I used to do this, I was basically a hermit vampire type creature when in my bedroom... and now as an adult I can’t stand curtains being closed.

If you want it airing then just go in and open his window when he’s out, or ask him to and give him a print out of how condensation can cause mould and such.

My maw used to march into my teenage bedroom and wheech open the curtains because otherwise what would the neighbours think. Took me decades to work out what the neighbours might think.

Dusty mites don't like daylight and direct sunlight kills them. Open your curtains but leave the bed unmade. That way when you get back into bed the dust mites aren't crawling all over the mattress multiplying in number. Google a picture of the little horrors for added effect.