If you had a large and spacious five-bedroom/four bathroom home, would you...

[Bonsoir]

... make your two DCs (10 and 8) share the smallest bedroom?

In this family, there is a "family sitting room" which is large and spacious and contains a television and computers etc. So there is no issue about electronics.

Is it possible that the girls chose to share and also chose their room?

We use our bedrooms for sleeping in, and usually for getting dressed in. Homework and play is done downstairs. Why would I have a large house and expect my children just to inhabit one room each of it? They spend most of their time in our shared living areas with me or dh. If the dc aren't begging for separate rooms then am not sure what the problem is? Esp if the dc are both boys then don't see much reason for them being desperate for their own space. We've gone for no electrics in bedrooms etc (bar kindles!)

That said, I have friends who have far larger age gaps and different genders. The only way their families can live together is to keep everyone as far apart as possible!

Not sure it is about control, more about how extrovert/introvert your family members are. DH is a real introvert. He has his mancave upstairs (home studio) for when he needs it.

The boys didn't choose to share or choose that particular room - they were tiny things in nursery school when the family moved in. The younger DS was pre-verbal.

The point about introversion/extraversion is a good one. My DD and my DSS1, who are both slightly introverted (like me), need their caves! Whereas my DSS2 is much more relaxed about sharing space. In this family, I would say that the older DS is slightly introverted - probably not the younger DS.

It isn't what I would do, but I can see some sense in it, as in a big house it is easier to be remote from each other and sharing spaces gives daily opportunity for getting along well.

Ours share now at ages 11 and 13 but have both expressed a desire to have a bit more of their 'own space' when we move house as we are giving them the attic space which will be subdivided into two rooms and a toilet added but really is just one large room still.

I think it's nice to have a playroom that is part of the family living space, rather than a bedroom. Sounds like quite a good set up to me.

There is, however, no choice necessary: there is currently a playroom, a family living room (with electronics) and four remaining bedrooms, one of which is a guest room, one the parents' room, one the boys' room and one a dumping ground for suitcases.

Its not that unusual for two boys 8 and 10 to want to share a room so unless you know that they are reluctant sharers then its not weird. However, using the bedroom with ensuite as a storage room is a bit weird.

I think it's strange. Surely if they wanted to share you would give them a bigger bedroom?

Are they likely to move? I lived in an expat community where all the children shared bedrooms almost as a just in case they got posted somewhere with smaller living arrangements and to make avelling (sharing hotel rooms) much easier.

Also with a playroom the children don't sound neglected

Travelling not avelling

Personally I think that sharing is a great idea, but I don't see why it would have to be in the smallest room. My two DSs share, a large double room. They also have a downstairs playroom.

well come judge me, because I have the same number of bedrooms and children / people in my house and guess what, they share. They share because they begged to, and they don't wake each other up.
And no, they don't have desks in there - they have a table in the playroom, and very few toys at all in the bedroom, just books & soft toys because they go to the bedroom to sleep.
Simply can't work out why on earth this would cause you the degree of interest it has to make you post an entire thread about it. Do you get concerned about the allocation of pots / plates / food in their kitchen cupboards too?

My two boys have a playroom and a tiny bedroom each. They are more than happy with the arrangement. They would have preferred to share really but that would have made for a very small playroom.

If they are happy to share let them share. I've a few friends who shared with siblings despite there being a spare room because they liked it and the company. In one case the sisters shared until they left home.

If they have a play room it isn't as if they are going to struggle for space to play and I'm sure the play room will get adapted and become a study/lounge area for the boys as they grow up.

Why judge? My children could (and did) have a bedroom each, but chose to share. We put the suitcases in another bedroom too - as a professional traveller you need to have a selection handy! Doesn't mean I'm mean to my kids.

I can see the logic, it contains the mess & reduces cleaning. Maybe a touch of promoting bonding, too. Don't see a problem.

No-one is judging the sharing aspect! Still don't see why they wouldn't have a bigger room to do it though if there are 5!