Some argue that girls should not share a room with boys from nine years

BY CLAIRE NABWIRE

The question of whether siblings should have individual rooms or not depends on whether the parent or guardian can afford that luxury. However, would this very factor make it okay for siblings of the opposite sex to share a room?

For toddlers, this might not raise eyebrows. In fact, it might actually be seen as ‘cute’. The story would be completely different, however, over time.

Peter Arinaitwe, a 22-year-old student at Uganda Christian University, admits to sleeping in his brothers’ rooms once in a while in spite of having his own room. “I have two brothers and one sister – sometimes, we have sleepovers in each other’s rooms, that is except for my sister. That would just be weird!” he says.

Toks, a trained paediatric nurse, a stay-at-home mother of two boys, is convinced that it is society that has made it seem abominable for children of the opposite sex to share a room.

However, Enoch believes that there could be advantages in having children of the opposite sex share a room.

“This gradually builds some knowledge of the opposite sex (different body features, abilities and needs) and maintains respect and bondage for each other,” Enoch says.

He says he came to this conclusion having made certain observations every time his five-year-old niece stays over. But Toks says starting at the age of nine, girls should not share a room with male siblings. “When the children’s bodies start to change, for instance, it might become uncomfortable for them,” she points out.