When you’re a child, your bedside table is a place for all of your treasures. It’s a place to store your favorite books, keep your glasses close by, and put your alarm clock within reach. If you’re looking to give your child the perfect bedroom set-up, make sure to include these must-have items on their bedside table!
Flashlights
No matter how old your child is, if they sleep in a room of their own, it is a good idea to place an EDC flashlight in their bedside drawer. EDC flashlights are small enough so it fits anywhere easily. If your child likes to read under the covers, rechargeable EDC flashlights will give them a long runtime, and alert them to when the battery is low.
Having a flashlight ensures that your child never wakes up to find themselves in darkness. In addition, it will also give them a sense of security and responsibility when they know they can light up the room quickly if they need to.
Books
If there is one gift you can give your child, it is the gift of knowledge and imagination. Whether you have a young child who is learning to read, or an older kid who has a voracious appetite for words, keep a few different types of books in their bedside drawer.
By doing so, you will help them use their time in a constructive way if they can’t seem to sleep just yet. It will also encourage them to reach out for a book any time they feel lonely or bored. A practice that will serve them well into adulthood.
First Aid Kit
You don’t have to get too elaborate, but keeping a basic first aid kit in your child’s bedside drawer is a good idea. Children, with their packloads of energy, are prone to bumping themselves and getting hurt. Placing a first aid kit within reach will teach them that they are capable of taking care of themselves.
You can purchase a premade kit or build your own with a few basic items like a disinfectant, gauze, and cool bandages.
A Notebook and Pen
We all know that journaling is a good practice, but many adults have to build this habit from scratch. Help your child practice journaling when they are young by placing a notebook and pen by their bedside. You can encourage them to write about their day before they call it a night. This will help instill a daily writing habit.
A notebook and pen is also a good thing to have at hand should your child have any ideas they want to write down. This will help them build a sense of confidence and ownership over their thoughts.
A Clock
Discipline is one of the most important traits you can encourage in your child. Instead of nagging your child about it being time to eat, sleep, or study, help them take control of their actions by placing a clock on their bedside table. Give them the autonomy of setting alarms for various activities.
You can choose to go with a clock that has extra features such as lighting up your room in sunrise colors every morning. This will take the clock from being a simple item to a cool gadget that your child will love. If your child is interested in the mechanics of things, then a clock with a transparent body that shows all the gears and needles will be an exciting addition in their room.
Being a parent comes with several responsibilities, but being a child is also not easy! Help your child transition through various life stages by making small additions to their everyday life that nudge them toward responsibility and freedom.
