More often than not, having to share a room is the best arrangement for your kids. But letting your kids be roommates has downsides too. Some children may want their own personal space and for others being so close together means they will fight more. And if the kids are far apart in age or the opposite sex it may be even harder on them.

Here are some strategies to cope with room shring.

• Give your children a say. Ask them how they feel about sharing a room and how you can make it easier for them. If they feel they have contributed to the way the bedroom looks they will be more apt to listen and cooperate.

• Have ground rules. Set ground rules such as having to ask the other sibling to touch their toys or their bed. Let them suggest punishments (within reason) because they will be more likely to accept the rules.

• Create a personal space for each child. Let each child create their own personal space by picking out bedding and pictures for "their" own side. Use bookshelves and dividers that can help break up a room so then the children can have their own personal space.

• Have a place where your children can put their things that are off limits to others. Designate a place like a drawer or a shelf where your children can have their things in a safe place that only they can touch.

• Spend equal time with your children. Make sure you spend some one on one time with your children in their room. It can be reading a book or talking about their day.

• Sleep issues should be solved right away. Bedtime can be the biggest challenge. There is ways you can make sure they get enough sleep. Try letting an older child play quietly in another room while the other child goes to sleep. And if one child gets up earlier than the other child have toys in another room for them to play with until the other child wakes up.

• Ask your children regularly if they are happy with the situation. Check with your children to make sure they are happy with shring a room and if they have any complaints. If they do see if there is any way you can fix the situation, so they stay happy.

• Special Circumstances. If your kids have more than a four year age gap the older child may need more privacy. At night when the baby is sleeping have the bigger sibling use a radio with headphones so they won't keep the littler one awake.

If the children are opposite genders, make the room gender friendly. Look for ways for the children to have privacy. Use dividers or partitions to help with this.