Even before Marna Louis' second child was born, she and her husband knew that the baby would be a sharing a room with their older daughter, regardless of if it were a boy or a girl. Kari and Matt Lee desperately needed a music room to give private lessons in, so they moved their son into a room with his two sisters.

Fifty years ago, sharing a room was common. Then it went out of fashion. Families got smaller, houses grew into mini mansions. But today, due to the economy or just a choice to live smaller and smarter, kids are starting to share rooms again. And sometimes those siblings are a brother and a sister, either through necessity or by choice.

Benefits of Sharing a Room
Many parents have fond memories of sharing a room. Or at the very least they recognize the value of the lessons they learned while sharing. "Sharing a room teaches kids how to share and respect private space. Those are related issues but different," explains Russell Hyken, an Educational Diagnostican and psychotherapist and creator of www.ed-psy.com. "You need those skills in life. They're good to learn at an early age with natural consequences."

Many parents find that when brothers and sisters share a room, the squabbling is much less than between the same-sex siblings.

"There is usually more competitiveness and rivalry with same sex siblings," explains James J. Crist, Ph.D. author of Siblings, You're Stuck with Each Other, So Stick Together! "Siblings of the opposite sex just don't breed that same conflict. It's the same way that girls in the classroom can moderate boys."

Frequently, boys and girls have different interests so there isn't the same competition for toys, clothes, and even friends. It can actually be a happier, healthier experience than same gender sharing.

Logistics for Boys and Girls
Louis' daughter and son have been sharing a room since birth. They're now ten and eight. "For us, the decision was a space issue so early on we felt it was easy for them to do. It's worked out really well and been a great experience for them. It's a nice time for them to share together and it's definitely brought them closer."

In fact, parents may find that kids spend so little time in their rooms that it's not much of an issue. Rory Leahy has boy/girl twins who shared a room until fourth grade. "It wasn't like they made it a social space. They get along really well and it was a nice experience for them."

First lady Michelle Obama shared a room with her brother Craig Robinson while growing up. Today both of them speak openly about how this set the foundation for an extremely close brother/sister relationship over the years.

Hyken recommends that any time siblings share a room, parents should sit down and talk about boundaries. "When friends come over, where does the other sibling go, do they play with the friends? Are any toys or areas off limits? Are they treating other siblings appropriately? These are conversations all parents should have if their kids share a room."

As They Grow
Eventually some special accommodations need to be made, particularly as kids approach puberty. This doesn't mean that they need to be split up, just be respectful of privacy issues. For Louis' family, this meant rotating the morning and evening routines. "Usually, we'll have one of them get ready and get dressed in the bedroom while the other is brushing their teeth in the bathroom. That kind of time management really eases some of the tension."

Crist agrees. "The one issue that gets problematic as they get older is the sense of modesty," he notes. Often a simple adjustment is all that's needed.

"Once they are aware of the differences, they just shouldn't undress in front of each other. Use the room for sleep and play. If parents are concerned, have a rule of leaving the door open."

It's always important to talk to kids directly and see how they feel about it. If parents set ground rules and discuss privacy and boundary issues in advance, they're much less likely to see conflict.

Overwhelming Benefits
Brothers and sisters who share a room receive a lifelong lesson in how the opposite sex thinks and acts. They learn how boys and girls are different and how they are the same. They're not nearly as prone to stealing each other's toys and they're more likely to be protective of each other. They are also more likely to have a healthier attitude towards the opposite sex.

Besides, all that talking and giggling at bedtime, annoying though it can be at the time, will be remembered well into adulthood.

Laura Amann is a freelance writer and the mother of three girls and one boy. Her son and daughter choose to share a room.