A child’s bedroom is more than just a place to sleep and play. It is an opportunity to nurture the child’s connection to G‑d from the earliest age. By surrounding children with reminders of Torah and mitzvot, we help instill faith and good habits to accompany them throughout life. From the mezuzah on the doorway to the holy books and tzedakah box in the room, these small details help transform a child’s room into an environment of holiness.
Where to Put the Mezuzah?
Like most other rooms in the home, the child's bedroom requires a mezuzah.
It is customary in many homes that the children are taught to kiss the mezuzah on their bedroom door before going to sleep and upon awakening. This helps instill in them from a young age the awareness that G‑d watches over and protects them.1 The Rebbe praised this custom, explaining that what children see and hear leaves a lasting impression, and kissing the mezuzah engraves in their hearts the recognition that there is one G‑d who watches over them and everything in their room. This early lesson in faith can positively influence their service of G‑d throughout their lives.2
It would seem that based on this custom, some mistakenly place the mezuzah on the doorway of the child’s room at a child’s height. Care should be taken that the mezuzah is placed correctly, which, among other details, is on the bottom of the top third of the doorway,3 even if the child is not able to reach the mezuzah without being held or standing on a stool.
For more on kissing the Mezuzah, see Why Kiss the Mezuzah?
If you are going to change diapers in the room in view of the mezuzah, make sure the mezuzah does not have a clear cover through which the parchment can be seen.4
A Room of Light
The Rebbe encouraged every Jewish child to transform their bedroom into a place of Torah, prayer, and good deeds,5 fulfilling the verse,6 “Make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell among them.”7 Each child should have their own holy books, at least a Chumash, Siddur, and Passover Haggadah,8 and preferably a book of Psalms as well.9
The child’s name should be written in each book, prefaced with the words LaHashem ha’aretz umelo’ah, “The earth and all it contains belong to G‑d”10).11
A tzedakah (charity) box should also be placed prominently in the room,12 preferably attached to the wall.13 These items serve as daily reminders to learn Torah, pray to G‑d, and give charity (except on Shabbat and Yom Tov), filling the child’s personal space with holiness and helping shape their values from a young age.
Decor
You can choose any color and design for your child’s room. However, if you are using images of animals, know that not all animals are created equal. Although strictly speaking there is no halachic prohibition against looking at non-kosher animals (or pictures of them), many emphasize the importance of guarding one’s eyes from gazing at “devarim temei’im” (impure things or creatures).14 The Rebbe strongly emphasized the importance of this for young children, whose impressions are especially formative, to encourage and train them to focus their eyes on positive and holy images.15
In light of this, one should be careful that pictures decorating a child's room are not of negative things or pictures of non-kosher animals.
Shir Lama’alot in a Newborn's Room
There is a time-honored Jewish custom to hang a paper or card with Psalm 121, Shir Lama’alot, in a newborn’s room as a source of protection for the mother and child. If the newborn is sleeping in the mother’s room, then it would be hung over the doorway of that room.16 This also serves an educational purpose: ensuring that one of the first things the child sees is something holy. 17
Washing Cup and Basin
Once a child understands that washing one’s hands ritually in the morning removes the spiritual impurity that rests on the hands during sleep, they should be taught to wash their hands (“negel vasser”) upon waking in the morning, after reciting Modeh Ani. Since one should not walk four cubits before washing, a cup of water and a basin should be prepared beside the child’s bed before they go to sleep.18
