By Lisa Scontras

Parents who might not know their yin from their yang are learning to beat the back- to-school blues with feng shui.

Whether it’s enhancing a child’s performance in school, protecting them from illness, promoting creativity or encouraging harmonious interaction with friends, the Chinese philosophy of feng shui can help and it’s a good way to get the school year off to a positive start.

The first rule among feng shui experts is to minimize clutter — a slow-moving energy that can hold children back.

“It’s all about creating the optimal environment,” says Alice Inoue, feng shui consultant and teacher. “We want to surround your child with positive beaming energy. If they are peaceful, comfortable, secure and supported, then their curiosity will be heightened, they will feel good and want to learn.”

Inoue’s definition of feng shui is less technical than some of her colleagues — she simply describes feng shui as being a nature-based philosophy that is all about movement and the energy created by your environment. But her less-formal approach to the study still carries a powerful significance.

“Everything in your environment brings an energy that either supports you or weakens you,” Inoue says. “If you are in a room where the faucet is dripping, unread magazines are piled up, there is a broken lamp and dirt all around, you are losing energy from each of those things. If in that same environment, there is beautiful music playing, a thriving plant, and a vase that you absolutely love, energy is coming to you from those items.”

In a child’s room, there are some simple steps you can take to improve the feng shui. Some of the suggestions are common sense and some may come as a surprise, but each are intended to encourage better health, clearer focus, enhance communication, promote independence and heighten self esteem in your child.

Everything in its place

The first rule among feng shui experts like Inoue is to minimize the clutter. Because clutter — which in a child’s room might be old toys or clothing that is outgrown — is a slow moving energy, according to Inoue, it can hold kids back.

“Make sure your child’s room is fresh and new,” she says. “It should be growing — just like they are.”

That doesn’t mean the room has to be spotless, or sterile looking. She says that the ideal kind of nurturing environment will be filled with things the child loves.

Art on the wall

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Well-chosen wall art can promote friendship and camaraderie.

Pay attention to the art on the walls — you might be surprised by its significance in affecting your child’s behavior on a subconscious level. It’s important to evaluate the message the art may be sending. Is it encouraging and positive? Or is it sending keiki the wrong message. Even some scenes from the classic, wholesome storytales such as “Winnie the Pooh” may actually drain energy from a room.

Inoue relates a story of a young boy who didn’t like going to school because he was being bullied. When looking closer at the art hanging in his room, it became clear that the cute pictures of Pooh mirrored his predicament. In one picture, Pooh was in a powerless position on his back while Tigger stood on top of him.

“While it looks friendly, it’s not a comfortable place to be for anyone,” says Inoue, who suggested replacing it with a picture of Winnie on equal footing with his friends, promoting friendship and camaraderie.

Images should be grounding and inspiring to help a child feel empowered.

Position of the bed

According to feng shui master Clarence Lau, there are two places you should definitely not put the bed. Avoid placing the bed where the foot points out the door, and avoid positioning it under a window — as either can present health issues.

Realtor associate and feng shui specialist Sharissa Chun says pointing the feet out the door is considered bad luck because that is the way the Chinese used to carry out the dead.

Chun, who has worked with the Dept. of Education on the subject of feng shui, says that the placement of the bed is important because it affects the child’s quality of sleep.

“If, because of space limitations, your child’s head is under a window, close the blinds,” says Chun. “Blinds act like a wall — and the wall is symbolic of stability so you’re less exposed.”

Experts agree that the child should be able to see the door from the bed — that is considered the power position and it makes them feel safe.

It is also not recommended that a bathroom be on the other side of the wall from your child’s head.

“In a bathroom, the energy is going down,” says Inoue. “You don’t want that kind of energy when your child is sleeping and needs to be restored.”

Often, parents find that when they move their keiki’s bed to a location with better feng shui, they notice the child sleeps better and their study habits improve.

“Try not to have mirrors or mirrored closet doors in the room where they sleep,” adds Lau. “This is one of the most important things to remember as mirrors can interfere with their sleep causing kids to have bad dreams.”

Use of color

Color is an easy way to bring the essence of nature indoors.

“When you choose colors for your child’s room, look outside,” Inoue says. “Nature is the way it should be ... the birds are chirping, the water is flowing, trees are growing. Colors from nature are soothing, comfortable and will help to center them.”

Inoue suggests using the natural shades of green for life, blue for knowledge and earth tones for stability.

“Avoid using too much red or orange,” she says. “Those are high energy colors and children have enough energy — you don’t need to give them more, especially in the bedroom where it’s intended they rest.”

Things that are growing

Children need plants in their room — symbolic of growth, according to Inoue. Live plants are better than silk plants. But if you’re not very good with plants, silk plants are better than dead plants.

Also, avoid spiky plants. Plants with round and smooth leaves are the best.

Study habits

Lau recommends that parents display awards or trophies in the child’s room or where they study to show your child they are important, promote self confidence and encourage them to do more.

“Showcasing their achievement can inspire them to work harder,” Lau says.

If the desk is in the bedroom, use the same placement rules as for the bed.

Peter Lung, owner of the World of Feng Shui Boutique in Honolulu, suggests displaying an amethyst gem tree next to your child’s desk to enhance the thinking process. Amethyst improves the thinking process, he says.

“Wear (an amethyst gem) on your left hand to encourage logical thinking as well as reduce stress,” says Lung. “Place the amethyst stone at the southeast of the bedroom for better relationships with friends and family.”

Lung recommends placing a crystal globe on the child’s study table to invite the knowledge of world into his or her space. Additionally, maps can promote an interest in geography and encourages worldly interest.

“If you are a student, this will bring you luck in your studies and examinations,” he says.

Create hugs in the room

Experts say round objects contribute to good feng shui.

Lastly, Inoue talks about linear energy and points out that in nature there are no straight lines.

“We live and work in structures that are straight but we are round,” she explains. “A mother’s hug is round. So it’s important to fill the room with hugs — don’t have a corner without a plant in it. Soften up the hard edges. It will help make the child feel safe in the room even when the parents aren’t there.”

Your child will spend a lot of time in their room over the next several years. The emphasis on education while making him or her feel comfortable and safe seem like logical steps a parent might do naturally — giving the whole feng shui concept some real credibility.

When creating a healthy, learning-friendly atmosphere for your child, think of the tenets of feng shui as an ancient form of common sense. HS