I shared a room with my sister. She was 6 years older than me and my brothers shared a room and there was 3 of them. I think in a way it did help to share a room. If we hadn’t our age difference would’ve made us strangers. My brothers all keep in touch but I only do with one of hem. The youngest close to my age. The other two were older and always doing their thing. So I had my sister and my youngest brother most of the time. I think it also helps people to learn to have to get along. When my sister was went away one summer to stay with relatives, we both found that we missed each other, even though we always fought about having a clean room and who did what mess.
We both thought it would be great to be apart, but found out that it was better to learn to respect each others space and things and to be responsible for our messes. I also learned that cleaning up sometimes after someone when they are too busy doesn’t mean you are a sucker but rather it shows you care.
There are valuable lessons in both. Having your own room and sharing a room. But being that my sister and I were so different, I can’t help but feel that not sharing a room would’ve meant we wouldn’t be close today.
I had more in common with my youngest brother because we were only a year apart and had the same circle of friends.
Having your own room can teach independence but if there is several years difference, it may make it more difficult to be close as they age. It may also make it more difficult to share.
Plus, secrets are sometimes shared in a dark room once the parents are off to bed.. Kind of hard to do with a wall between you.