Have you tried reasoning, bargaining and bribing to motivate your child to do better in school? Before you start threatening to take away toys and privileges, it may be time to try something new -- or, in fact, very old.

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement and rearrangement. Celebrities like Madonna, Pierce Brosnan and Donald Trump have used it for years. Even major corporations, such as Citibank and Borders, hire Feng Shui masters to optimize the flow of prosperity into their businesses. In much the same way, applying Feng Shui to your child's room may just boost your child's confidence, motivation, and hopefully school success.

We've asked Helen Arabanos of Full Bloom Feng Shui, former Director of the Los Angeles Chapter of the International Feng Shui Guild, for tips on easy, low-cost improvements that everyone could do to.

To help your child feel safe and secure and sleep well, Helen said, position the bed so that the child has a clear view of the door. Since reflections in mirrors can frighten a child at night, remove or cover all mirrors in the room. Mirrored doors can easily be covered with drapes or drawings.

Toys, especially if somewhat threatening such as dinosaurs and action figures, should not be stacked on tall shelves, where they are hovering above the child's head. This could cause a feeling of insecurity and being under attack. Helen recommends bringing the things down to the child's height level as much as possible.

Position the desk so that your child can see the door. If this is not possible, place a mirror so that the child can see the door but not the child's own reflection. Remember to cover the mirror at night. In addition, covering TV sets and computers when not in use will make it less tempting to turn them on and likely lower the amount of time your child spends in front of them.

Have you used Feng Shui in your home?