It never fails. You are winding down with the kiddos before bedtime. You’re watching their favorite cartoon or reading their favorite story for the umpteenth time. Next, you get them snuggled into bed and it starts. “Can I have a drink?” “I need to use the bathroom.” “We never colored today.” Those sweet little angels turn into stalling masterminds. You have the option of shutting the door and letting them cry it out but there are other steps you can take to make the transition to bedtime easier on everyone. From utilizing music to a comfortable bed, these 5 tips to get kids to sleep will help you finally conquer the bedtime wars.

Stagger Bedtimes

It’s not always an option for kids to each have their own room. Don’t let this keep you from smooth bedtimes. Stagger bedtimes with your kids to eliminate playing at bedtime. This doesn’t have to be significant amounts. If your kids are close in age, staggering by 15 minutes can still be effective. Staggering bedtimes will mean changing up your bedtime routine (see below) to doing the winding down and prayers in the living room instead of in bed so plan accordingly.

[bctt tweet=”These 5 tips to get kids to sleep will help you finally end bedtime wars! #ad #sleeptips” username=”diyadulation”]

Create a Routine

This is a big one. A consistent bedtime routine not only helps kids mentally prepare for bedtime but also creates physical cues that tell their bodies that it is time to sleep. It doesn’t have to be a big, elaborate routine. Something as simple as setting a specific time to begin baths, read a book, and say prayers has a high impact. My kids cannot get through our bedtime prayers without yawning because it has become a physical cue that it is time for them to go to sleep.

Tip:

Consistency is key when starting a new bedtime routine. It may seem hard-nosed but for the first 2 weeks, do not deviate from the routine. That means no staying late at family or friend’s houses, no eating dinner at a later time, and no skipping baths. Once the routine is well-established, the occasional deviation won’t do harm.

Utilize Music

Sometimes kids have trouble turning their brains off at night. They are building memories, creating connections, and learning constantly. Television can be over-stimulating but music, especially instrumental, can be a great way to give them something to focus on without getting wound up. If you are having trouble getting your kids to stay in bed at night, try getting an inexpensive clock-radio, cd player, or even a nightlight that plays music.

Beware of Electronics

Electronics are not a bad thing. My kids get to watch a television show before bed every night. However, they are not watching an activity-filled cartoon that encourages them to get up and dance or jump around the house. Instead it is a mellow show, often with music. It is also one that they have seen before so that they can enjoy it without wondering what’s going to happen (which can make their brain get more engaged than I want before bed).

Tip:

I do caution against any type of video games before bed. Even the most education-filled and mellow of video games can overstimulate them before bed. Their brains begin working on solving problems, adrenaline starts pumping from wins and losses, and it is overall a bad bedtime idea.

From utilizing music to a comfortable bed, these 5 tips to get kids to sleep will help you finally end bedtime wars. + win a Baby Bundle from Brentwood Home #ad — Photo Credit: Brentwood Home

Cozy Bed

You may be tempted to purchase a $50 mattress for your kids, especially if they are still in a crib or toddler bed because they will outgrow it in a few years. I have made that mistake and it resulted in my daughter not sleeping through the night until she was 18 months old. As you can imagine, that was an exhausting nightmare for a mom pregnant with her third child. Instead, invest in a high-quality mattress that is comfortable and grows along with your child, like this Poppy 2-Stage Crib Mattress from Brentwood Home. The mattress has a firmer side for babies and a softer side for toddlers which makes it worth the investment for your kids. Did I mention that it comes with a waterproof cover that is easy to clean and it is free of any chemical fire retardants? Think about how much better you sleep when you have a comfortable bed and imagine how much better your kids will sleep with the same. If you are going to splash out and get a new mattress then whether it’s for you or for your kids, make sure it’s the right size for the bed. You’d be amazed by the amount of people who buy a mattress the wrong size for their bed! Double check this guide to mattress sizes before you buy anything.

Bonus Tip

Allay those bedtime requests by working them into your routine. For example, if your son always asks for a drink as soon as those covers come up, bring a small cup to bed. Fill it beforehand with a sip of water and let him have that sup in bed. If your daughter always wants a second story, build that extra story into the bedtime routine by lying down to read 5-10 minutes earlier. These small changes can make your life so much easier at night.

My 4-year-old daughter loves her new mattress and actually looks forward to sleeping on it! If you want to help your child be invested in bedtime, make her a part of the whole process. Show her when you’re ordering it online. Let her be a part of the unboxing and setting it up. When your child is a part of the process they actually get excited about bedtime. While you won’t find this little snippet on the Brentwood Home website, I love that the mattress is like a springy trampoline. It supports my daughter while still being soft and comfortable. It also turns out that kids are less inclined to jump on a bed that doesn’t vault them into the air. That’s just an extra parenting bonus. Are you ready to end the bedtime wars and get your hands on your own Poppy 2-Stage Crib Mattress and Sweatpea Changing Pad? Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a set for free!

**UPDATE**

Now you can get your hands on all that Brentwood Home has to offer for 10% off!

Enter the code OURHOME at checkout for your discount!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

See where I’m linking up!

As the days start getting shorter the winter blues can start to set in. There are many ways to combat this including getting active and soaking up the sunlight when you can. There is another way to get over these seasonal moods that too often gets overlooked. One of the best ways to elevate your mood is to perform acts of kindness. When you give selflessly of your time and resources you can improve your mood ten-fold! To help you get started here are 10 acts of kindness to beat winter blues.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission at no extra cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

1. Put money in an expiring parking meter.

This is such an easy act of kindness that anyone can do. When your doctor’s visit is running longer than expected, the last thing you want to do is be worrying about your meter. Make someone’s day by taking care of it for them.

2. Donate your gently used books to a local school.

Have you been in a school library lately? My children’s school is excellent and still, the library is so depressing to me. When I think of a library, I want to see walls and walls of books. This just isn’t the case anymore. What’s worse is that there are schools that don’t half even half of the books my children’s school has. Why not donate your gently used books to schools that need them?

3. Give holiday gifts to your neighbors.

The holidays are a fabulous time to do something nice for your neighbors. Make up some delicious treat bags and hang on their doors. If you’re looking for something more useful why not give everyone an ice scraper? The smallest gesture goes a long way.

4. Make a freezer meal for a friend.

You know how crazy dinner time can be in your home. Take some stress off a friend’s plate and take their family an easy freezer meal that they can pop in the oven. Need some ideas? Check out these freezer-friendly chicken nuggets or freezer chicken pot pie minis!

5. Donate craft supplies to a local library.

Have you ever taken your child to a free event at the library? All of those events are run on donations. Say thank you by donating some craft supplies to help out with these fun events.

[bctt tweet=”These 10 Acts of Kindness can improve your mood ten-fold and help you beat the winter blues! #kindness” username=”diyadulation”]

6. Send a thoughtful card or letter.

This one is so easy and all it costs you is a stamp. Everyone is delighted to receive surprise mail that’s not a bill. Make someone’s day with a heartfelt sentiment to show you care and you were thinking about them.

7. Rake a neighbor’s leaves or shovel their driveway.

Shoveling the driveway is one of my least favorite winter chores. A couple of years ago some sweet neighbors stopped by to shovel and salt my driveway for me and I still smile when I think about it. Do the same for someone in your neighborhood as a sweet act of kindness.

8. Offer to babysit so parents can have a date night.

Ah, the baby phase… they are adorable and utterly life changing (in a good way). Babies also can wreak havoc on a marriage. Let the parents you know get a much-needed break and offer to babysit the kiddos for a night.

9. Pay for the car behind you in the drive-thru.

Do you know what makes your Caramel Macchiato even sweeter? Not having to pay for it. This is such an easy and effortless way to brighten someone’s day. The caveat is that you don’t have any control of the cost. If you are on a limited budget, ask to put $10 towards their order instead. That is still a wonderful surprise.

10. Donate toys to the Salvation Army.

This is another one close to my heart. There was a year when my mom had absolutely no money for presents (even things we needed like socks and coats) when we were very little. Imagine having to tell your 4 year old that impossible scenario of that there is no Santa or that Santa forgot them. Neither is palatable. In a true Christmas miracle it turned out that our church had adopted our family that year and arrived not only with presents on Christmas Eve but food as well. When you give to the Salvation Army that is the kind of gift you are giving a family.

These are all easy ideas that are low-cost or no cost. The best thing about them is that most of these can absolutely be a family affair. It’s always important to teach your kids early the joy of giving to others. These 10 acts of kindness are also a wonderful exercise in gratefulness. When you and your family see how much you truly have to give you will begin to appreciate all that you have. Usher in the colder months with warmth in your heart this year. Check out this DIY autumn thankful wreath for more wonderful ways to exercise a heart of thankfulness with your family.

See where I’m linking up!

This is a guest post written by Michael Barton. Check out his helpful tool reviews on Power Tools Planet.

Woodworking lessons can be taught at home as merely a hobby, as a requirement for homeschoolers, or they may help your children with their craft classes or in school. Either way, woodworking is a great opportunity for both children and parents to learn something new and bond more; it is also a great way to see if your child is naturally inclined towards art or mathematics.

Children as young as 5, depending on their level of patience and ability to understand simple instructions, can take part actively in these lessons, and learn to make toys, wooden games, doll cradles, build a birdhouse and a bird feeder, shelves, stools, etc.

Introducing kids to basic woodworking tools is a fun and educational way to spend quality time with your kids!

[bctt tweet=”Introducing kids to basic woodworking tools is a fun and educational way to spend quality time with your kids! #kidslearning #woodworking”]

Why Woodworking

Woodworking helps children explore and enhance their creativity and imagination, and improve their spatial, visual and motor skills, as well as their self-esteem. They will also learn to count, measure, think critically and solve problems, because to make an object from scratch, kids will learn to plan every step of the construction.

Getting Started

First of all, don’t push your kids, but rather try to spark their interest in woodworking. Start with simple projects to help children build confidence with each one, and remember, projects should be fun and the instructions easy for the child to understand.

Since they are kids, they most likely have no experience in woodworking, so you must teach them the basics, starting with safety measures, and the materials and tools you will use before you actually get to building anything.

Then, ensure a clean and safe working space for the kids by putting away all sharp and power tools, and keeping close by a first-aid kit. Make sure the little ones wear appropriate clothing (that is not loose) and footwear, as well as safety glasses that fit them. And supervise the kids at all times.

Materials and Tools

Start with soft materials like Styrofoam so that kids can cut them easily; pine, cedar and other softwoods can also be worked on by children, usually once they get the hang of things. A good alternative is precut kits made from pine that only need to be assembled, sanded and applied some finish.

You will need a ruler, measuring tape with fractions, various grit sandpaper, paint, glue, and hand tools; limit the use of power tools especially when there are young children involved in the project. Ideally, the hand tools should be smaller so that kids are able to grasp them well: use a screwdriver, a 7—16 oz hammer, nails, screws, a block plane, a handsaw.

Teach kids how to read a tape measure, saw, and finish each project, and use cork boards to show them how to hammer in nails without bending them or hurting their fingers.

Even if you as the parent are not very skilled at woodworking, the important thing is to have fun, spend quality time with your kids, and make sure you have taken all safety precautions – this way, you get to build memories that will be with your children for a lifetime.

Michael Barton is an avid home improvement enthusiast who loves everything about improvement and modern house gadgets. You can find his reviews on his website.