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!

Board games are so much fun. With the variety of styles and age ranges available there is literally something for everyone. If you have ever played with small children, though, you have likely experienced the frustration of little do-it-myself arms knocking all of the pieces over. This easy DIY family game night board solves the problem by making the game board easy to rotate so that little hands can always reach their pieces. The best part is that it’s non-skid so the board stays in place while you play!

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.

This DIY family game night board makes the board easy to rotate so little hands can always reach their pieces and keeps the board in place while you play!

[bctt tweet=”With the DIY family game night board your biggest worry will be what snacks to serve! #diy #familynight” username=”diyadulation”]

Materials

Wooden Lazy Susan (I got mine from IKEA)
Puffy Fabric Paint (The colors I used are all in this pack)

This DIY family game night board makes the board easy to rotate so little hands can always reach their pieces and keeps the board in place while you play!

Step 1

Remove the packaging from your lazy susan and wipe is down with a damp cloth.

This DIY family game night board makes the board easy to rotate so little hands can always reach their pieces and keeps the board in place while you play!

Step 2

Write the word “Family” on the top third of the lazy susan.

Note:

Try to center it on the board.

I used the Lime paint for this word.

This DIY family game night board makes the board easy to rotate so little hands can always reach their pieces and keeps the board in place while you play!

Step 3

Next, outline the word “Game” in block letters directly underneath the word “Family”. Do not fill in the letters yet.

Note:

I used the Turquoise paint for this word.

This DIY family game night board makes the board easy to rotate so little hands can always reach their pieces and keeps the board in place while you play!

Step 4

Write the word “Night” last in the same style as you wrote “Family” in step 2. This should be directly underneath the word “Game”.

Step 5

Allow your paint to dry completely.

This DIY family game night board makes the board easy to rotate so little hands can always reach their pieces and keeps the board in place while you play!

Step 6

After your paint has dried, fill in the block letters of the word “Game” with a secondary paint color.

Note:

I used Yellow paint for this.

This DIY family game night board makes the board easy to rotate so little hands can always reach their pieces and keeps the board in place while you play!

Step 7

Add starts around the edges. Be sure to vary the sizes to add visual interest.

Note:

I used 2 different paint colors to create the stars: Yellow and Purple.

This DIY family game night board makes the board easy to rotate so little hands can always reach their pieces and keeps the board in place while you play!

Step 8

Continue embellishing the lazy susan until you have the look you want.

Note:

I wanted a fun and colorful look for ours (because family game nights are a celebration) so I added bubbles, party swirls (my own term), and polka dots. This gave it that celebratory vibe I wanted.

This DIY family game night board makes the board easy to rotate so little hands can always reach their pieces and keeps the board in place while you play!

Step 9

Allow all of your paint to dry completely before use. I recommend at least 24 hours.

This DIY family game night board makes the board easy to rotate so little hands can always reach their pieces and keeps the board in place while you play!

I only waited 12 hours and then stacked my package of fabric paint on top of it. The packaging kind of stuck and now we’ll have black letters forever on the paint. That’s okay though because I feel like it gives it an extra fun element. Luckily a baby wipe took off all of the paper from the stuck packaging leaving just the letters. That reminds me; wipe down your DIY family game night board with a damp cloth to clean as needed. Looking for some fun new games to add to your family night? Here are a few of our faves:

Doctor Who Monopoly

Don’t think you can only play this with older kids. When we play this for family night, the 3 (almost 4) year old is usually on my team. She “manages” the properties for me, rolls the dice, and moves the piece abound the board with help from me. She also loves to hand over money when we have to pay people or the bank.

Pay Day

This game doesn’t get enough love. It is a great way to teach kids beginning money-management skills. My 7-year-old has begun coping what I do and putting the money to pay the bills with those bills as he draws them. This way we know exactly how much we have to spend on deals throughout the month.

Disney Trivial Pursuit

The beauty of the version we own is that there are 2 different card types. One is geared towards young kids and one is geared towards adults. This lets the game be fun for everyone. The kids get to guess at pictures while the adults take on actual trivia prowess.

Imaginiff (This one is harder to find)

This is a fun and silly game to play any night of the week. All of the options are family-friendly (at least the ones we’ve gotten to) although younger children may need some of the options explained, like penicillin. The best part about this game is that there is no “right” answer. You simply need to pick the most popular one.

This DIY family game night board makes the board easy to rotate so little hands can always reach their pieces and keeps the board in place while you play!

There you have it. Now you can totally rock your next family game night easily. With the DIY family game night board your biggest worry will be what snacks to serve instead of “Where was that piece at again?” You can get even more fun family night ideas with this Moana-themed family night and 10 easy ways to connect with your kids!

See where I’m linking up!

Try out some brand new family night ideas with a fun Moana-themed family night (with free printables). Then find out about our family night disaster. #Moana #ad #RWM

Family nights are an easy and fun way to keep your family growing together. This month is has been a goal for us to make family nights a regular thing. These can be something small like a game night at home or a bigger event like a family dinner and movie. Even the family night failures can be valuable moments that provide years of memories. Try out some brand new ideas with a Moana-themed family night. Then, keep reading to find out about our family night disaster below.

Try out some brand new family night ideas with a fun Moana-themed family night (with free printables). Then find out about our family night disaster. #Moana #ad #RWM

[bctt tweet=”Try out some brand new family night ideas with a fun Moana-themed family night. #Moana #ad #RWM” username=”diyadulation”]

Try out some brand new family night ideas with a fun Moana-themed family night (with free printables). Then find out about our family night disaster. #Moana #ad #RWM

About Moana

Before we get onto the fun family night ideas here is a little background about the movie:

“From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated feature ﬁlm about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. “Moana is the 16-year-old daughter of the chief of Motunui,” says director Ron Clements. “She’s brave, determined, compassionate and incredibly smart. She has a never-say-die attitude and a profound connection to the ocean.”

“So it’s troubling to her, to say the least, that her people don’t go beyond the reef surrounding their island,” adds director John Musker. “They stay within the conﬁnes of that reef, and Moana doesn’t really understand why, especially since she’s felt drawn to the ocean her whole life.”…

Telling the Tale

Paciﬁc Island storytelling culture is celebrated as the ﬁ lm opens. Gramma Tala, the mother of Chief Tui and Moana’s greatest conﬁdante, shares the tale of Te Fiti, the mother island. “Her heart held the greatest power ever known: it could create life itself,” she says. “And Te Fiti shared it with the world.”

Gramma Tala’s story culminates with details of Maui, demigod of the wind and sea, who steals the heart of Te Fiti, unleashing a terrible darkness that threatens the life and habitat of islanders throughout the region. Maui is confronted by Te Kā, a demon of earth and ﬁre, and ultimately loses the heart of Te Fiti to the sea.

The ﬁlm introduces a very special presence in Moana’s life: the Ocean—a living embodiment of the sea who’s chosen Moana to ﬁnd Maui and return the heart of Te Fiti, saving her island and her people from the darkness that has begun to take over. The only problem is that Chief Tui, Moana’s father, forbids voyaging beyond the safety of the reef that lies just beyond their shores. Tui has seen too many voyage past the reef—and never return—and out of love for his people, has forbade it. Moana must go against her father’s wishes to pursue her destiny set forth by the Ocean.

The mighty demigod Maui, a charismatic character in the ﬁlm, was inspired by the varied tales and legends about him throughout the Paciﬁc. Says Musker, “We were fascinated by the stories we read, the tales told to us by people of the region. In most islands, Maui is larger-than-life, a trickster and a shapeshifter. He could pull up whole islands from the sea with his ﬁshhook; he had the power to slow down the sun. He is an incredible ﬁgure.”

Maui, who’s on his own journey of self-discovery, reluctantly guides Moana in her quest to become a wayﬁnder and save her people. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and, along the way, Moana discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.” – Disney Press Kit

Moana-Themed Family Night Activities

Kakamora Design Contest

Step 1

Before heading to the theater, print out this free printable “Design Your Own Kakamora” worksheet for each family member.

Step 2

Have everyone design a Kakamora, number each one, and tape them to the wall.

Step 3

Next, each family member takes turns voting for his or her favorite by writing the number down on a slip of paper, folding it in half, and tossing it in a bowl.

Step 4

Wait to tally the votes until you get home from the movie. The winner can get an extra piece of leftover movie candy; pick the next family movie theme; or other small reward.

Try out some brand new family night ideas with a fun Moana-themed family night (with free printables). Then find out about our family night disaster. #Moana #ad #RWM

Special Dinner Coloring Sheets

Skip the kids menus at dinner tonight. Instead, print out these awesome free Moana coloring sheets for kids to decorate at dinner. They will feel like they know the characters before you even get to the theater!

Coloring Sheet 1

Coloring Sheet 2

Coloring Sheet 3

Coloring Sheet 4

Coloring Sheet 5

Coloring Sheet 6

Put on a Puppet Show

Let the fun continue after the movie! Print out these free printable bookmarks on cardstock. Next, cut them out and put in a cute envelope. Surprise your kids after the movie with their new “puppets” and they’ll be giggling the entire ride home.

Try out some brand new family night ideas with a fun Moana-themed family night (with free printables). Then find out about our family night disaster. #Moana #ad #RWM

Our Family Night Fail

Now that you have some awesome Moana-themed family night ideas as promised I’ll share our family night disaster with you. As you saw at the beginning of this post, I received 4 free premier tickets in exchange for writing this post. I was stoked and couldn’t wait for us to have our first big family night of the month (prior to this we had only done family nights at home). I set aside money in the budget for a nice dinner out with the 5 of us, childcare for the 2-year-old after dinner, and a fun-tastic Moana movie night at the theater. Ah, the best laid plans. Instead, getting out of the house was a disaster of all three kids insisting on trying to hold my hands while bumping into the door, the wall, the side of the van… pretty much everything. All of this while I’m yelling behind me to make sure the diaper bag was grabbed, there is a sippy cup inside, is the door locked, do we have the keys, and everything else that a large family needs when going anywhere for an extended time period.

[bctt tweet=”Even the family night failures can provide years of memories. Read about our family night disaster here! #Moana #ad #RWM” username=”diyadulation”]

We get to the restaurant and thankfully are seated right away. That’s when chaos took over. Our kids are usually pretty good and, admittedly, they weren’t screaming or anything but they were knocking things over in their haste to get to drinks and crayons. It literally took us 20 minutes to even be ready to order… the appetizer. As dinner winds on, growing ever-more chaotic we still haven’t heard from the sitter. We start trying to get in touch with parents to try to find a back-up. Upon hearing this, the oldest looks at me and says, “I want to see grandma and grandpa. Can I go with them? Wait. What movie are we seeing again?” Talk about a knife in the heart of the momma. I know that grandparents will always trump parents but after all of the stress of the night this was just heartbreaking.

We finally get in touch with the sitter (who had gotten stuck at work) around 6 at which point we are all stressed out and in tears. We realize at this point that it is just not meant to be. We’ll have to take a family night mulligan. On the plus side, we had a dinner that I didn’t have to make and we still have a puppet night to look forward to. Have you ever had a family night goes wrong-side up? I’d love to hear about the tears and laughs in the comments.

Want to know more about the new Moana Movie? Check out the official Facebook and Twitter pages!

See where I’m linking up!

End the Bedtime Wars: 5 Tips to Get Kids to Sleep

Stagger Bedtimes

Create a Routine

Utilize Music

Beware of Electronics

Cozy Bed

Bonus Tip

DIY Family Game Night Board

Materials

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

Step 9

Doctor Who Monopoly

Pay Day

Disney Trivial Pursuit

Imaginiff (This one is harder to find)

Moana-Themed Family Night

About Moana

Telling the Tale

Moana-Themed Family Night Activities

Kakamora Design Contest

Special Dinner Coloring Sheets

Put on a Puppet Show

Our Family Night Fail