How To Survive a Sleepless Night Due to ... Children

If you've got kids, you'll know that sinking feeling when you have to drag your bones out of bed, just moments after you get in it.

The actual staying up with the child is not as difficult as it may sound, it's the following day that can be like walking through treacle with your head in a marshmallow.

I'm lucky and only have to do a through the night every month or so, my youngest child is actually a really good sleeper.

So this is how I survive the following day when all I want to do is get under my duvet.

1. Get a Warm Shower if You Can.  Not too hot, you'll go dopier and not too cold because that is just wrong!  A warm shower will wake you up some.

2.  Drink a Pint of Water.  Don't be tempted by coffee or an energy drink.  You'll have a sugar rush, peak and drop.  Drink water and I guarantee you'll feel better.

3.  Play! Preferably Outside in the Fresh Air. Remember you're child will also be tired.  They will tire quickly and then be ready for a sleep.  Playing passes time, stops you thinking "I just want to Sleeeeeeeeeep" and the fresh air will keep you going.

4. Eat little meals.  Your blood sugar will be all over.  Resist the temptation for chocolate and snacks.  Eat little things like a sandwich and have little meals that will just tide you over.  Your body is tired, it doesn't need to be digesting junk food.  also keep drinking water.

5.  Sleep if Your Child Sleeps.  There's a massive temptation to get stuff done when you've not got little hands hindering your work, but seriously, sleep.  You've had none and even a speed nap will improve you.  Don't forget to set an alarm if you have a school run to go on or an appointment.

How do you stay awake and get through the day after a night on the (kitchen) tiles?

How to Get Your House Rental Ready

Being a Private Landlord in your head is ace.  You get paid, your home is looked after and you don't really do much.  Hmmm, it can be like that or it can be a right royal pain in the rear.

The first house I rented out was one I bought to live in.  There was a few things I needed to do before I could actually let the house out.  Legal things too!  Here's what you need to get done.

1.  Gas and Electricity Checks.  These are the most important as this is what you can go to prison for if it all goes

How to do a Scavenger Hunt

All kids seem to want to do nowadays is play on a console or talk on facetime.  I find it frustrating and they get ratty when they just sit staring at the screen so I regularly set up activities which don't involve any screen time.

As you know, I like to do a physical activity after school and this is one of my favorites - a scavenger hunt.  Can be done inside on a rainy day or outside.

Get Outside and Scavenge!

You will Need:

This Printout

A Bag for each child

A pencil

How To:

On the printout there is a completed sheet (which is items in our home to give you an idea) and there is a blank sheet.

If you are using the blank sheet, fill in with items in your home, garden or popular nature items you'll find at your hunt site.  I like to add items of interest such as an old photo or strange holiday trinket, something that will get a conversation and learning discussion started.

Make sure all the items can be found, I usually move a few from their usual places to a hiding place (I like to try to outsmart the kids!!).  Outside hunts are great because you never know what they'll come back with!

The kids can either take the items and put them in their bag or just write down where the item is, up to you.

The winner is the person with the most items or the person to finish first.  In the event of just one child doing the hunt, I give the prize for more than 75% of the list.  

I reward the winner with the choice of a Golden Time activity.  It's something we can all do together and a treat with is decided by the winner.  Unfortunately they do sometimes choose 30 minutes on the xbox which kind of defeats my no screen time activity, but hey, they worked for it.

A great way to reduce screen time, get the kids on their feet and pass an hour. (and chance to grab a quiet coffee for you!!)

Happy Hunting!