When should I put my children to bed?

According to the above chart if your 5yo wakes at 7:30am you should keep them up until 8:30pm... or keep your 8yo up until 9pm - even though young adult TV time begins at 7:30pm and adult TV time begins at 8:30pm (which suggests children should be in bed by then).

Now I know parenting is diverse. 

I've met parents who keep their 2yo up until they go to bed themselves (around 11pm) because they can't get her to stay in bed. I know parents who keep their 10yo up until 10pm or 11pm (he struggles at school and they can't imagine why). In fact I've met all manner of parents with varying bedtimes and yet I've met very few parents who actually put their children to sleep at reasonable hours.

If I drew up a bedtime chart it would look VERY different to the one above. 

Turn the TV off

Do you struggle to get your children's attention because they've got their head buried in an iPad, laptop, game or TV?

In this electronic babysitter era it can be hard to get your child's attention. The devices can be hypnotising with monotonous music and repetitive actions... and your voice is but a distant sound off in the far yonder. 

Sometimes I'll ask my children something and get ignored. 

"What? Did somebody say something?" They wonder for all of about half a second before being lost in their virtual world again.

To get their attention sometimes I need to get drastic!

I might ask a second time and if I still don't get an answer I'll go right up to them and look them in the eye until they look at me. Sometimes I'll turn the TV off or take their gadgets away mid play. They'll protest and say they're going to die (in the game) if I don't give it back.

"Too bad," I say, "It's nothing compared to what might happen if you continue to ignore me." 

Such as maybe the device will be banned for a day, two days, a week.

What methods do you use to get your child's attention when their gadgets stop them from paying attention to you?

Sloth

I visited a house where the stay at home mum doesn't clean or tidy up. I don't know what she does with all her time at home not working, but her small flat is a pig sty.

You walk in to find clothes, shoes and house hold items, large and small, all over the floor, coffee tables, couches. There is literally nowhere to sit! Entering the kitchen there is a giant pile of clothes in the kitchenette and dirty dishes covering every inch of bench space and piled up in the sink. The other rooms are much the same.

How someone lives their life is their deal, it doesn't affect me directly and has no bearing on my life. Although is has every affect and bearing on her daughter's life.

This lady had a baby, then a toddler, then a small girl who will grow into a teen, then adult, living in this filthy environment. What does living like this teach that little girl? Not to mention the danger such an environment poses. The little girl could put something in her mouth and choke, not to mention the germs and so forth.

As an adult you re free to live your life how you choose. As a parent you HAVE to think about how your lifestyle choices affect your children. It is not good enough to have children and live in whatever sty you like. You need to make good and decent adult choices... or perhaps think about whether you're really ready to be a parent.

5 toilet rules

1) Try not to make a mess or drip.

2) If you do mess, clean it up.

3) Wipe your bottom property.

4) Flush.

5) Put the seat down and take any empty toilet roll holders with you.

I have this list for my children to help make toilet time a little bit easier for them.  If you tell a young child to clean up after themselves or do certain things when it comes to going to the toilet, they're very likely to forget.

If you have a simple list for them to see and follow it makes learning easier for them and your job that little bit easier as well (with any luck), and after a while it becomes second nature.