It’s very easy for a teenager to end up with a messy room (and I have a teenager to prove it). Here are some easy-to-do tips and ideas to create a relaxing, enjoyable atmosphere for you both to live with!

Store Knickknacks on Shelves

In order to keep the bedroom tidy, it’s best to put collections, books, and knickknacks on shelves instead of keeping them all about the room or on a dresser. This creates order out of chaos and it will be easier to find specific objects. Having a space reserved in a room keeps it tidy and in order.

Have a Place for Laundry

A lot of the mess which clogs a teenager’s room is laundry. Having a special place for laundry–like in a dedicated laundry basket in the corner can help de-clutter the entire room. The best idea is to have a place for dirty clothes and a place for clean ones—that way clean laundry doesn’t become mixed with laundry which needs to be cleaned.

Clean up for Ten Minutes or Less Before Bed

This tip can become very useful: take a few minutes before bed and tidy up the bedroom. Place books back on the shelves, put laundry away, clean up the desk. Taking only a few minutes can save one from having to spend an hour in the future clearing clutter. This tip is easily made into a routine since going to bed is already a routine.

Use Boxes, Buckets, and Baskets

A great organizing tip is to use boxes or any type of storage container for small items. This storage tip places small items out of sight and causes the room to feel more spacious. Labeling boxes may become important when one has many of them. Plus, decorative boxes add style to any room. Boxes can be stacked or set in a row in a closet. Boxes are useful for not only tidying the room but also for creating a creative design.

Personalise A Bedroom

In order to make a teenage bedroom unique, the easiest way is to add some personal touches. There are a variety of ways to personalise a room. Posters are a quick way to add an original touch while adding a new paint color can help brighten a room. Buying new furniture is the expensive way to go, but you don't need to spend too much money. Teenager havens like Primark and H&M have a great (and afforable) home section which is always on trend, making it a win for a teenager! 

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Swimming is a skill that everyone ought to learn. Unfortunately, a large number of people don’t know how to swim. Yet, many of them spend some of their free time or holidays near pools, water wells, dams, rivers and beaches. They are putting their life (and their childrens) in danger without even realising it.

Not knowing how to swim is like not knowing how to ride a bike. It’s also one of those activities that once you learn it you never forget it. The only thing that disappears is your strength if you don’t swim often enough. Swimming is a vital life skill that can save your, or someone else’s life when you least expect it.

Children should be taught to swim as soon as possible. While there is no right or wrong age to teach children basic swimming strokes like freestyle or breaststroke or simply being able to float on the water, parents should make the attempt as soon as possible. There’s no sense in leaving swimming lessons till your child is older if you are able to do it at an earlier stage of their life. We enjoyed years of Water Babies lessons as at this stage babies can get used to the water and become comfortable with it.

Once a child is five or six they can join a swimming squad to improve their stroke and technique. The better the technique the easier it’s going to be to swim for them. You might even find that your child enjoys swimming very much and wants to stick with it and takes things further. Local clubs often have race nights which can be beneficial for children too.

Getting your children in the water as soon as possible is probably the best time for them to learn how to swim especially if you live near the water or have a pool. Swimming can be a life saving skill and you want your children to learn it quickly so that they will be able to look after themselves in the water and help someone else if necessary. Teach them to swim early and you will provide them with a skill for life that they will never forget.

Children spend 9 months in the womb completely surrounded by fluid and are not afraid of water as newborns. If a newborn baby gets water in his or her eyes they do not startle or scream. If your infant cries during a bath it is most likely from being chilly; even warm water will make them feel cold as it evaporates.

If infants are not scared of water, why are 3, 4 and 5 years olds so terrified of having water on their faces during their first round of swimming lessons? It is because they have had their whole lives to forget what it felt like to be underwater, and the unknown breeds fear. It is also because, at bath time, parents take such great care to keep water as far from babies' and young children's heads as possible, and show great anxiety if their children get even a small amount of clean water in their eyes or mouths. This anxiety teaches children that water, especially anywhere near the face, is something to fear.

So, swimming should start in infancy. Formal lessons, of course, are not necessary for newborns, but being accustomed to water as something to be enjoyed and respected is needed. If water accidentally gets in your infants eyes, don't act like it's a crisis. Your child will be fine, and you don't want to create a fear that will make learning to swim much harder later on.

Parent and Tot lessons are often offered for babies as young as 3 months of age. Again, the focus is (obviously) not on swimming by themselves, or even on "dunking" but just on getting used to the water and the swimming lesson environment. Once babies' are old enough to have some gross motor control, you can get them used to water on their face by blowing in their face (to make them hold their breath) and quickly lowering them into the water and bringing them back up.  Smile and give them positive attention afterwards, and most babies will love it.

Usually children are ready for traditional lessons at the age of 3, which is when they are old enough to follow instructions from an instructor, and capable of sitting or standing still for short periods. Many 3 year olds can learn how to swim on their fronts and backs for 10 feet or longer. It is important to start swimming lessons early to give children a better chance of survival should they ever fall into water unexpectedly, or if an accident occurs during recreation. 

Parents must know that swimming lessons are not a substitute for adequate supervision around the water. Children under 5 years of age do not generally have the ability to calm themselves down and recall their swimming lessons in a panic situation, but as your child gets older and more proficient in the water, the likelihood of them surviving a water incident, or being able to avoid the incident in the first place, is much, much higher.

Early swimming lessons could make all the difference when it comes to saving your child from becoming a statistic.

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Everything is so expensive these days so families everywhere are searching for fun things to do that are also easy on the family budget. These inexpensive and free activities are the perfect treat after working together on the family budget, and realizing that cutbacks are needed.

Free Things to Do with a Family

These entertainment ideas for kids and adults alike are generally free. Some require a little travel by car, or bringing food from home; but they are essentially free activities.

Take a walk or picnic in the park – better yet, try a different local park each day until the family finds the very best one.

Go window shopping at a favorite mall, antique stores, or craft fair. Leave the wallet at home!
Camp out in the backyard, or make a “fort” inside using furniture, blankets and cushions – then spend the evening trading ghost stories.

Volunteer on a community or charity project for the afternoon or a weekend. This activity is not only free, but a deeply fulfilling experience as well.

Spend a long, lazy day in pajamas, reading or watching everyone’s favorite movies. Don’t forget the microwave popcorn!

“Tour” local neighborhoods or hometown, pretending to be tourists and taking pictures of favorite places.

Have a “teaching day” during which each family member has an opportunity to teach the others about something they enjoy – sharing a favorite hobby, a video game, book, walking trail, recipe, or anything else.

Hold a family talent show, or host one for the whole neighborhood. Grandparents, aunts and uncles can be judges… or they may have hidden talents themselves!

Cheap Activities for Families

These cheap entertainment ideas require some minor expenses- such as art supplies or recipe ingredients. They are, however, still far cheaper than taking the family to the movies or out to dinner- and more interactive!

Create homemade artwork together to decorate the laundry room, playroom, or basement (think crayon mural, or paper-maché & coat hanger mobile).

Host a potluck dinner party for friends or neighbors; have everyone bring a dish and a recipe to share.

Write a family history or the story of your relationship in a sketchbook, including illustrations, leaving space to add to the story every year.

Entertainment Outdoors

Many inexpensive or cheap activities can be found outdoors. So, go outside and play!

There are countless ways to enjoy the outdoors.Some require sporting equipment, which may be borrowed from friends, or purchased at a discount store to enjoy for years to come. Other ideas require nothing but a little imagination and a willing spirit.

A few ideas for outdoor family entertainment:

• Frisbee
• Football
• Softball
• Badminton
• Volleyball
• Water balloons
• Relay races
• Tag
• Hide and seek
• Bean bag toss
• Hop scotch
• Biking
• Walking around the block
• Rolling down a hill
• Cloud watching
• Star gazing
• Cartwheels
• Watching the sunset
• Watching the sunrise
• Counting cars
• Making mudpies

The list of cheap activities outside can go on and on. Keep in mind that many outdoor activities are not only inexpensive, they’re healthy, too!

Other Resources for Free Things to Do

Of course, this article is just a starting point for fun, inexpensive family activities. For more ideas, visit the local library for free programs, resources and activities. The local paper may also list free outdoor concerts and festivals. Some activities may be posted on community bulletin boards at nearby stores, cafes, and community centres. With so many great ideas for inexpensive family fun, there is no reason to let budget restrictions keep the family from having a great time together!

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Anyone that has a child will have had those days where you want all the help in getting them to sleep faster. At the end of the day bedtime can be a struggle for families. When your child struggles to fall asleep quickly at night you can easily become frustrated and upset. These simple tips can help your child fall asleep faster. 

Cutting off-screen time is a vital part of helping get your child to sleep faster. The bright blue lights of electronic devices can make it difficult for your child to fall asleep. Cutting off-screen time an hour or two before bed (easier said than done, we know) can lead to falling asleep faster and sleeping better.

Give your child a warm bath before bed. Warm water with or without lavender bath products are great for helping to relax your child so they fall asleep faster at night. 

A great way to ensure that your child will fall asleep faster at bedtime is to start a calm down time an hour or two before bed. This is a time for your child to read a book, do a puzzle, or participate in a quite hobby in their room before bedtime. 

Helping your child fall asleep faster starts at the beginning of the day. Getting your child on a morning routine of waking up in the mornings can make it easier to get them to be tired and ready to sleep when bedtime rolls around. 

Wear your child out during the day with plenty of active play. When your child is burning off energy during the day they are more likely to be ready to sleep when night time rolls around. Get your child to play outside, ride bikes or join in a sport to use up excess energy during the day to help them fall asleep faster.

Challenging your child's mind can help them fall asleep faster as well. When your child's brain is challenged during the day it is more likely to be tired and ready to fall asleep without random thoughts keeping your child awake at night.

Making a linen spray or running a diffuser with essential oils designed to calm, relax, and induce sleep is a great way to help your child fall asleep faster and get a deeper more restful sleep. Lavender and tangerine are both great single oil choices and several safe for children sleep blends are available on the market.

I remember a product called Medised many years ago and it was withdrawn from the market as parents were abusing its "drowsy" properties to help their children sleep. Obviously no one advocates using medicinal measures to get your child to sleep and hopefully some of these tips can help on a restless evening!

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