Santa's coming – but don't let the kids lose sleep

Before you know it, it'll be Christmas Eve – the night where many households will be struggling with children that are just too excited to sleep. Why? Because Santa's on his way of course. For some little (and not so little) ones, the excitement is just too much to handle, resulting in a night of lost dreams and sleep-deprivation on the big day itself. There aren't many ways of keeping the festive excitement in check as Christmas is everywhere – on TV, in decorations around our houses, but there are a few tactics to help make sure your kids to go bed at a reasonable hour on Christmas Eve. Firstly, plan an exciting and active day for your children. Even something as simple as a trip to the park with a handful of their friends will help them burn off a lot of energy. Follow this up with an at-home activity – some great ideas include making festive treats such as gingerbread men or sugar cookies. You could also make some 'reindeer food', which the kids will love scattering up the path to help guide Santa along his way. This involves mixing porridge oats and glittery cake decorations together – nice, simple and biodegradable. To introduce the idea of winding down for bed, cuddle up together on the sofa and enjoy a calming festive film – think Polar Express instead of Elf. Then, it's important to stick to your established bedtime routine. Get them into pyjamas, read them a story, and treat it like any other night – here, you can brush over the fact that it's Christmas Day tomorrow quite easily. Whilst they may not drop off as quickly as usual, these tips can only help to make their Christmas Eve as restful as possible. Santa's coming – but don't let the kids lose sleep