There are a lot of things a dad has to worry about: making sure the kids are doing good in school, taking care of all of his responsibilities at work and making mom happy are all just part of the job when you’re a father. Sometimes, it may seem as if you can’t get everything that needs doing done.

The good news is that there are some Android apps that can help dads keep track of everything they need to and still have a little fun. Here are some of the useful apps that any dad can download to help make life a little easier.

Family Locator

This app is great for dads, especially those with big families. Family Locator lets you keep track of the whereabouts of every family member, no matter where they are.

Not only can this give you peace of mind when your oldest child seems to be cutting it a little close to their curfew, but it also lets you know where everyone is in case there’s a reason you all need to meet up — that weekly family dinner perhaps.

The app helps you create “circles” that you can add anyone you like to, so you can also use it for friends and colleagues. It offers real-time data, so there’s no more guessing when someone will arrive at a destination and you can even set it to give you a heads up if someone is running late.

To get started, just have everyone download the app and soon you’ll know where everyone is.

Weather Live Free

Knowing what the weather has in store for you every day and every week is a concern that most people have. How can you plan anything if you don’t know what the weather’s going to be like?

This weather by Apalon Apps gives you everything you need to know about the conditions outside. It will tell you the temperature and the “feels like” temperature as well as the humidity levels. You can also check the wind speed and directions and find out when the sunrise and sunset are every day.

The app also features and up-to-the-minute weather radar so you can keep track of everything that’s going on around you.

Web MD

It’s always nice to know what to do when your child is sick or injured, and this medical app is one of the best out there for giving timely advice.

The app features a symptom checker so you can input all of the things working with your child to help narrow down the illness: the flu is very different from food poisoning, so having an app that can quickly let you know the difference can be comforting. You can also use voice search to find what you’re looking for quickly and the app has a built-in map to get you to the nearest medical facilities if they are needed.

If you’re a dad, try some of these apps to help you out!

If you’ve ever raised a child (or two, or three), then you know how precious sleep can be (and how seldom the chances to grab some come along). It’s one of the biggest struggles about being a parent. Well, you know, if you don’t take into account the immense pressure of teaching your kids right from wrong, correct moral judgement, how not to be prejudiced and the great benefits of hard work and delayed gratification later on in life. Aside from that, getting sufficient sleep and the right quality of sleep is pretty difficult. But life is all about trial and error, and when the situation arises you adapt and learn a few things along the way.

Get some shut eye when your kids do

This might seem like pretty obvious advice, but I get the feeling it’s sometimes overlooked. If you put the kid down for a nap, have a nap at the same time. You might be tempted to squeeze in an hour of something from Netflix, but try refrain and catch a kip instead. Don’t worry about not waking up when they do; as a parent, you’re acutely tuned in to the screams of your children and have almost a preternatural sense of the state of their consciousness when the wailing begins. By doing this you’ll be getting some broken sleep, but at least you’re getting something.

Don’t skimp on the mattress

This is an important one. You’re not going to be getting an adequate amount of shut-eye and that means the sleep you are getting should be of the highest quality. Therefore, you should get your hands on a mattress that’s firm, supports your body and regulates heat so you stay cool during the night and don’t toss and turn. Rather than going to IKEA, you can actually just order a mattress online through a company like Eve. At the end of the day, you’ll feel more refreshed, less grumpy and much less likely to get into an argument with your significant other over whose turn it is to make the salad at dinner.

The old “one night on, one night off”

This one is foolproof and guarantees you get a good night’s sleep at least half the time. It’s also great for building a partnership with your SO. You take the first night’s shift staying up with the kid(s) and waking up when they do, soothing them and getting back to sleep while your partner gets to sleep. The next night you both switch. Think of it like a shift rotation, and generally just a very necessary survival tactic.

While many people’s first questions about DIY are how much money they will save, the time involved and the difficulty, there are other questions you should ask before you try to tackle home repairs or home improvement projects. Here are three questions you should ask before you DIY.

Do I Know How to Do It Right?

It doesn’t matter if you can replace some wires and screw in new pipes as per the plumbing how-to video you saw online. Ask yourself if you know how to do it right. Taking an old door off the hinges and installing a new one is routinely DIY. More advanced projects like electrical, plumbing and foundation work need to be done by a professional because you cannot afford for it to be done wrong.

For some projects, the real question is – am I installing new functionality or replacing something that already exists? Replacing an existing toilet or tap is DIY, whereas installing the plumbing to put in a second shower head or new bathroom should be done by the pros.

Installing a vertical radiator from a store like Warm Rooms where an existing one stands is a minor job you can do yourself, whereas trying to add a radiator to a room that didn’t already have one should be left to the plumber.

If I Mess Up, Will People Notice? And Would I Care If They Did?

Yes, you could save money painting a room yourself. However, would it look good or not so good after you were done? Another question is whether or not other people would notice, and whether or not you’d care if they did notice the imperfections. This is why parents are more willing to patch and paint the drywall damaged by a toddler’s stunt when it’s hidden by a relocated bed, but pay the professionals to fix the punched out hole in the hallway. This is why replacing cracked tiles in the shower is often a do it yourself job whereas the kitchen tiles others see is often left to the professionals.

Is Doing It Myself the Most Effective Use of My Time?

Too many people rush into DIY work to try to save money. What they forget is the cost of renting tools, buying materials and investing their time to do the job, time that could be spent on other things. This is why you hear jokes about do it DIY enthusiasts never getting out of the house because they still aren’t done fixing it yet, spending every weekend fixing something themselves when a pro could finish it the first weekend. If the project is time sensitive, like fixing an air conditioner correctly, call in a pro. If the project will take up all your free time for weeks, it is more effective to hire a professional so that your house isn’t your life.

DIY is fun, but only if you have the skills to do a good job. Bear this in mind before you rip out the bathroom or knock down a supporting wall.

Being a parent is rewarding, but often challenging with lots of responsibilities to handle. It’s a full-time job with constant ups and downs, with many parents exhausted by the end of each day, and who could really use a break.

There are particular difficulties that come with raising children, with well-known trials and tribulations most parents will all relate to pretty easily. See the challenges of being a parent and the tips for overcoming these obstacles.

Siblings

Raising one child is hard, but additional children bring it to an entirely new level. Dealing with siblings isn’t easy. This is especially true depending on the different ages you’re juggling and their maturity levels. Try to spend time apart with each child on an individual basis so you can get to know them. Also, make time for the family to be together. It’s about letting each person’s personality shine without judgement and too much parenting.

Schedules

It’s very challenging to raise children when they have different schedules. One child is heading to baseball practice one night, while the next is going to dance class another. They’re usually not on the same schedule, and that makes it hard on the parents. See if there’s a team car pool you can join or switch nights with your spouse. Not that you want to limit their activities, but maybe help them find one or two they’d like to focus on instead of a bunch.

Expenses

Let’s be honest, kids are expensive. There’s always a bill to pay or a fundraiser to fund, and it seems neverending. Don’t get frustrated. Lay out a budget for what you’ll be able to spend for the year and stick to it. The expenses will get away from you quickly if you don’t put boundaries in place and write it down. Also, don’t be afraid to say no.

Bedtime

Bedtime is always a struggle. The kids want to stay up while the parents have been ready to go to bed for hours. Sleep is important to their development and well-being, so this is one area it’s okay to be strict. A consistent bedtime will help them function better at school and help you function better at work. They’ll try to fight you on it, but you need to be strong.

Cars

If your kids are old enough to drive, then this will be a constant battle. A Mini Edinburgh is a great car for getting around in, and it’s also extremely easy on the eyes, beating all those ugly family car stereotypes. Purchasing another car for the family will be an investment but may help you out in the long-run. It’s also an excellent way to teach your kids responsibility if you allow them to drive the vehicle. Let them know they need to keep the car in proper shape and clean inside and out. It’s difficult having a big family with few cars, so you may enjoy the flexibility it brings to the household.

Conclusion

Parenting is a tough job. It comes with a lot of obligations and duties. There are ways to make life easier on yourself. The challenges of being a parent are real, but you don’t have to let them consume you.  

Do all of your family day outs run as smoothly as they should? If not, there are many practical ways you can address this problem. Once you deal with the main issues that have the potential to ruin these special occasions, you will be able to relax more, enjoy your family days out and create many happy memories you can look back on fondly in years to come. Below are some of the easiest ways to make a family day out go smoothly.
Parking
Finding parking when you’re away from home can be a frustrating experience. However, if you use websites like yourparkingspace.co.uk where you can find and book a parking space nationwide, you will save yourself a lot of time and avoid the pressures that come with finding a suitable place to park.
Once you have found your parking space on the day of your trip, it’s also essential to be able to locate it at the end of the day. Look for nearby landmarks or signs that will make it easier to find your vehicle when you need to look for it later on. This simple step will once again save you time and reduce your stress levels.
Organisation and Planning
Before you set off on your journey, it’s a good idea to be as organised as possible and plan ahead for your trip. Make sure you bring all of the items you and your family members need. Researching your destination on tripadvisor.co.uk and finding out more about what it has to offer will also ensure that you get the most out of your next family day out.
Organising your family is another key factor you need to consider. If you are visiting an unfamiliar destination, make sure everyone stays together, you identify a specific meeting point if you split up, and that everyone knows each other’s mobile numbers if they have a mobile phone.
Keeping the Kids Entertained
Long car journeys can be hard work when you have small kids in the back. iPads are great at keeping kids occupied but not all parents like to see their kids using these electronic devices for long periods of times. For some more traditional activities download free printable puzzles from tescoliving.com. They include word searches, brain teasers, and dot to dot puzzles.

First Aid and Dealing with Emergencies
Unfortunately, things can go wrong when you travel with your family. However, the quicker you react to any problems that do occur, the quicker everyone can get back to enjoying their day out. Packing a first aid kit and items required in an emergency will give you this flexibility and allow you to deal with a wide range of accidents and incidents that can occur.
Clothes and Accessories for All Weather Conditions
In many areas of the country, weather conditions can be unpredictable. To help you deal with everything Mother Nature throws at you, it’s wise to bring clothing for different types of weather conditions, including sun cream, hats, and any other accessories you believe are necessary.
Keep Food Fresh
When you go on a family day out, there are many mouths to feed. Therefore, it’s vital to keep all of your food and drink cool and fresh. Investing in storage items such as cling film, lunch boxes, flasks and zip-lock bags will ensure that you and your family will be able to consume and enjoy these items throughout the day.
A family day out should be a memorable occasion for everyone involved. Following the tips above will make it more likely that this will happen and that everything will go as smoothly as possible.

Of course in an ideal world I’d be doing something like the inimitable Colin Furze and building a secret bunker in my garden. But since my greatest achievement to date has involved getting the toy cars lined up on my littlest’s wallpaper, I know not to push it too far. My skills lie elsewhere. I’ve been told. Presumably by someone who knows.

Anyway, I have managed a few fairly major tasks- I’ve refitted and tiled a bathroom, rebuilt a summer house from an old concrete shed, done my own DIY security camera project and even fitted an IKEA kitchen. Yes, the majority of this was all done before I had dodgy knees and three small children getting underfoot but in principle, I’m still up for a bit of a challenge.

We’re at that stage where we’re looking to either move and take on a project or do something fairly radical internally. Either way, it’s going to involve the removal of some non load bearing walls. Our entire top floor is pretty much non load bearing in terms of the internal walls- the roof is supported on the external brick walls, with some obvious gaps between the rafters and the internal walls at the top once you prod the plaster away. We’ve been looking at turning the box room into an ensuite & bathroom and moving it (the fourth bedroom) to the current bathroom. I’ll need an upgrade on my 5lb lump hammer and also a pair of sturdy comfortable safety shoes to stop brick and breeze block clobbering my delicate toes. The lump hammer I can get most anywhere but the chap we had in the office to do our PAT testing recently pointed me towards Engelbert- Strauss for the safety shoes. I’m a size 12 so it’s hard enough to get normal shows  in store in my size, let alone specialised footwear. The idea of being able to buy them online is appealing.

We’re fortunate enough that in St Albans we have the first two pilot Bunnings stores in the country. Bunnings are the brand that bought out the ailing Homebase and are turning them into proper DIY sheds- when I re-felted our sheds roof the other day I had about 5 different types of roof felt to choose from, which is something even the huge B&Q in Stevenage can’t boast.

I’m fortunate as our next door neighbour has already done roughly what we anticipate doing, so I can learn from what he’s done and even ask him if there is anything he would have done differently. Apparently there is some structural steel in a very inopportune place that’s caused him a bit of a headache, so I’ll have the benefit of not being surprised by that if we do stay put.