THEY DONT TEACH THIS AT EB

Myleene Klass

• Publisher: HQ
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN: 9780008614027, 9780008553012
• eBook ISBN: 9780008467920
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Education Theory & Practice

A fully illustrated, practical guide full of essential skills and knowledge that school didn't prepare us for

'We all learned how to take tests at school, but then we went out into the world and found ourselves underprepared! And the worst thing anyone can feel is helpless. So I've filled this book with over 100 of the most vital life skills and tools that will not only save you money and give you confidence, but may even save a life.'

- Myleene x

This book will empower you, and your family, with essential knowledge to tackle everyday challenges.

Packed full of advice, They Don't Teach This At School is full of information and tips on:

• Escaping from a burning building

• Dealing with medical emergencies

• Getting a good night's sleep

• How to be a good listener

• Talking about racism

• How to write a CV and apply for a job

• Saying hello (and more) in different languages

• Coping with a plumbing crisis

• How to change a plug and a fuse

• Checking the pressure on car tyres

• Stopping your mouth burning when you've eaten something spicy

• What to do if you're lost

• How to feel confident about speaking in public

CHAPTER 1

HOW TO

Get a good night’s sleep

This is a subject very close to my heart. In the past I’ve slept through an earthquake and a fire alarm in a hotel - to the point where the fire brigade hammered on my door to wake me up! But since having children I always find myself sleeping with one ear open and I have no idea what that total oblivion, the way I see my teenage daughter sleep, feels like any more.

All those things my parents used to say about getting enough sleep are true! It’s only now I have kids of my own that I realize that going to bed early is actually a pleasure not a punishment. One of my kids is a great sleeper, while one is shocking: she wanders the house like a spectre, is super-charged all the time, and sees sleep as punishment. No matter what time she goes to bed, she’s always wide awake by 6.30a.m. But she needs sleep, just as we all need sleep. I know that if I’ve had a decent night the next day will be so much better, and it’s the same for them. They might not thank me for it, but then nobody’s going to thank me if they are tired and grumpy.

If you don’t sleep the knock-on effects can be massive. I know people say it all the time, but there’s a reason that sleep deprivation is used as a form of torture. You can’t think straight. You can’t function. If I don’t sleep I either get teary or clumsy (or both). Sleep helps you regulate your moods. It’s highly, highly undervalued. If you’re like me and craving a perfect - or just a better - night’s sleep, it’s really worth following the suggestions below to change your bedtime habits and make a positive difference.

• Make sure the room is dark and quiet. If you’re trying to help a child to sleep and total darkness is an issue for them, having a night-light on is fine - there’s no point making them stressed, as then they definitely won’t sleep.
• Make sure you’re not too hot or too cold.
• Make sure your bed is comfortable.
• Avoid screens. Light from tablets and computers and some e-readers can trick the body into thinking it’s daylight when it’s not (it’s all about the circadian rhythms). If your body doesn’t know night from day then it’s small wonder it does its best to keep you awake when you should really be asleep, which then leaves you exhausted when you need to concentrate on work, school, or anything else. The rule in our house is no screens in bedrooms - or it was until home schooling. It’s a rule that’s much harder to enforce when they are working in their bedrooms. The goalposts have moved, but outside of school and homework it’s still an absolute no.
• Getting out and doing some exercise during the day will help you feel tired and relaxed when it comes to bedtime.
• Create a routine in which you go to bed and get up at the same time every day (set your alarm if you need to).
• Turn your alarm clock away from the bed - clockwatching makes things worse, not better.
• For little ones afraid of monsters that come out at night, I recommend using ‘monster spray’ (room spray/air freshener) in cupboards and under the bed, to get rid of scary creatures. Whenever Ava smells sandalwood, she remembers me doing this.

• Have too much caffeine - especially in the late afternoon and evening. People typically think of coffee as the main culprit here, but tea, cola drinks and chocolate can all have the same effect. You should avoid all these for at least six hours before going to bed.
• Eat a heavy meal or do strenuous exercise too close to bedtime.
• Nap during the day.
• Work or study in the hour and a half before bed. A racing or stimulated brain won’t help you drop off easily.
• Drink alcohol (one for the adults, obviously). When people talk about nightcaps it promotes the idea that alcohol can help you sleep, but actually it’s the opposite and is more likely to cause broken sleep or make you wake early.
• Smoke - another one for the grown-ups. Nicotine is a stimulant, so it’s the last thing that will help you when you’re worried you’re not getting enough sleep.

And if you can’t get to sleep don’t lie there stressing about it (it really won’t help!). Get up, go into another room and read quietly for 30 minutes or so, then go back to bed when you start to feel sleepy. I love reading, but if I’m tired I find it really helps me to switch off and get to sleep; I find as soon as I get to the third page I can’t keep my eyes open. So I make sure I always give my girls half an hour to read before bed, irrespective of what else is going on, so that they have that half an hour of chill time. It’s so important to have the time and space to decompress.

HOW TO

Get a good skin routine going

If you have good skin it’s easy to think you don’t need to bother with a routine, but one day you’ll actually be very glad you did. And if you have problem skin - be it dry, greasy, or prone to spots - a simple routine can make all the difference.

However, whatever your skin type, I have one rule above all others:

TAKE YOUR MAKE-UP OFF!

It’s never too early to get into good habits, and a bit of self-care is always a good thing. Although these days my own routine is really quite basic, I think back to my teens when I had loads of different products and I don’t want to take that fun away from them.

Now my girls are forming their own skincare routines. I look at what they have out on their sink - enough to fill a Boots counter, with everything from unicorn bath bombs through to lotions and potions - but as long as it’s not ruining their skin. I’m happy with them experimenting and enjoying it. They just need to know that if they do put on a bit of make-up they have to remove it or it will block or clog their pores.

THE BASICS

You don’t have to fill your bathroom or dressing table with loads of different creams and products to take good care of your skin, just get yourself into a routine and repeat it in the morning and just before you go to bed. If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a guide to the basics.

Cleanse

Basically, this does what it says on the tin; it’s effectively washing your face with a product that’s kinder to your skin than soap and water and that gets rid of the dirt that clogs your pores. Finding the right cleanser is important. It doesn’t have to be expensive but it does have to be one that suits your skin. If your skin is greasy, for example, you don’t want one that’s oily; if it’s sensitive you’ll want one that doesn’t contain potential irritants such as perfume or alcohol, and so on. So get to know your skin and get the right products for it.

Tone

This is basically all about rebalancing the skin. Some toners, acids, or serums hydrate the skin, while others exfoliate. Again, what you use should be governed by your skin type. I also use an eye cream before moving to the next stage:

Moisturize

This is all about rehydrating your skin. Just as with the other products in your routine, you’ll need a moisturizer that suits your skin.

SPF

As a final step in the morning, after applying moisturizer always apply sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30, to keep your skin healthy and protected from sun damage. If you get your kids into the routine of applying SPF now, you’ll set them up with good habits for the rest of their life.

Here are a few top tips that I have shared with my girls about looking after their skin:

• Never share make-up with your friends! Hygiene is really important. I’ve worked with countless make-up artists and they clean and resharpen everything in be...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Dedication
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Body & soul
• Chapter 2: A friend in need
• Chapter 3: Let’s talk about…
• Chapter 4: Being a grown-up
• Chapter 5: Rescue remedies
• Chapter 6: Emergency exits
• Chapter 7: Out & about
• Chapter 8: Waterworks
• Chapter 9: Electric dreams
• Chapter 10: Home front
• Chapter 11: Motorways
• Chapter 12: Food for thought
• Chapter 13: Clean living
• Chapter 14: Handy hints
• About the Author
• List of searchable terms
• Acknowledgements
• Copyright
• Note to Readers
• About the Publisher