30 Parenting Hacks Every Parent Should Know
If you are parents, you know exactly what we’re talking about! There are no shortcuts to getting into your child’s mind, but there smart ways to work your way around it. They might be smart, but you are smarter.
Being a parent is rewarding; parenting, however, can be a queasy rollercoaster ride if you don’t know what it is that you are signing up for! Putting across your expectations and thoughts to your children can be tasking, but it is best to establish early on that you are the parent in the equation, and the one who calls the shots.
The intention is not to scare you to your wits end by giving away the stark reality that parenting can turn out to be; instead it is to help you and the children sail through without desperation.
It tends to get a little easier though after you have successfully progressed to your second-born. The first one could drain you off the last speck of energy! In time for your second child, you are going to be pros at parenting!
- Let them know you are the adult
- Be a good listener
- Have a reward system in place
- Nurture and fuel their interests
- Have fun with your kids in a safe enclosure
- Curious kids round the house?
- Identity crisis
- Making homework fun and irresistible
- Bringing the room to life
- Ice popsicles
- Turn your stairs into a make-shift slide
- Temper tantrums
- Left-right-left
- Graffiti remover
- Toothpaste to the rescue
- Turn old trousers into shorts
- Toy sorting challenge
- Mending your manners
- Fussy eaters at the dinner table
- Make way for the Abacus
- Keep those pearly whites healthy
- Safe haven for kids to play
- Make-shift medicine dispenser
- Parental-control on television and computers
- What’s the password?
- Better safe than sorry
- Make-shift drip holder
- Scribble pad
- On-the-go snack holder
- Rub-a-dub-dub
Kids can surprise you by their power of observation and can make you feel cornered at times, and they don’t hesitate asking questions beyond their years! You might recall that as kids you probably didn’t have a definite answer to how you were born, save for old granny tales. You can’t fool kids born of this generation; they have a fair understanding of the human anatomy, and you’ll be surprised with the depth of knowledge they hold.
Children want to be heard before they can hear you out, what to them means facing the music! Before you shower them with your daily dose of shenanigans, like homework and stuff, give them an ear.
If you are parents to more than one child, have them challenge each other over chores around the house or backyard, like cleaning their rooms, making the bed, walking the dog - anything doable keeping their age in mind. This would keep them from getting into trouble and you don’t have to constantly look over your shoulder.
Keep kids occupied with something that excites their senses. It could be painting, cooking, writing, craft, building blocks, perhaps. Pointing your kids in the right direction early on plays a crucial role in moulding their persona.
Having fun with your kids is undeniably the most picture-perfect moment. However, make sure the play area is clear of stray objects that could be cause for concern or injury.
Kids are a curious lot, and they have an affinity to explore every nook and cranny of the house, including power points. Use a Band-Aid or temporary sealant to seal all power outlets when not in use, so kids don’t stick their fingers in them or poke around.
Use a permanent marker to label clothes, footwear, accessories and anything that’s likely to be difficult to identify in a pile of clothing.
Offer your kids a sweet-treat or an extra story before bed for completing their homework on time.
Break the habit of kids sneaking in to your room/bed by painting their room with their favourite colour, decorating their walls, and hanging posters of their favourite super-hero.
Turn ice cubes into lollipops by replacing water with fresh fruit juice instead of water.
Open up old cardboards to mimic a ramp that can be secured to the handrails and wall for kids to slide on.
If your kids have a habit of locking up behind them, replace automatic doorknobs with those that can only be locked from the outside.
Label a sticker in the inside of each shoe to help kids identify the left from the right.
Keep a crayon remover, like Goo Gone, handy to get rid of your kids’ handy work from walls.
Toothpaste helps rid your wooden furniture off permanent marker imprints.
Cut old trousers and jeans to turn them into shorts if your kid has shot up in height.
Challenge your kids against a ticking timer to stash their toys into a box or a trunk.
Teach your kids to incorporate “Please” and “Thank you” in everyday conversations. Every time they take heed, add a sticker on a make-shift Thank you card. After they reach a credit limit, reward them with a day out at the movies.
As parents, we tend to make a fuss over our kids not eating. The key to this is - DON’T! Prepare a meal of sorts that you know your kids like, and serve. They will eat, maybe not immediately, but they will learn that nobody’s fussing over it, and will learn to eat what’s served.
If learning numbers is a cumbersome task to your kids, use an abacus to introduce them to the realm of numbers - it’s fun and enriching.
Get your kids into the habit of brushing twice every day. Join them in this healthy activity by making it seem like a fun team activity.
Inflatable pools serve as an ideal play area and give ample cushioning for comfort.
Insert a dropper through a pacifier or nipple to dispense medication to your child. This ensures there’s no dripping and the dosage is not exceeded.
Don’t have kids stumble upon content they shouldn’t be watching. Control the time and channels they watch and sites they browse.
Instil alertness in your child by choosing a password that stays between you and the kids. In the event that a stranger approaches, encourage kids to ask for the password.
Educate your kids about the good touch-bad touch scenario in the most calm and collected manner. Make them aware of their bodies, and that nobody has the right to touch them inappropriately. If someone does so, your kids should confide in you.
Use disposable muffin holders to double as drip collectors to keep your kids and the floor from getting messy.
Place a white board in the most frequented places around the house for your kids to scribble on.
Transform tiered shoe holders to hold snacks, games, maps, and more in your car.
Rub Vicks VapoRub on your kids’ feet and put socks over them at bedtime to put a stop to coughing.
