What did frazzled parents do before the Internet, which is full of parenting tips tricks (good, bad, and hilarious) to help us all get through that wonderful, horrible time?
1. Teach them to fight their own battles.
No more 3 a.m. (then 4 a.m., then 5 a.m...) wake ups to check the closet for monsters. Decorate a spray bottle filled with water and tell them it's a special potion to scare those creepy-crawlies away.
2. Toothpaste to the rescue.
For a number of reasons, it's great to have some plain white toothpaste around the house. For frazzled parents, the best use is for cleaning those works of "art" off your walls.
3. Then give them a proper canvas.
If Jimmy simply must draw on a vertical surface, rig up a specific area for him to do so. By framing the area, it can instill a sense of "specialness" to the spot, making it less likely he'll stray beyond it.
4. Sometimes you just need to separate them.
A makeshift wall is a must-pack for any long car ride. Your sanity will thank you.
5. Get creative with accessories.
Sometimes you have to wonder about the sizing of children's clothes, like with girls' summer tops. The straps are often so long that a kid would need a hunchback to keep them from slipping down constantly. A cheap hair clip is a great option to save the day, or a colorful ribbon knotted into a fun little bow.
6. Keep pacifiers clean.
Whether you're for or against pacifiers in general, I think we can all agree that a dirty one dug out from the bottom of a diaper bag isn't the most sanitary thing to give our children. Instead, keep an eye on your takeout for sauce containers, as these plastic ramekins are the perfect size and shape. Once thoroughly cleaned, they become the ideal travel case.
7. Keep activities within easy reach.
Those over-the-door shoe organizers are amazing, aren't they? They can even ensure Sally is entertained while you're out and about.
Keep going!
I have more great tips on the next page!
8. Why did I never think of this?
And I'm not talking about blowing up a blanket fort for kids I know now. I'm asking why I didn't know this when I was a kid? So neat!
9. Teach them to understand time.
Even if Jimmy isn't able to properly read a clock yet, you can teach him to value time and patience with some color-coding. Using one or more markers, fill in the times meant for specific things and teach those to him. He may not understand "No, you can't have a snack until after 3:30," but he will clue into snack time being blue.
10. Get shoes on the right feet the first time.
If Sally's perpetually incapable of knowing her left from her right, cutting a cute sticker in half and placing each piece inside can help her learn. She just needs to match up the picture to know which foot goes in which.
11. Limit wasted soap.
Any soap dispenser with a plunge top is too much fun for a kid to want to play with. Wrapping an elastic around the neck will limit the amount of soap dispensed, saving both money and clean-up time.
12. In a pinch, cover outlets with band-aids.
If someone else's kids are going to be visiting and you want to keep curious fingers (and cutlery) away from electrical sources, band-aids are a great temporary solution.
13. Teach them to use the right amount of toilet paper.
Avoid messes and possible calls for a plumber by marking the wall so that Sally knows how much toilet paper is enough to do the job. Unfortunately, this trick will not work for the cat, who love to keep unraveling the roll when you're not looking.
14. Keep shampoo out of their eyes.
Even if it's formulated not to sting, kids' shampoo is still unpleasant to get in the eyes. If tears are becoming a problem, a pair of cheap swimming goggles can protect sensitive eyes.
Just remember, that with kids...
...some things just can't be explained. Be sure to share your best or funniest tricks for parenting in the COMMENTS!
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