As a mom of two young boys, I have learned that parenting can be both challenging and rewarding. It is a journey that requires creativity, patience, and resilience. Over the years, I have discovered some creative parenting hacks that make life with kids a little easier.
Here are 20 of my favorite parenting hacks:
- The toy rotation system. Kids can get easily bored with their toys, so I use a toy rotation system to keep things fresh. I rotate their toys every week or two, and they always seem excited to see what’s new.
- The “yes” day. Every once in a while, I declare a “yes” day where I say yes to everything my kids ask for (within reason, of course). It’s a fun way to give them a little bit of control and let them feel heard.
- The color-coded schedule. To help my kids understand their daily routine, I created a color-coded schedule that they can easily follow. Red for breakfast, green for playtime, blue for nap time, and so on.
- The bathtub art studio. My boys love to draw, so I let them use washable markers to draw on the bathtub walls while they take a bath. It’s a fun and easy way to encourage their creativity.
- The sticker chart. I use a sticker chart to incentivize good behavior. Each time they do something good, they get a sticker. When they reach a certain number of stickers, they get a reward.
- The DIY sensory bins. I create DIY sensory bins using items I already have around the house. I fill a bin with things like rice, pasta, or beans, and my boys love to play with them.
- The “quiet time” basket. When my littles are feeling a little restless, I give them a “quiet time” basket filled with books, puzzles, and other quiet activities. It’s a great way to help them calm down and relax.
- The frozen grapes trick. In the summer, I freeze grapes and give them to my boys as a cool and healthy snack. They love them!
- The snack station. I set up a snack station in the kitchen so my kids can help themselves to healthy snacks whenever they want. It also helps to avoid the “I’m hungry” complaints.
- The car activity bags. For long car rides, I create activity bags filled with coloring books, stickers, and other fun activities. It keeps my boys entertained and helps the time pass quickly.
- The shoe rack organizer. I use a shoe rack organizer to keep all of my boys’ shoes in one place. It saves time and helps us avoid the last-minute shoe search.
- The morning routine chart. To help my boys get ready for school in the morning, I created a morning routine chart that includes things like brushing teeth, getting dressed, and eating breakfast. It helps to keep us on track and avoid the morning rush.
- The “quiet feet” game. When my kids are getting a little too loud, we play the “quiet feet” game where we try to move around the house as quietly as possible. It’s a fun way to get them to quiet down.
- The make-your-own pizza night. We have a weekly “make-your-own pizza” night where they get to choose their own toppings and make their own pizzas. It’s a fun and easy way to get them involved in the kitchen.
- The family movie night. We have a weekly family movie night where we watch a movie together and have popcorn and snacks. It’s a great way to spend quality time together as a family.
- The DIY play kitchen. I created a DIY play kitchen using an old bookshelf and some cardboard boxes. My kids love to play with it and pretend to cook meals for us.
- The outdoor scavenger hunt. We love going on outdoor scavenger hunts where my boys search for items like leaves, rocks, and flowers. It’s a fun way to get them outside and teach them about nature.
- The art supply storage. To keep our art supplies organized, I use a hanging shoe organizer to store things like markers, crayons, and paintbrushes. It saves space and makes it easy to find what they need.
- The “one toy at a time” rule. To avoid clutter and chaos, we have a “one toy at a time” rule where my boys have to put away one toy before getting out another one. It helps to keep things tidy and manageable.
- The gratitude journal. To encourage gratitude and positivity, we keep a gratitude journal where we write down things we are thankful for each day. It’s a great way to focus on the good things in life.
Parenting can be challenging, but with a little creativity and ingenuity, it can also be a lot of fun. These parenting hacks have made life with my kiddos a little easier and a lot more enjoyable. Try them out and see what works for you and your family.
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