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Archive: May 2007
31 May 07 | Comments: 0
Jason Weiner! You're the lucky winner of The Kids' Book Club Book! Congrats to you...and thank you to all of you who made so many incredible suggestions for must-share books with children. I intend to compile the master list so...
Blog book tour: The Kids' Book Club Book30 May 07 | Comments: 52
Parent Hacks is part of the MotherTalk book tour for The Kids' Book Club Book (email mess be damned!). This book is a great resource for kids and parents alike, especially with long summer days ahead. Here's a complete how-to...
Parent Hacks admin: Status. Sigh.30 May 07 | Comments: 8
Well folks, I want to apologize for the delay in getting back to the daily hacks. My best-laid plans to get my computer fixed up over the weekend were upended by a number of complicated family issues -- everything had...
links for 2007-05-2929 May 07 | Comments: 0
Z Recommends: Easy Homemade "Baby Legs" - Baby and Toddler Legwarmers Get the "Flashdance" Treatment ZRecs turns old socks into toddler legwarmers. (tags: parenthacks)
links for 2007-05-2727 May 07 | Comments: 3
Free Summer Movies for Kids @ raising4boys.com Free movies? A no-brainer for beating the summer heat. (tags: movies kids parenthacks)
links for 2007-05-2626 May 07 | Comments: 1
Ask Moxie: What Boys Should Know By the Time They Become Men (tags: parenting) 25 Uses for Ziploc Bags [Via Lifehack.org] (tags: ziploc parenthacks)
Parent hacks admin: Digging out, and profiled in Canadian newsweekly Macleans25 May 07 | Comments: 7
Well, folks, I've learned two tough lessons this week: 1. I'm a fish out of water without my laptop and connectivity. In other words, I'm a pathetic Internet addict. 2. MUST. BACK. UP. MY. DATA. The latter is more embarrassing...
links for 2007-05-2525 May 07 | Comments: 0
in the trenches of motherhood » Aesthetically pleasing, child friendly, and most of all practical toy storage advice "Our family room is child friendly, not child centered." (tags: parenthacks organization kids) ::needled:: At the risk of too much recursion, I...
Parent Hacks admin: Hard drive crash24 May 07 | Comments: 0
Ugh. Big-time computer crash last night, so things may be a bit wonky around here for a day or two while I get things cleaned up. Wish me luck.
Pinpoint public playgrounds along your road trip route23 May 07 | Comments: 13
Mike found a great resource for road trip fun: Cool new website called Waymarking.com, which pinpoints the location of all sorts of attractions such as historical markers, covered bridges, etc. One of my favorite categories is public playgrounds. It doesn’t...
Preview family movies without sitting through (or paying for) them twice23 May 07 | Comments: 5
Just in time for the summer movie season, inconsequentia's hack for checking out movies before taking the kiddies: We've long been looking for a way to check out some aspects of certain films before deciding whether to take the children...
Meta-scrapbooking: Save pictures of your kids doing art projects23 May 07 | Comments: 3
Katharine's hack is space-saving and wise: My 7 month-old son is in daycare and they have been sending home a few little arts and crafts things as of late. I love to scrapbook and make commemorative things for my son...
Momergency kit: What would you pack?23 May 07 | Comments: 12
Lifehacker tipped me off to the Momergency Kit: a bag of goodies intended to deal with the inevitable broken purse strap or slow-moving line. Several Parenthacker favorites appear in the kit: a Sharpie, a carabiner, hand sanitizer, Ziploc bags. What...
Via Toy Box: Toy storage they won't outgrow22 May 07 | Comments: 3
Just yesterday, a company I'd never heard of, Via Toy Box, booked a small ad on Parent Hacks (see it right there in the right-hand sidebar?). I always visit potential advertisers before I accept their ads, and I was immediately...
Scented lip balm as personal air freshener22 May 07 | Comments: 2
Marie's hack made me smile because both my kids are very sensitive to smells. We often choose restaurants based on our kids' first sniff once inside the door. I read Parent Hacks almost daily but didn’t think I had anything...
Goldfish crackers make vegie soup toddler-friendly22 May 07 | Comments: 0
nducho's son likes his vegies with a little fish: My super picky son's vegetable consumption starts and ends with oven-baked potatoes and spinach. [Spinach? That's pretty good! -- Ed.] Last week, I made a soup (cooked split peas, carrots, potatoes...
links for 2007-05-2222 May 07 | Comments: 0
Ask Moxie: The (Hypothetical) Dangerous Book For Girls Have I mentioned that I'm in love with Moxie? (tags: parenting) Jumping Monkeys: Squeeze the life out of old markers We've all got 'em! (tags: kids)
Keeping little fingers safe from closing car windows22 May 07 | Comments: 7
It's all too easy to absent-mindedly close the rear car windows without first doing a finger-check. Hence Tim's wise advice: With the spring weather, our three year old daughter has taken to having her car window open. When trying to...
Improbable dessert: Apple Pie a la Mode drink21 May 07 | Comments: 4
Fun dessert the kids and I shared tonight. Because I had a bit of leftover cream: APPLE PIE A LA MODE DRINK From Moosewood Restaurant New Classics 3/4 cup apple juice 1/4 cup cream 1 teaspoon sugar dash of cinnamon...
GeekDad: Play instant messaging games with your kids21 May 07 | Comments: 0
I've been meaning to write up our little iChat game for a while! Here it is, as a guest post on GeekDad.
The "random play" button makes kiddie music more bearable20 May 07 | Comments: 5
Kathy's found the best use I can think of for the "Random Play" button on the CD player: have a fourteen month-old who loves music and has just begun to dance, and prefers a few of the children's nursery rhymes...
Exchange email photographs before playdates with new kids20 May 07 | Comments: 5
From Belinda, host of kid radio show Greasy Kid Stuff: When we have playdates with new kids, or kids we haven't seen for awhile, I ask the parent to email me a picture of their child. This helps my kidlet...
Gas drops dissipate bubbles in formula19 May 07 | Comments: 5
From Laura -- a mother of triplets, who can use every extra minute she can find: If you're mixing large batches of formula you are well aware of the foam that appears and takes forever to dissipate! Another triplet mom...
links for 2007-05-1919 May 07 | Comments: 2
Ask Moxie: Moxie Manifesto (May 2007 edition) Amen, sister! (tags: parenting) Cool Tool: Podee Hands-Free Bottle Bottle feeding in the car...not fun. This looks to be an interesting option. (tags: parenthacks baby babygear)
Kid-friendly chilled water dispenser19 May 07 | Comments: 7
Loraine's helping her daughter help herself to a drink of water: Our fridge doesn't have a water dispenser built in. As our baby grew into a preschooler, I soon realized our folly when I saw how easy it was for...
Movie adaptation of children's books? Talk amongst yourselves.19 May 07 | Comments: 11
Margaret says: Sarah and I watched this great adaptation of The Secret Garden (directed by Albert Grint with a Colin Firth cameo at the end!). I'm sure there's lots of other adaptations of children's books out there that are done...
Kids bored? Dump the toy box!18 May 07 | Comments: 7
Ah, the pleasure of forgotten toys. From Duane: Every once in a blue moon, just dump the toybox completely upside down, every single toy out on the floor. If your kids are anything like mine they'll have a blast rediscovering...
Need to lie down on the job? Play Tattoo Parlor!18 May 07 | Comments: 16
Merrill's a brave, creative mom who has hopefully hidden the Sharpies: I was a mom of a 4 year old and an infant. I was tired. My 4 year old had long since given up her nap and my baby...
links for 2007-05-1818 May 07 | Comments: 1
The Silent "I": Unaccompanied Mommies: Traveling without Baby While Nursing [Via Strollerderby] (tags: parenting nursing breastfeeding travel baby) Z Recommends: Building With Paint Sample Chips (tags: parenthacks crafts) Kids' Programming from Scratch [GeekDad] (tags: kids programming parenthacks)
What to do about a lying child? Talk amongst yourselves.18 May 07 | Comments: 20
Here's a sticky one. Sharon asks: I need some help. Our six year old has taken on an unattractive trait. He likes to make things up and does not come clean afterwards. Essentially, he is lying. Example #1: He told...
Strawberry basket as bubble blower17 May 07 | Comments: 3
It's strawberry AND bubble season! From Serrina: New hack, courtesy of Pat in my office. Pat just gave me a bunch of old green strawberry baskets. Dip them into a plate of bubble solution and swing them in the air...
Newborn diapers: more economical than doll diapers17 May 07 | Comments: 3
For all the little parents-in-training, from Amanda: If your kid wants doll diapers (6 for $5 at Target), buy a 40-pack of newborn diapers for just a dollar more. They fit stuffed animals and baby dolls just fine (and are...
Seat Chiller keeps hot carseats cool17 May 07 | Comments: 5
Now that the weather's getting warmer, carseat covers and buckles get mighty hot -- making late afternoon grocery runs with kids even more painful than usual. Innovative solution: the Seat Chiller. This carseat cooler is basically a long, thin icepack...
Send your used toys to children in Iraq17 May 07 | Comments: 6
Updated 8/07: The toy drive is back on! Two of Edmay's comrades have taken over her role, and are accepting toy donations. send your donations to: Michael Fellenz or Natalie Sudman USACE-GRS APO-AE 09331 7/30/07 update: Edmay's toy drive is...
Just moved? Double-check the screws on self-assembled furniture16 May 07 | Comments: 3
Gretchen offers extremely important advice for families who've just relocated: We've finally dug out from the mountain of boxes from our move, and have found that the screws on a lot of our furniture managed to back themselves loose during...
links for 2007-05-1616 May 07 | Comments: 0
Mind Flush: Gardening hack Adam's get-your-kid-weeding tip inspired Gretchen to get her toddler into the garden. (tags: gardening parenting toddler)
Volunteering with baby? Talk amongst yourselves.15 May 07 | Comments: 29
Whitney of Rookie Moms asks: I want to do a post about volunteering with a baby in tow, but don't have any real life stories of success. Can we tap into your readers and ask for anecdotes of the type...
links for 2007-05-1515 May 07 | Comments: 2
lee's things: Recipe: finger Jell-o Sure to impress the toddler- and preschool set. (tags: kids recipes) Peanut Butter PC: Kid-friendly OS From CEO JR: "It rides on top of Windows XP or Vista and allows for children to run in...
Print your own "screen time" tickets14 May 07 | Comments: 3
Prompted by Mel's ticket-for-TV-time hack, John of Flagrant Disregard, fd's Flickr Toys, and LetterPop fame designed these lovely tickets. Even better, he's made them available for download and printing! Awesome.
Gardening hack: Pay kids a penny per weed14 May 07 | Comments: 15
Future Parenthacker Adam (that's how he signed the email!) brought back childhood memories of hot afternoons spent weeding: We don't have kids yet, but my wife and I both experienced this hack as children and intend to use it ourselves...
Keeping kids safe in busy parking lots13 May 07 | Comments: 31
Ed's trick for keeping his son in one place while he packs the groceries into the car: There is nothing more dangerous than a 5 year old in a parking lot while you are trying to put the groceries away....
links for 2007-05-1313 May 07 | Comments: 2
The Practical Archivist: A (very) old trick to handle a fussy baby From Sara: "So Ben spends an hour at Costco trying to convince J. to sit still for her passport photo. Today, he sends me this parenthack from the...
Plastic clothes hangers prevent door slamming12 May 07 | Comments: 3
More low-tech babyproofing, this time from Erika: Our kids - 3yrs and 16 months - love to slam and close doors. This often was resulting in pinching, banging and little ones locked in rooms they didn't want to be in....
Hotel matchbooks help lost kids on multi-city trips12 May 07 | Comments: 4
Margarita's simple but powerful travel hack: A recent hack reminded me of something my dad used to do when we travelled. As kids we travelled a lot with them and often to several cities in one same trip. This made...
links for 2007-05-1212 May 07 | Comments: 1
Offsprung: Your life didn't end when you became a parent. Neal Pollack's parenting site has sprung. And Parenthackers are involved! Dana, Mrs. Davis, Izzy designed the logo. Congrats! (tags: parenting kids nealpollack) The Juggle - WSJ.com : Lesson from Mom:...
links for 2007-05-1111 May 07 | Comments: 4
Keyboards for Little People | Inventor Spot Thanks, Michelle! (tags: parenthacks kids) Geekdad - Hacking Ikea for a cool kids bedroom Dang, that IS cool (tags: parenthacks furniture kids decorating diy) Duane's Brain: Parent Hack : Making Mom A Mix...
Ticket system helps kids track their own TV and game time10 May 07 | Comments: 12
Mel came up with a brilliant way to put her kids in charge of monitoring their own screen time: I got tired of being the boss of when my kids (three and five) could watch videos and DVDs. I also...
"Ground tie" your child10 May 07 | Comments: 50
Ed demonstrates the power of suggestion: This one takes a lot of discipline, but pays off. I was watching and old spaghetti western and saw the cowboy jump from his horse and place the reins on the ground. The horse...
links for 2007-05-1010 May 07 | Comments: 3
The Five-Second Rule Explored, or How Dirty Is That Bologna? - New York Times Thanks, Maggie! (tags: kids health) craft day: Secret Messages Fun 5-minute craft for aspiring spies. (tags: parenthacks crafts kids) Last minute gift: Tube your mom! The...
Happy to Be Nappy DVD models tolerance and empathy10 May 07 | Comments: 5
From my good friend Jonathan: What a wonderful opportunity to entertain and educate your children all at the same time in this diverse and engaging HBO production. Happy to Be Nappy is a show that my family stumbled upon one...
Pre-portion ice cream into paper muffin cups09 May 07 | Comments: 7
Atlanta Jill made quick work of the ice cream service at a recent birthday party: We had a birthday party, and I remembered my neighbor's ice cream hack. She scoops it out into muffin cups the day before the party. ...
links for 2007-05-0808 May 07 | Comments: 0
Parentography > Kid friendly reviews, recommendations and advice - for families on the go They've just added social networking features, and a bunch more. If you haven't already, check it out! (tags: kids parenting travel) The Four Terrible Money Mistakes...
Cookie Crisp cereal stands in for toddler snack cookies08 May 07 | Comments: 7
Here's how Heidi adjusted the serving size of her son's snack cookie: My 2.5 year old has suddenly become a cookie fiend. I don't mind letting him have one once in a while as a special treat, but his opinion...
Baby furniture tip: will toys roll underneath?08 May 07 | Comments: 8
Elizabeth thought to write down a piece of advice that every parent should hear about nursery and kid's furniture: I just have to warn parents to be if they are going furniture shopping before the baby is born to look...
Blog Book tour: The Dangerous Book for Boys07 May 07 | Comments: 28
I'm pleased to help kick off the MotherTalk blog book tour for The Dangerous Book For Boys. To say that this book is lovely, or interesting, or useful, really understates what's going on when you open the crimson canvas cover....
links for 2007-05-0707 May 07 | Comments: 1
100 Ways to Have Fun with Your Kids for Free or Cheap | zen habits Leo shares a ton of excellent Parent Hacks (and other time-saving ideas) at Zen Habits. I say: subscribe to his feed! (tags: parenthacks kids parenting)...
Helping a toddler who's afraid of dogs07 May 07 | Comments: 10
Sara's daughter is afraid of dogs -- as many kids are. Here's how Sara and her husband are helping her get over it: Miss J. is just shy of 2 years, and she's become deathly afraid of puppies. The first...
Protect your floors with birthday party tablecloths06 May 07 | Comments: 1
Latia's found a use for those throwaway birthday party tablecloths: I save the thin, cheap, plastic character tablecloths from my kid's birthday party to protect the floor and other areas. I cut one tablecloth into three different sizes: one to...
Fuzzibuns cloth diapers help teach colors06 May 07 | Comments: 3
Sean says: Our daughter, two years old, has recently mastered her colors with no real effort from us. We use fuzzibuns cloth diapers that we bought used. Just by chance we ended up with a full range of brightly colored...
Heal minor scrapes at the Body Shop06 May 07 | Comments: 2
Here's one of the ways veteran Parenthacker Jill (who now goes by Atlanta Jill) soothes owies: My crying son and his curious friends reminded me of a common hack we use around here: when some part of their body gets...
Let your kid "drive" the shopping cart05 May 07 | Comments: 10
Ed's novel grocery store entertainment hack: Do you go grocery shopping with your child? My son Joshua enjoyed going to the grocery store and seldom created an issue. Sitting in the cart in front of me was good for me,...
links for 2007-05-0505 May 07 | Comments: 0
surefoodsliving.com » Snaks for kids with food allergies My friend Alison has started Sure Foods Living - a site for people with food sensitivities. Here she shares her favorite non-allegenic kid-friendly snacks. (tags: parenthacks diet celiac) No Impact Man Goal:...
Tips for helping kids play Internet games05 May 07 | Comments: 4
Here's how Toni made it easier for her kids to play games on the Web: My children (ages 2 1/2 & 5) have started using the computer more since Grandma gave us an extra but sometimes they have a little...
Shoe organizer in the coat closet keeps gloves and accessories within reach04 May 07 | Comments: 8
Tracy's hack works just as well for warm weather accessories: sunglasses, caps, swim goggles... How to keep gloves, scarves, hats, dog leashes easy to find? Hang a shoe organizer on the inside of your coat closet door. Assign a row...
Less laundry detergent still gets clothes clean04 May 07 | Comments: 15
Michael's sensible laundry tip: This one helps the budget and the planet all in one. The recommended scoop (or squirt) size for laundry detergent is far too much. Identical cleaning results can be obtained with 1/3 the suggested amount. You'd...
links for 2007-05-0404 May 07 | Comments: 0
Thingamababy: Review: Fortamajig Enables Extreme Fort Building without Blankets I...want...one. (tags: parenthacks kids) Baby Toolkit: Building Blocks: A Recycler's Do It Yourself Project Milk cartons to the rescue. (tags: parenthacks kids toys crafts) Put photos on your iPod » Rookie...
Let your kid "drive" while you clean the car03 May 07 | Comments: 24
Our car looks like crap, too. My kids are old enough that I don't really have an excuse, but for those with busy toddlers, here's Sara's tip: Although I feel like I do a decent job keeping the house in...
links for 2007-05-0303 May 07 | Comments: 1
Sweet Juniper's Mythological Alphabet Dutch has created another incredible alphabet set -- this one devoted to mythological creatures and characters. (tags: art kids education) Work It, Mom! | A Community for Professional Moms New social network for working moms. [Via...
Bathroom faucet-turned-drinking fountain works as an eye wash03 May 07 | Comments: 0
Kip's hackworthy home improvement tip: Seeing a similar item in BoingBoing reminded me that we got a little gizmo from Bed Bath & Beyond that turns a sink tap into a drinking fountain (while still letting you use it as...
Apply lip balm while they're sleeping03 May 07 | Comments: 5
Kim and Lou say: Our daughter is going through a "licking lips" phase which is giving her a rash around her mouth. When we apply Aquaphor she licks it off. Our daycare woman suggested to apply it to her lips...
Photo contact sheets contain perfect tiny locket pictures03 May 07 | Comments: 4
Eliz found a great use for photo contact sheets: When you need a TINY picture for a project or for your daughter's first locket, I've found that the perfect solution is the contact sheets many photo developers now provide, especially...
No highchair? Belt 'em in!02 May 07 | Comments: 1
Here's Jodi's makeshift highchair stand-in: We were at a childless friend's for dinner and we needed a way to keep him in one spot while we ate (without the blitz-eating-parent-tradeoff). We didn't have our pack 'n' play, or his booster...
Probiotic cure for colic?02 May 07 | Comments: 7
Hedra uncovered research that points to a probiotic as a promising treatment for infant colic: Okay, so my kids are too old now to benefit much from this (at least in this form). But having learned (the hard way, with...
How to change diapers without getting cream on your hands02 May 07 | Comments: 25
I would say at least twenty-four hours of my life has been spent getting diaper cream off my hands. (Amy, where were you seven years ago???): I didn't even realize this was a hack until my husband saw me do...
Get paper under control with 3-ring binders01 May 07 | Comments: 3
Louise's paper organizing secret: View binders (3-ring binders with a clear vinyl overlay on the covers) are an organizing favorite. I use them for organizing everything from my Christmas information, notes and ideas, to the appliance manuals and receipts, to...
links for 2007-05-0101 May 07 | Comments: 1
Incentivize Your Kids-Hold Back On The Punishment | GNMParents Stu and I are on the same wavelength. Long story short, I've been doing this due to a bit too much grumpiness around here, and it's like someone sprinkled fairy dust...
Parenthacker toy recommendation: Parents Animal Hospital01 May 07 | Comments: 10
Misty's got a toy recommendation for key-obsessed toddlers and preschoolers: Animal Hospital (Parents magazine brand). Has it all. Keys that WORK for starters (six of 'em). Several critters to lock up and bail out. A good assortment of real-enough-for-kids instruments....
