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Category archive: attitude/mindset
Perfect gift for new moms: The Rookie Mom's Handbook
06 May 08 | Comments: 61
Heather and Whitney (aka the Rookie Moms) are true blog friends. I think these are two of the warmest, smartest women around. We've bonded over the business of blogging and parenting and life. They've sent in bunches of great hacks....
Parent Hacks exclusive: THE CRAZY PARENT WORKOUT!!!!
29 Apr 08 | Comments: 3
Hey, parents! Tired of that persistent belly pooch, but too tired to work out? No time to exercise? Parent-child swim lessons coming up? What if I told you that you could get all your errands and school pickups done FASTER...
Guest post at Savvy Source: Ten easy Parent Hacks for "greening" everyday life with kids
28 Apr 08 | Comments: 0
In honor of their April theme, "It's Easy Being Green," I wrote a guest post for the Savvy Source blog, Being Savvy. In it, I point to ten Parent Hacks that focus on reusing household items in creative ways. Thank...
Ultra-sensitive preschooler who fears change? Talk amongst yourselves.
25 Apr 08 | Comments: 21
Christy, contributor of many hacks, needs our help. Read on: I have an ultra-sensitive type-A 3 year old who's about to be 4 and a 1 going on 2 year old. We live in a semi-rural community, with a Walmart...
Four Parent Hacks for a nag-less morning routine
22 Apr 08 | Comments: 8
Have you met Vanessa Van Petten? Talk about "most likely to succeed!" She's an incredibly motivated blogger about the teen perspective and the author of the parenting book “You’re Grounded!” I first came across her writing in a guest post...
Turnoff Week starts, uh, today! Some thoughts and resources.
21 Apr 08 | Comments: 6
How did I let Turnoff Week sneak up on me like this? And does anyone else find it funny (in a sad way) that it's no longer called "TV Turnoff Week" because there are so many more things to turn...
When they're little, sing 'em what you like, with a little backup
21 Apr 08 | Comments: 11
Brian's baby is getting better musical exposure than mine ever did: For an infant that you're trying to sing to sleep it really doesn't matter what you sing them, just that you're singing. My wife and I both sing songs...
What do you do if your child hoards toys? Talk amongst yourselves.
18 Apr 08 | Comments: 31
Longtime reader (and hack contributor) Amberlynn passed this scenario along from her sister. She wonders: WWPD? What would Parenthackers do? My dear little M, the most angelic baby I've ever had, did a Jekyl and Hyde thing as soon as...
Word choices can take the sting out of a disagreement
14 Apr 08 | Comments: 18
Sara is teaching tact and open-mindedness early: Can a word be a hack? If it can, I propose "mistaken." We've introduced this one to our 2 year old, and it just feels right. We use it to admit we are...
When the table's set for a dinner party, serve your kids a fancy meal before the guests arrive
14 Apr 08 | Comments: 5
I'm so impressed with Suzy and her husband's ability to model calm in the face of a dinner party! What fun, and what lovely learning opportunities and memories for their kids: My husband and I were having a dinner party...
Take notes during phone calls with friends and family
09 Apr 08 | Comments: 17
Katherine Ellison's book notwithstanding, "mommy brain" (or, as I prefer to think of it, "parenting brain") is a real condition for me. My ability to retain details has gone down dramatically since I had kids. Or perhaps my ability has...
Bubble play motivates kids to clean up
06 Mar 08 | Comments: 6
From Jane: Okay, maybe this is just barely a hack, but I have a 2.5 yo and a 4 yo, and getting them to pick up their toys is always a struggle. However, I have discovered a good way to...
Nonverbal "cues" and routines help adopted children settle into home life
05 Mar 08 | Comments: 6
Deborah demonstrates how consistency can be comforting when words aren't an option (yet): When my husband and I brought our 3- and 4-year-olds home from Moscow, we had only rudimentary Russian and a very early trust relationship with the kids....
Parenting: No amount of practice makes perfect, nor should it
27 Feb 08 | Comments: 4
In response to my guest post on Zen Habits yesterday, Bee left the following fascinating comment: …just please, please, please leave gaps in your shiny optimised parenting to get wrong and messy. Teaching kids how to surf on the crest...
Video game addiction. Talk amongst yourselves.
26 Feb 08 | Comments: 40
We are the happy owners of a Nintendo Wii. We fit the demographic to a T; the kids play a bit in the afternoon, and then Rael and I fire up Guitar Hero after hours. (I made a full confession...
Parent Hacks: The Zen Habits Collection
26 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
As part of our guest post swap, Leo Babauta asked me to choose twenty of my favorite tips and write them up as a post for Zen Habits. "Favorite" is impossible to capture because there's more wisdom and good will...
Tie video game time "currency" to chores
25 Feb 08 | Comments: 11
Rich is a man after my own heart: My kids were addicted to their video games and would give us attitudes when we asked them to do chores. So we fixed that right away: we put the kids on a...
Pets as social skills "teachers"
22 Feb 08 | Comments: 6
I've got so much to say about this hack (sent in anonymously), but I'll save my comments till after you've read it: I'm a single (widowed) mom to one daughter. We live in a very rural area so my daughter's...
Ten ways to find time for your family -- no matter how busy you are
21 Feb 08 | Comments: 8
I'm excited to share a guest post by Leo Babauta, father of six and author of the inspiring productivity blog, Zen Habits. His simple-yet-powerful tips always remind me that slowing down -- not cramming more in -- is a busy...
Valentine hack: Celebrate with your spouse the weekend after
13 Feb 08 | Comments: 4
Actually, Ellen, I think any occasion for a night out together is romantic! It's not terribly romantic, but my husband and I have a tradition of celebrating Valentine's Day on a different day-- typically the weekend before or after, preferably...
Valentine hack: Gift cards for teachers
07 Feb 08 | Comments: 5
Michelle's adapted a popular holiday teacher gift for Valentine's Day: My newest favorite thing to do (for teachers and camp counselors and bus drivers and all of those people you want to recognize but don't want to spend too much...
Valentine hack: Lighthearted, inexpensive valentines will still do the trick for your sweetheart
06 Feb 08 | Comments: 6
The lovey-dovey part of Valentine's Day should never be lost on your sweetheart. No matter how cheesy and Hallmark-y you think this holiday is, your partner will be disappointed if you don't recognize it in some small way (even if...
Summer camp fairs help kids AND parents make smart choices
04 Feb 08 | Comments: 3
Suzy (friend of Sara!) is getting an informed jump on summer camp: I have a five year-old who's not very clear on what he DOES like to do (as opposed to what he DOESN'T like to do). This weekend was...
New fatherhood anthology available for preorder at Amazon
31 Jan 08 | Comments: 10
As I've mentioned ad nauseum, one of the things I appreciate most about the conversation here at Parent Hacks is the just-about-equal participation by moms and dads. I find the gender-neutral quality of the conversation here refreshing -- and eye-opening....
Fashion a fake dolly poo to encourage toddler's potty use
31 Jan 08 | Comments: 12
Simon's story is so, so...well, so PARENT HACKS, it makes me smile every time I read it. My Father-in-Law (FIL) came up with a stonking [American translation: fantastic or brilliant. -- Ed.] solution to encourage use of the potty in...
Bring toddlers' toy shopping carts on actual shopping excursions
30 Jan 08 | Comments: 9
Ah, Target with a toddler. Those were the days. If only I had had Jennifer's ingenuity back when my kids were that age: In order to keep my 2 1/2 yr old and 4 yr old occupied at the grocery...
Kitchen timer: Multi-purpose tool of the gods!
22 Jan 08 | Comments: 21
We've talked before about how helpful a timer can be in all sorts of parenting situations. I really liked the way Katy (author of Adventures in Parenting) expanded on the examples, so I thought it would be a great time...
Teaching kids to declutter their own toys
22 Jan 08 | Comments: 5
Sara's hack would work as well now, while most of us are in declutter mode anyway: I want Miss J (2 1/2) to learn how to "declutter" things herself, so before Christmas I told her that since she'd be getting...
Make detangling more fun (less unfun?) by turning it into a game
08 Jan 08 | Comments: 14
Ah, the joys of detangling long hair. Here's how Amy manages the tresses: Both my girls have long hair. One has long, blonde locks with an ultra-sensitive head, and the other has very curly, red hair and just doesn't like...
Spread out the gift-opening to keep Christmas morning manageable
24 Dec 07 | Comments: 8
Another holiday hack from Mel, who seems to have the realities of holiday logistics well thought-out: I know everyone has their own treasured and time-honoured family traditions, but....since we have one young child and an older child who is easily...
Working at home while the kids are on holiday break
20 Dec 07 | Comments: 5
Guest post by our friends at Work It, Mom!, a wonderful community site for working moms. School vacation is fast approaching and daycares are getting ready for their holiday break -- which means that if you have to get some...
Endless love: "I Love You More" picture book
20 Dec 07 | Comments: 145
My cousin Hayley and I share many sensibilities that don't exactly fit with popular opinion. Here's one: neither of us like the popular children's book Guess How Much I Love You. Remember the one with the Nutbrown Hares comparing how...
Movie-inspired dinners: Ratatouille
19 Dec 07 | Comments: 4
Rosemary's story gives us eggplant-lovers hope: With all this talk about sneaking healthy food into our children's meals, the Disney/Pixar movie Ratatouille provides us a wonderful opportunity to get our kids eating healthy without all the trickery. I started making...
How to encourage family conversation around the table
06 Dec 07 | Comments: 4
Suzy's got a great hack for holiday mealtimes and beyond: During the holiday season there are many occasions to gather around the table. Consider this game that encourages children and adults alike to share about their day as well as...
Play BAM! to get the kids to clean up quick (and have fun doing it)
04 Dec 07 | Comments: 6
Bill's got the trick for getting kids to clean up their toys: This hack is aimed mainly at small children, since their toys are designed to take a beating. Also, not for the noise-intolerant. :-) To get my kids (3...
Helping an anxious child get to sleep
20 Nov 07 | Comments: 12
Rachel has a lovely, gentle way to help her anxious daughter prepare for sleep: My first grade daughter has recently begun having anxieties about bedtime. She lays down and remembers all sorts of bad thoughts about the day, which tend...
Tricks for kick-starting after-school conversations
19 Nov 07 | Comments: 29
Kelly shares a tip for getting kids to talk about their school days: Instead of asking a young, school age child "How was school today?" try asking "What did you do in school today?" The former gives the child the...
MotherTalk review: The Daring Book for Girls
16 Nov 07 | Comments: 39
By now you've certainly seen the turquoise cover of The Daring Book for Girls sparkling on the bookstore feature tables and the bestseller lists and the morning shows and YouTube and the blogs. Whereas The Dangerous Book for Boys was...
DadLabs: Nothing this funny has ever been so useful
12 Nov 07 | Comments: 2
You've seen the hilarious videos at DadLabs, right? Of course you have. These are the guys who tested breast pumps ON THEMSELVES and dramatized the disaster that is poop in the tub (you may never eat canned chili again). They...
The Daring Book for Girls is out!
03 Nov 07 | Comments: 6
If you'll recall, we had a fascinating discussion after my review of The Dangerous Book for Boys...touched off by the question: what about girls? Ladies and gentleman, I give you... I have a review copy of The Daring Book for...
Red popsicles help reduce the trauma and drama of a bloody lip
02 Nov 07 | Comments: 6
Dave has discovered a perfectly good reason to keep the freezer consistently stocked with Haagen-Dazs bars: Hersch did a face plant and bit his inner lip pretty badly. There was a lot of blood and he wasn't up for letting...
Halloween hack: A "trick" to help kids remember to say 'thank you'
31 Oct 07 | Comments: 6
Julie's hack is tough, but it works for her family. Last year I got so tired of having to remind my kids to say "thank you" at every house that this year I told them every time I had to...
Creative ways to present unfamiliar foods
29 Oct 07 | Comments: 6
Dren of DrenNotes offers her take on the creative presentation of food: I've been reading a lot of buzz on the interweb about Deceptively Delicious, mostly dealing with the ethics of "sneaking" in fruits and veggies into a child's diet....
Is hiding vegetables in food deceptive?
29 Oct 07 | Comments: 41
I've been mildly amused by the debate swirling around Jessica Seinfeld's new cookbook, Deceptively Delicious, which is built on the premise of getting vegetables into kids by hiding them in kid-friendly foods. The book is a popular hit (no doubt...
Household chores meet online gaming: Chore Wars
26 Oct 07 | Comments: 2
This takes the advice to "turn work into game!" to new heights. From Sarah: I wanted to let you know of a cool website I found that helps my husband and I get work done around the house without arguing...
Favorite Halloween books? Talk amongst yourselves.
17 Oct 07 | Comments: 24
Halloween's fun/scary balance can be a fine one for toddlers and preschoolers heading out for their first night of trick-or-treating. Some good Halloween-themed picture books can put a fun spin on the scary ideas of witches, vampires and ghosts. Have...
Single or married: who's happier? My interview on Sirius 114 tonight at 8pm.
17 Oct 07 | Comments: 6
It's 6am and I just ended an interview with Karen Salmansohn, host of Be Happy, Dammit! on Lime: Healthy Living with a Twist (Sirius radio channel 114). I only realized at the beginning of the call that it was a...
"I Spy" keeps kids awake in the car
08 Oct 07 | Comments: 14
Here's how Jennifer keeps the car drowsies at bay: Thought I'd share: My kids (2 1/2 and 4 yrs old) fall asleep very easily in the car. Sometimes it's a good thing, but sometimes they fall asleep during 15-20 minute...
Do rewards kill motivation? Talk amongst yourselves.
18 Sep 07 | Comments: 14
Thanks to a recent Lifehack.org post, I just read an Alfie Kohn article (written in 1993) about how rewards get in the way of intrinsic motivation. Some of you have mentioned Kohn's name in the comments before, but I've never...
Mashed beans disappear into chili
16 Sep 07 | Comments: 10
Adrienne's mom understood the power of a diversion: I don't have any children of my own (soon!) but checked out your website after reading about it in Maclean's. Had to share this little tidbit from my own childhood. When my...
Joe's Goals doubles as an online behavior reward chart
15 Sep 07 | Comments: 2
I wrote about the goal-tracking app Joe's Goals last year, but Kathryn suggests its as useful for older kids as an online star chart/sticker chart: I ran across a tool called Joe's Goals, and the minute I hit the site...
Meal orders reduce the morning madness
11 Sep 07 | Comments: 13
I hope Laura's triplet daughters know how good they have it! In the mornings before school, there are so many decisions to make. What to eat for breakfast, what snack to take to school, what to have for lunch. These...
Real Simple Family: full of good hacks
04 Sep 07 | Comments: 11
I couldn't resist -- Real Simple Family -- a special issue of the lifestyle mag Real Simple -- found its way into my shopping cart this afternoon. It's full of good hacks, including taping a few unused board games together...
Kid-friendly kitchens help even the youngest pitch in
19 Aug 07 | Comments: 17
Heather wrote up a fantastic post on her blog, Oh My Stinkin Heck, about encouraging kids to help in the kitchen by making it more accessible to them. Really, the topic is much bigger than that -- it's about honoring...
Encouraging the next generation of hackers
14 Aug 07 | Comments: 10
From Sara: I suspect that many Parenthackers, like me, have their antenna constantly up for "how can I teach my kids to love computers like I did when I was a kid" (for me, that mostly means programming). Since Josie's...
Advice for expectant parents: Bring your pediatrician's number to the hospital
01 Jul 07 | Comments: 5
Wow. These hacks have really been taking me down memory lane. I, too, had some scares in the hospital, no doubt magnified because I was recovering and hormonal and (!) a new mom. Great advice, Sara. I find myself giving...
Removing a reward instead of threatening a consequence
21 Jun 07 | Comments: 8
Interesting twist on behavior modification, from Jill: I read this on another blog in the comments, so it isn't my idea BUT I plan to use it quite soon! Removing the carrot instead of threatening the stick... To successfully grocery...
Play "Memory" with loose change while waiting in line
20 Jun 07 | Comments: 1
From Tom ("devoted Parenthacker and Jersey exile"): While standing in line at the grocery store the other day I stumbled upon a Parent Hack I'm rather proud of. My daughter is almost 4 and very fond of playing Memory, so...
Confirm they heard you with "Got it" instead of "OK"
19 Jun 07 | Comments: 22
Mary pointed out a semantic trap I've fallen into several times, even with older kids: When explaining things to my two year-old, I often find myself wanting to say, "OK?" at the end, so he can respond. That way I...
Teaching rules to stuffed animals makes them easier (and more fun) for kids
12 Jun 07 | Comments: 8
Ah, the power of creative thinking. Here's how Alma made "the rules" fun for her toddler: While transitioning my 2 year old from her beloved crib to a "big girl" bed. I wanted to emphasize that she needed to stay...
Essential "dangerous" skills for boys and girls? Talk amongst yourselves.
11 Jun 07 | Comments: 69
Silly me! I've got a perfectly lovely copy of The Dangerous Book For Boys sitting here waiting to fly into the hands of one lucky Parenthacker! My intention was to give it away in conjunction with my interview with author...
Video iPod turns "pumping time" into "Mom time"
11 Jun 07 | Comments: 8
Video iPod to the rescue once again! This time, Ruth uses it to make her sessions with the breast pump more enjoyable: The most helpful thing I found was to make pumping "my" time, so I didn't resent the huge...
Plan for common mishaps with the help of your pediatrician
09 Jun 07 | Comments: 1
Beth's wise suggestion for making the most of your child's routine visits to the doctor: I have learned to end our well-baby doctor's visits with this question to the pediatrician: "What do you get the most calls about from parents...
Interview with "Dangerous Boys" author Conn Iggulden
06 Jun 07 | Comments: 7
By all accounts, The Dangerous Book for Boys is a hit. The book has been all over the Internet (there's even a YouTube "preview"!), and made a showing on The Colbert Report. I reviewed the book last month, and, from...
The "random play" button makes kiddie music more bearable
20 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 kids
20 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...
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...
Send your used toys to children in Iraq
17 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...
Ticket system helps kids track their own TV and game time
10 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...
Happy to Be Nappy DVD models tolerance and empathy
10 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...
Blog Book tour: The Dangerous Book for Boys
07 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....
"Active resting" clears your parent brain
30 Apr 07 | Comments: 4
Clearing your mind doesn't necessarily require retreating from the world. Here's how hedra reboots her parent brain: Dancing along with the kids to some Motown on the CD player is one of my favorite ways to 'sweep' my brain. Dance...
Use Google Calendar to remind yourself to get a life
28 Apr 07 | Comments: 3
Jessica's hack inspired me in two ways. First, "planned spontaneity" is often all we can do to harken back to those carefree days of, well, maybe not our youth, but our pre-parenthood. Second, I'm so impressed that she recognizes that...
Fearless Friday: Fear is my companion
27 Apr 07 | Comments: 2
Arianna Huffington's recent book, On Becoming Fearless...In Love, Work, and Life, is now out in paperback. To commemorate the occasion, Mother Talk is hosting Fearless Friday, and I'm happy to participate. I never really knew fear until I became a...
TV Turnoff Week: What's your plan?
23 Apr 07 | Comments: 25
It's TV Turnoff Week, and parents all over the country are shaking in their boots wondering what life without "screen time" will look, sound and feel like. I'm one of those parents. Compared to the national stats, we don't watch...
GeekDad: Build construction toys out of hardware parts
19 Apr 07 | Comments: 1
In my first guest post for GeekDad, I highlighted one of my favorite GeekMoms: Dana at Mombian. Her PVC pipe construction set is brilliant, and I knew GeekDad readers would enjoy it as much as I did.
Toward less perfectionist parenting
17 Apr 07 | Comments: 11
Take a moment to ponder Cathy's assertion: My philosophy is, if you don't set the standard too high in the beginning, you can really save yourself some trouble later on. Examples: from the time that they were babies, I didn’t...
When does parenting get easier?
11 Apr 07 | Comments: 10
Fascinating discussion going on at The Juggle about which parenting years are the hardest. I find myself crawling toward the end of my day, bone tired, and when I finally make it to bed, I'm asleep in minutes (my kids...
Relocating with a toddler? Talk amongst yourselves.
05 Apr 07 | Comments: 13
Sean just got a new job, and he, his wife, and their two year-old son have moved to a new town. The going is rough. Says Sean: The poor little guy just will not stop acting out and crying at...
Can rewards for good behavior backfire? Talk amongst yourselves.
28 Mar 07 | Comments: 0
There's a good discussion going on in the comments of "How to use a star chart to encourage good behavior," interestingly enough, kicked off by an editorial tussle. We're now talking about how rewards can backfire; how kids' natural feelings...
Choice Day helps reduce bickering between competitive siblings
27 Mar 07 | Comments: 14
Irene's come up with a way to diffuse the daily arguments between her kids: I have a 5 year old boy and a 3 year old girl who have become very competitive with each other. They argue about who gets...
How to use a star chart to encourage good behavior
24 Mar 07 | Comments: 28
Michelle at Scribbit describes how her family uses the ever-popular Star Chart. I love how the rewards take into account each child's particular interests and values. In an effort to reward our children's good behavior but not promote materialism and...
Encourage good behavior with a homemade puzzle
13 Mar 07 | Comments: 4
Another hack-tastic reward system! The beauty of this system is that the reward itself acts as a reminder about the desired behavior. From Sarah: My 7 year-old son can be particularly stubborn and no matter how much we beg, plead,...
Favorite books about kids and money? Talk amongst yourselves.
09 Mar 07 | Comments: 11
J. D. at Get Rich Slowly just posted 25 of the books he'd choose to build a personal finance library. He included three books that deal with teaching kids about money and entrepreneurship: What Color is Your Piggy Bank?, You...
"Chore board" helps postpartum visitors help you
07 Mar 07 | Comments: 6
During those first few weeks with a new baby, here's how Mieke helped her visitors help her: Notice how everybody wants to come by and offers to help but you end up having to do *more* rather than *less* because...
Tips for controlling your temper
06 Mar 07 | Comments: 5
Gretchen's tips for calming anger flare-ups is certainly apropos for parents, given how effectively our kids find and poke our buttons (repeatedly). Brings to mind Stu's classic advice (the Top Parent Hack of 2006!): 'The problem' is the problem --...
Get kids excited about travel
04 Mar 07 | Comments: 1
As you get ready for Spring Break, think about building some travel anticipation into the planning. Many kids enjoy trips more when they know what to expect at their destination. With that in mind, I was happy to get Carolyn's...
The two Dr. Seuss books that changed my life
02 Mar 07 | Comments: 26
Today is Dr. Seuss's birthday, and kids all over the country will be donning their red-and-white striped construction paper hats to celebrate (at least that's part of the festivity at my son's school). I'm not exaggerating when I say that...
Dooce asks: Any regrets? We answer: Thankfully, yes
01 Mar 07 | Comments: 9
Heather Armstrong of Dooce might snicker to see herself appearing in a parenting advice site, considering the struggles and foibles she's documented for six years now. But yesterday's post, which muses on her regrets and asks her readers to do...
Art for the non-crafty
01 Mar 07 | Comments: 3
Over at In the Trenches of Motherhood, Chris is talking about the difference between "arts" and "crafts," and why both have a place in her family. Her post reminded me that my non-crafty gene need not discourage artistic exploration in...
Reusable reward systems
22 Feb 07 | Comments: 2
AJ of Thingamababy reminds us that toddler rewards (for potty sitting, toothbrushing, etc.) can be as simple as drawing an "X" on a calendar. The trick is finding out what motivates your kid, and then letting the reward do its...
Bathtime as parents' planning time
18 Feb 07 | Comments: 4
Sara and her husband strategize during bathtime: On days when my husband and I have no time, we plan out what needs to be done in the bathroom while our daughter takes her bath. She's happily occupied (and I imagine...
Getting kids cooking
17 Feb 07 | Comments: 2
We've got the kids' cookbooks covered...what next? Dori Young of Kids Cooking offers this advice if you're not sure where to begin: I feel that your kitchen is the ideal setting to teach and learn. Kids respond to learning through...
If your kid's learning, who cares if you look like a dork?
14 Feb 07 | Comments: 7
A must-read post at Thingamababy about a new series of PSAs reminding us about those everyday "teachable moments." Who among us hasn't done something like this? Tags: bornlearning.org, Learning, Parenting
A twist on "I'll count to three!"
09 Feb 07 | Comments: 14
Kaylen challenges the classic "I'll count to three!" parental threat: When my son was little and I was teaching him to count, he realized that there are numbers after three. One day I told my son I would give him...
Making medicine go down a little easier
09 Feb 07 | Comments: 2
Bob found that the gentle approach helped the medicine go down: I've got a 13 month-old who is once again on antibiotics. In the past, getting him to take "the pink stuff" from a syringe has been a struggle but...
How much time with your kid is enough?
03 Feb 07 | Comments: 12
There's a fascinating discussion going on at the Wall Street Journal blog The Juggle about how much time working parents can and/or should spend with their kids. Is one hour per day enough? Two? I've been reading the comments, many...
When pediatricians make mistakes
01 Feb 07 | Comments: 7
This is why I love Dr. Parker so much. He talks openly about the fear of misdiagnosing a patient, and why the willingness to face that fear is ultimately better for his patients (and their parents). I'm no medical expert,...
Recording your kid's promises with a digital camera
01 Feb 07 | Comments: 6
CMM came up with this hack to deal with High Candy season (Halloween), but Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so this hack may get some use yet. We don't want our daughter eating candy all day, but sometimes...
Leaving your kids with the neighborhood babysitter: a primer
30 Jan 07 | Comments: 14
Sandy shares her tips for working with the neighborhood babysitter: I was the family- and neighborhood-sitter through my tween/teen years. These tips come from both my experience having been a sitter as well as being a parent looking to make...
Another book on how parenthood changes marriage
29 Jan 07 | Comments: 8
Michael (Philosopher Dad) followed up on my recent review of Babyproofing Your Marriage with this recommendation: I wanted to point you to a book on the same subject by psychologist John Gottman. He has written a number of family-relationship-parenting books...
How to like someone more (or dislike someone less)
27 Jan 07 | Comments: 4
My son and I had a troubling chat about one of his teachers the other day, and I see an awkward parent-teacher meeting in my future. I wonder if Gretchen's hack coming up in my queue now is a bit...
Those little voices in our heads start with our parents
26 Jan 07 | Comments: 2
My friend Morgan gathered a few people last night to help him brainstorm ideas he's been developing for his life coaching practice, and I was among the lucky participants. One of the questions that came up: Exactly whose are those...
Passing the time while your kid has a tantrum
23 Jan 07 | Comments: 5
You've tried comforting and reasoning, but your toddler or preschooler is still throwing a knock-down tantrum. Sometimes all you can do is wait out the storm. Beth pointed out her Silicon Valley Moms Blog post listing ten things to do...
Blog book tour: Babyproofing Your Marriage
22 Jan 07 | Comments: 14
Parent Hacks is one of the sites kicking off the MotherTalk blog book tour for Babyproofing Your Marriage: How to Laugh More, Argue Less, and Communicate Better as Your Family Grows. I was immediately attracted to the premise: three wives-and-mothers...
Top 5 Parental Sex Aids for 2007
19 Jan 07 | Comments: 1
Dadcentric explains why Play-Doh and Vaseline are two of the Top 5 Parental Sex Aids for 2007, and they're not for the reasons you're thinking. Tags: Parenting, Relationships
Managing kids and a home office: how?
19 Jan 07 | Comments: 6
Great conversation starter at Web Worker Daily on managing the inevitable joys/distractions/frustrations of kids + home office. I write this from my own "home office" (the kitchen table) while my kids are at school, and the first thought that comes...
Daddy Types wants your best pre-Dadhood advice
17 Jan 07 | Comments: 1
Greg at Daddy Types is asking for readers' "one best piece of pre-Dadhood advice." I'm enjoying reading the responses -- they are spot-on while at the same time different than what I'd expect his readers' "best pre-Momhood advice" would be....
Parent Hack-worthy links: Strollerderby, O'Reilly Hacks blog, Argus Leader, Z Recommends, Haughey's family travel tips, Expat Expert
17 Jan 07 | Comments: 3
Some linky goodness: Strollerderby: I've been reading the Strollerderby feed with glee ever since it launched. Multi-author blog of Nerve's new parenting site, Babble, it's got a fresh, gender-neutral take on the ups and downs of urban parenting. A lineup...
Rethinking my "Getting Organized" series
15 Jan 07 | Comments: 0
I had this idea I'd group everyone's organizational tips by topic into a series, but that really makes no sense. They're all there in the comments of my original post, and it actually reads quite well, so I'll direct you...
10 tips for a successful 2007
14 Jan 07 | Comments: 2
This is no pat "top 10 parenting tips" list; be sure to read Whitney's excellent suggestions at GNMParents. The title entices one to click through, but doesn't even hint at the wealth of wisdom, both practical and philosophical, in the...
Meet the Parenthackers: Scott Severtson
14 Jan 07 | Comments: 0
Almost all of Scott's comments (which have appeared here since the Big Boing Boing) contain hacks. But he's also submitted some goodies: his odes to hydration packs and slings. Kids? Maggie, 6, Mira, 3, Alexa, 2 One-line parenting motto? Don't...
Random epiphany about finicky kids
11 Jan 07 | Comments: 15
Last night I made a salad of romaine lettuce and grapefruit segments for Rael and me to have with our dinner. Thing is, I've never liked grapefruit. Hated it, in fact. Until now. For some reason, while I was grocery...
Getting organized: Do the small stuff NOW
09 Jan 07 | Comments: 3
Both Deborah Graff and Hilary suggested doing the little stuff as you think of it rather than throwing it onto the teetering pile of Things To Do Later. From Deborah: Whenever possible, I complete tasks as soon as they occur...
Getting organized: Multitasking rarely helps
08 Jan 07 | Comments: 5
Duane says: Give a single project priority in your mind, and focus on making some meaningful progress. I have a bad habit each night of sitting down at the computer and thinking, "I can work on the blog, I can...
Getting organized: Start with your brain, sort of
08 Jan 07 | Comments: 12
Now that the holidays are over and we're digging back into regular life, New Year's resolutions in tow (or tatters), I figured it's a good time to share the simple ways we all streamline our lives. So much of the...
For when kids don't wanna do their chores: the List
02 Jan 07 | Comments: 2
It's all Stu all the time! Stu 24/7! 100% Stu! Seriously folks, the contributor of the #1 Parent Hack of 2006 continues to share his encouraging advice...this time about older children who protest the having to do household chores. The...
Simplifying kid's room cleaning
02 Jan 07 | Comments: 10
"Clean your room" can be an overwhelming request when the mess is big and the kid is little. It's so easy to get distracted by a rediscovered toy...it's so hard to figure out where everything goes...I'm hungry... Here's a hack...
Hearing protection muffles teething baby wails
19 Dec 06 | Comments: 13
When Adrienne of Baby Toolkit passed along this hack, I admit I snickered a bit. Hearing protection? Really? But, you know? Those baby wails can set one on edge like nothing else, and the more I thought about it, the...
Kiddley guest post: Planning for the holidays
17 Dec 06 | Comments: 0
I was thrilled when Claire asked if I'd like to guest post at Kiddley...I'm such a fan of her beautiful, useful site. It's Monday in Australia (her home), and I was going to share my post with you on American...
Tips for passing the time with kids
15 Dec 06 | Comments: 3
Today's my kids' last day of school before the winter holidays. With two weeks of free time head, I thought it an ideal moment to point to Gretchen Rubin's recent "Wednesday is Tip Day" post at The Happiness Project: Tips...
Because you're the expert
14 Dec 06 | Comments: 1
Here's your chance to write that manifesto you've been thinking about ever since your kid was born. What? You haven't been formulating a manifesto? Everyone's doing it! Seriously, Brian Reid (Rebeldad) is spearheading a fascinating campaign to encourage us all...
Bidding at Her Bad Auction opens today
13 Dec 06 | Comments: 2
When people ask me why I'm so excited about blogging, I tell them "because of the community." Some look at me askance, as if I'd just admitted I picked up my husband in some seedy chat room. But tell me...
Memory scrapbook teaches kids to journal
13 Dec 06 | Comments: 0
Shell's idea could make a wonderful annual New Year's tradition. It would be neat to get a book like this at the beginning of each year...the blank pages representing the clear and unwritten future... I get an empty journal book...
Tips for raising bilingual children
12 Dec 06 | Comments: 3
I come from a multicultural family, but, sadly, never learned my father's native language (the Indian language Marathi). Granted, I don't have much use for Marathi in my daily life, but I sorely missed it when I visited my family...
Moxie's Holiday Gauntlet series
12 Dec 06 | Comments: 0
Moxie's got a wonderful series of posts up on common holiday bugaboos: Santa, and related confusion Christmas tree management Gift issues Stress on kids during holiday visits The kid who licked the pole in A Christmas Story Tags: Ask Moxie,...
Car travel safety: what to do if you're stranded? Talk amongst yourselves.
06 Dec 06 | Comments: 6
Merlin of 43Folders has started a fascinating discussion about the ingenuity of Kati Kim, who, with her two children, managed to survive nine snowy days stranded in their car with little food. (James Kim, the father, is still missing and...
How to deal with a friend who's overprotective of her children? Talk amongst yourselves.
05 Dec 06 | Comments: 20
My heart went out to this reader when I read this note. I too had a run-in like this when my first child was a baby, and it left me dumbfounded: Five of us are in a mom's group, and...
Must-do prep before the baby arrives? Talk amongst yourselves.
28 Nov 06 | Comments: 27
From Amie: I have a little project I'm involved with now called "getting as much possible done BEFORE the baby comes." She's due 12/16 so I'm not just doing the normal household stuff, but everything holiday-related too. I mostly feel...
DadTalk's "hacks"
25 Nov 06 | Comments: 1
AJ pointed me to DadTalk's Real-life solutions for everyday living, "some funny, some serious, some I hope he's being funny." Tags: Parenting
Ask MeFi: On parental happiness
22 Nov 06 | Comments: 4
(Good stuff on the net today!) Now here's an Ask MetaFilter thread you can really sink your teeth into. Especially as we approach the American Day of Thanks tomorrow: Does having kids actually make people less happy? The answers are...
Rebeldad on spouse-life balance
21 Nov 06 | Comments: 3
Brian Reid (Rebeldad) guest posts on the Washington Post blog On Balance. He recently touched on the topic of marital contentment post-kiddies in Four Keys to Spouse-Life Balance. A wonderful starting point, with more sage advice in the comments (aside...
Homemade 'calendar' helps preschoolers understand their weekly routines
17 Nov 06 | Comments: 6
Along with the foamy soap hack, Kirsten sent me this winner: a homemade calendar that helps her preschooler know what to expect during the week. Knowing what I do about preschoolers, this is a fantastic idea. Preschoolers are only just...
Kids and money
15 Nov 06 | Comments: 0
More Get Rich Slowly goodness on the topic of kids and money. (Aside: J. D. and I have chatted a bit via email. He's as nice and down-to-earth one-on-one as he comes across in his blog.) [Thanks for the pointer,...
Illustrator Bob Staake takes on Big Cereal with Freebies
15 Nov 06 | Comments: 2
Jaime pointed me to an interesting underdog project: the creation of an independent breakfast cereal. Bob Staake, illustrator of The Red Lemon, Hello, Robots! among other things, wants his new cereal, Freebies, to "harken back to the glory days of...
Tell strong-willed toddlers what they should DO
09 Nov 06 | Comments: 44
Holly sent this hack to me with the subject line, "Parenting the Id." I get it, big time. I have a strong-willed child who used to be the strong-willed toddler Holly describes here. Her wise suggestion: My 16 month-old girl...
GRS on teaching kids to save
08 Nov 06 | Comments: 0
Jay pointed me to a wonderful post on Get Rich Slowly about teaching kids to save. I love GRS, and came across the post later that day in my own feed reader! Tags: Parenting, Saving money
Preparing your dog for a new baby
05 Nov 06 | Comments: 9
My mom is one of the World's Greatest (Dog) Lovers. She passed this DogAge tip to me, asking "does this qualify as a Parent Hack?" Yes! The family dog always gets booted out of the resident cutie position when the...
Spouse hack: Work off the same to-do list
03 Nov 06 | Comments: 5
Duane offers a simple and thoughtful "spouse hack" -- the essence of good communication and partnership. Surely my wife and I are not the only parents of toddlers who are tired at the end of the day and just want...
Mother Talk Blog Book Tour: Everyday Traditions
01 Nov 06 | Comments: 6
Parent Hacks is part of the Mother Talk Blog Book Tour for Everyday Traditions: Simple Family Rituals for Connection and Comfort, by Nava Atlas. When Andi Buchanan (one of the founders of Mother Talk and accomplished parenting author in her...
Book a "nap flight" for holiday travel
31 Oct 06 | Comments: 5
Halloween's here, which means that the holiday travel season is around the corner. Here's a travel tip (more "power of suggestion," really) from raising4boys that may make your air travel a bit easier. Tags: Family travel, Parenting
How to supervise your child's online conduct
29 Oct 06 | Comments: 8
Now that I've fanned the flames of MySpace dread, here's a fascinating list (passed along by Satch) of 11 tips for online parental supervision. We've discussed Internet filtering and online supervision before, but not as much as I'd expect, given...
What to do if your teenager wants to meet a MySpace friend IRL? Talk amongst yourselves.
29 Oct 06 | Comments: 4
My kids are out of MySpace range for the moment (they're 7 and 3), but the time will come. Oh, yes. It will come. In ten years, it probably won't be MySpace...by then I imagine the Internet will be much...
MeFi on fatherhood
25 Oct 06 | Comments: 0
Rebel Dad comments on two Ask MetaFilter threads on fatherhood: one practical, one poignant (and practical). An aside: consider subscribing to the RSS feed for MeFi posts tagged as "kids" or "parenting" (or other topics you're interested in). I'm late...
Social networking site for parents: Maya's Mom launches today
25 Oct 06 | Comments: 6
Social networking sites for parents are hot, hot, hot! New entrant Maya's Mom launched today, and it looks great. It shares some features with MothersClick, namely, that you can create private discussion spaces for your offline groups, and you can...
More on chores, allowance, and independence
22 Oct 06 | Comments: 0
Leslie Morgan Steiner, author of the Washington Post blog On Balance, has kicked off a great discussion on teaching kids independence -- a topic close to our heart. Tags: Parenting
How do you prepare a toddler for his first Halloween? Talk amongst yourselves.
19 Oct 06 | Comments: 9
Kim asks: How do you get a 2 year-old prepared for Halloween? In other words, how do you get them to understand the concept of trick or treating and wearing a costume? Our son is going to be an oompa...
MotherTalk Blog Book Tour: Sleep Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler and Preschooler
19 Oct 06 | Comments: 2
Parent Hacks is a stop on the MotherTalk Blog Book Tour for one of the first books in Ann Douglas's new Mother of All Solutions series: Sleep Solutions for your Baby, Toddler and Preschooler. I don't think Ann would mind...
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
17 Oct 06 | Comments: 4
Maria Bailey, host of Mom Talk Radio, passed along the details about a fantastic program, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, which I am happy to pass along to you: For most parents Halloween is all about finding the best costume for their...
MothersClick: new networking site for parents
17 Oct 06 | Comments: 5
Launched today: MothersClick, a new site for sharing ideas, creating private discussion groups, and generally hanging out together online. Cool Mom Picks has already done such a good job describing MothersClick I'll send you there for the lowdown. Founder Andra...
How to entertain a toddler while holding a newborn? Talk amongst yourselves.
16 Oct 06 | Comments: 16
Charlie is not only a supplier of cool PR samples, he's also the father of a newborn. And he needs a hack. How do you, a stay at home mom, play with your toddler (3) while also holding your baby...
Should your teen's cell phone have GPS tracking?
16 Oct 06 | Comments: 8
From Amy, mother of teenagers: I have more to learn than to share, but I will tell you something another mom told me. You ask them to call to let you know where they are, and they do. From their...
Pros and cons of having kids: add yours to the list!
15 Oct 06 | Comments: 3
From Darren: I guess this is kind of a pre-parenting hack, so I'm not sure it qualifies. Regardless, I thought I'd pass along our little social experiment in the wisdom of crowds: http://www.darrenbarefoot.com/archives/2006/09/lazyweb-project-should-we-become-parents.html Which points to our editable list of...
Hacks to keep a toddler walking without wanting to be carried
13 Oct 06 | Comments: 19
Cyd has come up with some fantastic diversions that keep her daughter from wanting to be picked up while Cyd's arms are already full: A small but often challenging part of my day involves traveling to and from the metro...
Uses for anti-theft wire ties
12 Oct 06 | Comments: 4
Michael G. has a different take on those infernal anti-theft wire ties that keep toys attached to the packaging. These ideas were so hack-worthy I promoted them from the comments: Those wires are better off intact and out of the...
How to diffuse a tantrum
09 Oct 06 | Comments: 2
Gretchen at The Happiness Project recently passed along her seven tips for diffusing a child's tantrum. Great stuff here you may not have read elsewhere, including acknowledging your child's feelings by writing them down ("weirdly effective," says Gretchen). Tags: Parenting,...
BabySpareWear: Possibly more expensive than the clothes your kid is already wearing
06 Oct 06 | Comments: 14
I don't condone flaming, nor am I a fan of that most-common of blog entries, the rant. But I just can't let this one go unmentioned -- it goes to the heart of one of the reasons I started Parent...
Satch's mum on dealing with the strong will of a three year-old
06 Oct 06 | Comments: 2
Satch shared a lovely story: Well, our little girl turned three to much fanfaire and excitement. Great fun, If I'd known that you got to eat chocolate crackles as an adult when you have children we'd have started breeding earlier!...
One family's experience sending toys to Iraq
05 Oct 06 | Comments: 1
I just came across this lovely post by a mother who, with her children, packed a box of toys to ship off to Edmay in Iraq. The conversation that resulted between her and her daughters is wonderful. Updated 8/07: Two...
More on hiding, er, integrating vegetables into kid-friendly food
05 Oct 06 | Comments: 0
Which is not to say veggies aren't kid-friendly. But still. From Momcast: Inspired by the crudite post, I've written about my favourite way of getting veg into my 3 yo: hiding them in the food! [Note bagged spinach alert. --...
How are you handling giving your teens more independence? Talk amongst yourselves.
04 Oct 06 | Comments: 1
We've shared many wonderful ideas for encouraging independence in kids. Anne wonders how it's going for the parents of teens: I'm the mom of an almost 14 year-old daughter. Wow. What a trip it is. I am wondering if there...
Sleep and relaxation CD for kids
03 Oct 06 | Comments: 4
From Sara: No clue if this works or not, but a pediatrician for a fellow Mom on one of my mailing lists recommended this to help children learn to relax and put themselves to sleep. I haven't heard "Snuggle Down...
Ask Moxie: On helping to create a happy childhood
02 Oct 06 | Comments: 0
It's the $64K question, isn't it? How to give our kids a happy childhood? The answer's different for each child, or course, but Moxie and her readers are engaging in a wonderful discussion about their own thoughts on the topic....
How to find a good nanny or babysitter? Talk amongst yourselves.
02 Oct 06 | Comments: 12
Any advice for Patrick on finding a trustworthy babysitter? We are just starting to look for a babysitter or part-time nanny for our 2 kids (4YO and 2YO) - up to now it's just been family helping us out. I...
Help stop discrimination against parents in the workplace
29 Sep 06 | Comments: 2
Cooper Munroe, of the Been There Clearinghouse, recently wrote an article for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette shedding light on the practice of "maternal profiling." In Pennsylvania, and in dozens of other states, it's still legal to ask during job interviews if...
Create video playlists using YouTube
28 Sep 06 | Comments: 6
Moe Berg may just be the coolest dad ever: after two years or so of listening to the wiggles, sesame street, et al in the car, i couldn't take it anymore and started making mixed cds of real songs i...
Another (smart) mom's take on how to deal with picky eaters
27 Sep 06 | Comments: 8
I love Chris's practical parenting blog In the Trenches of Motherhood. One of her commenters described her as "the big sister who knows all the answers." Now she's talking about what to do with the picky eater (which I can't...
How do your kids address adults? Talk amongst yourselves.
27 Sep 06 | Comments: 32
David's quandary got me thinking about how children should address adults. My kids address the parents of their friends by their first names (because that's how the parents introduce themselves), but I insist that they use "Mr." and "Mrs." with...
Kids calling you by your first name? Talk amongst yourselves.
26 Sep 06 | Comments: 21
David's in an interesting quandary: I have 2 girls. 5 and 1, and their birthdays are both in November... so they'll be 6 and 2 this year. My 5 year-old is actually my step-daughter. She has always called me "Dave."...
SPREAD THE WORD: Send your used stuffed animals and toys to children in Iraq
25 Sep 06 | Comments: 112
Updated 8/07: 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 I am speechless. I just got an email from Edmay Mayers, a...
The "Eat What We Eat" Rule? Talk amongst yourselves.
19 Sep 06 | Comments: 31
I'm 1/2 Indian and 1/2 Jewish. If that's not a genetic setup for food appreciation, I don't know what is. I grew up eating and liking almost everything my parents put in front of me, whether it was my Dad's...
Favorite pirate paraphernalia for kids
19 Sep 06 | Comments: 6
By now I'm sure you've heard (and heard, and heard) that today is Talk Like A Pirate Day. Rather than bore you with my pathetic attempts at pirate-speak, I thought I'd share some of my favorite pirate-y stuff for kids....
How to keep your cell phone and other wireless devices from disrupting family time
16 Sep 06 | Comments: 1
Rebel Dad Brian Reid is also a guest poster on Leslie Morgan Steiner's Washington Post blog On Balance. He recently shared his common-sense tips for keeping his various wireless devices from intruding on his family time (including, duh, turn them...
Tips for light-hearted parenting
15 Sep 06 | Comments: 1
Gretchen Rubin is the woman behind The Happiness Project, in which she spends a year testing every theory she can find on how to be happy. Here's her take on how to become a more light-hearted parent. All of her...
More good lunchbox ideas from Foodmomiac
14 Sep 06 | Comments: 0
Continuing the lunchbox idea thread, here's Danielle's wonderful post on the topic at Foodmomiac. Tags: Feeding kids, Lunch, Lunchboxes, Parenting
Set the timer to help antsy homeworkers stay in their seats
13 Sep 06 | Comments: 6
Sara shares yet another great use for the ubiquitous timer: Now that we're back at school, I was reminded of this hack my mother used on me to teach me time management skills. I was the type of kid that...
The Zero Boss on shedding parent pudge
12 Sep 06 | Comments: 0
Few parents can let their kids' uneaten lunches "go to waste." Add to that the challenge of finding time and/or motivation to exercise, and you have a recipe for parental pudge. Jay Allen, aka The Zero Boss, has plenty of...
Working at home with kids
09 Sep 06 | Comments: 0
Dane Carlson, author of the Business Opportunities Weblog, recently posted 6 Tips for Working at Home with Children. He asked his readers to share their best tips as well, so don't forget to check out the comments on his post....
Parenting sites that deserve more attention
08 Sep 06 | Comments: 19
Thanks to all of you who shared your favorite under-appreciated parenting sites. What a wealth of good reading! Several of these sites I know and love myself, but many I've never seen before. Here are recipients of your linky tribute......
Moxie on teaching self-confidence
08 Sep 06 | Comments: 0
There's a wonderful conversation underway at Ask Moxie about teaching self-confidence. You've shared many of your wise tips with respect to teaching kids independence, but I thought you might like to see what Moxie and her readers have to say...
Parenting without one's own mother
07 Sep 06 | Comments: 6
The longer I'm a mother, the more I find myself leaning on the words and examples of my own mother. Long-forgotten memories emerge as I watch my kids do and say things I did and said as a child. The...
Favorite strong princess character? Talk amongst yourselves.
04 Sep 06 | Comments: 18
In the comments of my post on Mommytrack'd.com, in which I highlighted the Anti-Princess Reading List, Autumn pointed out that there are plenty of strong, admirable princesses to be found: If you're like me, and part of you will always...
The best lipstick for moms
03 Sep 06 | Comments: 6
Lipstick? On Parent Hacks? Yes, and rightfully so. Motherhood can do a number on one's sense of fashion and personal grooming. Too much trouble, not enough time. Anything that simplifies the process counts as a good hack in my book....
New podcast: Career Mom Radio
01 Sep 06 | Comments: 4
Erica Douglas (littlemummy.com) and Chris Brogan (lifehack.org) have worked together to launch a new podcast called Career Mom Radio. Erica says: Here we have experts in careers, business and entrepreneurship teaming up to help mums (and dads) trying to decide...
The Modern Girl's Guide to Motherhood
01 Sep 06 | Comments: 31
An embarrassingly long time ago, the publisher of The Modern Girl's Guide to Motherhood sent me a review copy, asking if it might be of interest to Parent Hacks readers. "Absolutely," I said with good intention, and then proceeded to...
Putting your kid's cell phone under house arrest
30 Aug 06 | Comments: 19
Lisa Birnbach, host of the Lisa Birnbach Show and author of The Official Preppy Handbook (bring ya back to the 80's?), shared this hack during my interview yesterday. Lisa's kids are old enough to have cell phones, which is how...
A fullproof system for dealing with paper clutter
30 Aug 06 | Comments: 5
I don't remember how I came across the LifeClever guys' system for maintaining a tidy desk, (43Folders? Lifehack.org? Lifehacker?). It's nothing new really, but somehow it felt fresh and encouraging and worthy of passing along. I'm constantly battling paper clutter,...
Back-to-school prep: have kids read the newspaper out loud
28 Aug 06 | Comments: 2
Here's how Stu helps his kids get into school mode: In order to prep for the first day of school, I have my kids read stories from the newspaper out loud. Then I ask questions about certain details from the...
Real moms on TV: 'Surviving Motherhood'
26 Aug 06 | Comments: 2
Here's what Stephanie (Crazy MomCat) has to say about the new-ish TLC show, Surviving Motherhood: While setting up my DVR to record my latest t.v. obsession (What Not To Wear), I stumbled across a little show that looked interesting. So,...
What are the best parenting and baby-care books? Ask Moxie.
25 Aug 06 | Comments: 10
As you know, I'm wary of most "expert" parenting books for the same reason I'm wary of most get-rich-quick or lose-weight-fast schemes: they promise a lot, they provide black-and-white answers, and they require you to subscribe to a certain dogma...
Catherine Newman has a new blog
22 Aug 06 | Comments: 2
If you're an admirer of Catherine Newman as I am, you'll be sad to know she's ending her longstanding Babycenter journal, Bringing Up Ben and Birdy. I always felt a special bond with Catherine (as I'm sure thousands of other...
How do you teach your kids to love learning?
21 Aug 06 | Comments: 11
Prompted by this post at A Blue Flavored Blog, Lifehacker asked its readers about how they motivate themselves to continue learning once they finish school. Plenty of interesting responses, but it got me thinking less about myself, and more about...
Mommytrack'd: a new resource for working moms
20 Aug 06 | Comments: 4
A new site, Mommytrack'd, offers info, entertainment and connection for working moms. Plenty to enjoy, but I especially appreciated the Anti-Princess Reading List. I have nothing against princesses, per se, but it's nice to find a collection of books highlighting...
Kids can blog, too
17 Aug 06 | Comments: 10
Chris Brogan recently wrote up an interesting post on lifehack.org about blogging for kids. He talks about his friend's six year-old son who recently started a blog. My son, too, wants to start a blog and we're working on setting...
Expediting spider removal
16 Aug 06 | Comments: 8
I've just returned from a three-week visit to my childhood home in the Bay Area, which was bookended by BlogHer at the beginning and my 20-year high school reunion at the end. Spending three weeks with my parents in the...
Family room "dance party" lets you exercise with your kids
15 Aug 06 | Comments: 1
Karen Rani, author of the lovely Troll Baby, has a great tip for family fitness: I find that exercise equipment can be dangerous around a curious toddler, and walking with the stroller every day is good, but gets old fast....
"Helicopter parents" article quotes Parent Hackers
14 Aug 06 | Comments: 2
A while back I passed along a question from my friend Lainie who was doing research for an article about teaching kids independence, and many of you graciously shared your tips. The article has just appeared in the Sunday Oregonian,...
Killing time during airport delays
14 Aug 06 | Comments: 4
Spending time in an airplane can be hard enough with young kids, but when you've got the double-whammy of an airport delay, you need all the help you can get: Here is a hack we recently shared on our site...
Easing kids' fears about starting middle school and high school
14 Aug 06 | Comments: 2
Here's how Kvetch helped her kids deal with the anxiety of starting middle school and high school: Both my kids are starting new schools in two weeks. My daughter will sashay off to junior high and my son will go...
MotherTalk Blog Book Tour: The Ghost in the House
10 Aug 06 | Comments: 2
Parent Hacks is the fourth stop on the MotherTalk Blog Book tour for The Ghost in the House: Motherhood, Raising Children, and Struggling with Depression by journalist Tracy Thompson. My own transition to stay-at-home motherhood was rocky, and at one...
On taking a road trip with little ones
01 Aug 06 | Comments: 19
Jill shares her secrets for relatively smooth road trips with kids. I admit I've been intimidated by the prospect of shoving our whole family in a car for more than a few hours, but this list gives me hope. 1....
How to choose good-quality childcare
01 Aug 06 | Comments: 6
Sara shares her fantastic research process for finding good-quality daycare for her daughter: I was a bit thorough about researching childcare for my daughter. Questionaires? Check. Spreadsheets? Check. State licensing & inspection reports? Check. What I learned from the whole...
Let Joe help you track your goals: Joesgoals.com
29 Jul 06 | Comments: 5
Ian (aka "Joe") passed along a tip about his new goal-tracking app, Joesgoals.com. I was immediately interested, as goalsetting has never been my strong suit. Since my kids arrived, my attention span has shortened to the length of a flea-sneeze....
The Zero Boss is back
23 Jul 06 | Comments: 0
Jay Allen, daddy blogger extraordinaire, has relaunched his blog, The Zero Boss, and is posting an online version of his unpublished book on fatherhood. Many wonderful parenting bloggers credit Jay's original posts as the inspiration behind their own blogs, and...
It Works For Me: Post your own practical tips
19 Jul 06 | Comments: 1
Rocks In My Dryer is hosting "It Works For Me," in which she invites everyone to share the tips that make their lives easier. A woman after my own heart! Write up your tip, post it on your blog (you...
How do you gradually give your older child independence?
13 Jul 06 | Comments: 15
My friend Lainie Ettinger is writing a newspaper article (which I can't wait to read) about how and when to teach kids and teens independence. It occurred to me that you'd have so much more to say on the topic...
Raising book lovers in a media-rich world
21 Jun 06 | Comments: 5
If you've been here awhile, you know that I heart Dr. Steven Parker over at WebMD. Here he writes about why it's more important than ever to raise kids who love books. I know Parent Hacks readers don't need to...
Happy Father's Day
18 Jun 06 | Comments: 0
One of the best surprises for me about Parent Hacks has been how many fathers participate. In my experience, most parenting conversations have a decidedly feminine spin. I've learned so much from the "co-ed" nature of the hacks I receive...
On "crying it out"
09 Jun 06 | Comments: 13
How to get kids to sleep -- one of the most heated parenting debates out there, with polarized camps on both sides. One groups says, "Let them cry it out! They must learn to soothe themselves!" The other says, "Nurture...
The magic of making toys with your kids
02 Jun 06 | Comments: 1
I have to restrain myself from reposting everything that appears on Kiddley, but I couldn't resist this: how to build your own marble run. What's so wonderful about this (or any other homemade toy) is the permission kids have to...
'Psychology cream' soothes away owies
01 Jun 06 | Comments: 6
Karen has a lovely remedy for whatever ails her kids: This was passed on to my by my mother, and I fondly remember it from my childhood. Whenever my kids have a bump or bruise or sore tummy and they...
Great American Backyard Campout
01 Jun 06 | Comments: 1
The National Wildlife Federation has declared June 24 the Great American Backyard Campout. Good excuse to pitch a tent on the lawn, roast a few marshmallows over the barbecue, and tell a ghost story or two.
Parenting in the TiVo age
29 May 06 | Comments: 4
As I scanned my Technorati "parenting" tag feed, this post caught my eye. Frazzled Parent (I wish I knew her name) talks about how her son attempted to "pause" her (a la TiVo) so he could go back to watching...
Cohousing: the modern equivalent of a "village"
25 May 06 | Comments: 4
Old Berkeley pal Aditya passed along this glimpse into to cohousing -- something I never knew existed. Amazing stuff, especially given how many of us struggle with the pressures of modern parenting in relative isolation, far away from extended family,...
June 1 is 'Blogging for LGBT Families Day'
19 May 06 | Comments: 5
Dana Rudolph, publisher of Mombian: Sustenance for Lesbian Moms, has declared June 1, 2006 to be Blogging For LGBT Families Day. She invites everyone, LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) or straight, to participate by blogging on a relevant topic and...
Parenting Mind Tricks
17 May 06 | Comments: 0
Jay Allen, previously of Blogging Baby, is back in his own blog space. At the Pagan Bodhisattva, Jay has instituted a new column called "Parenting Mind Tricks," in which he attempts to apply the wisdom of the world's spiritual traditions...
How many more bites?
17 May 06 | Comments: 9
Here's how Duane answers the question, "How many more bites?" Somewhere along the line my wife or I made the mistake of telling our three year old, "Just 2 more bites." Now, with every single meal, all we ever hear...
Happy Mother's Day, Parenthackers
14 May 06 | Comments: 0
You deserve a day of rest, adoration, and appreciation. You deserve to know just how important your contributions are to your family, whether you work outside the home or in (or both). You deserve an ice cream sundae, or a...
New TLC series: Surviving Motherhood
13 May 06 | Comments: 1
TLC is debuting a new series right after Mother's Day: "Surviving Motherhood." Five moms sit in a coffeehouse and frankly discuss the challenges of parenting. Hmmm. Could be interesting. I'll TiVo it and get back to you. (If you want...
Fascinating discussion on gender happening right now
05 May 06 | Comments: 0
In case you missed it, I wanted to call your attention to an amazing discussion going on in the comments on Blog Book tour: It's A Girl. Brian kicked off an excellent dialogue about kids' gender identities -- check it...
Ariel Gore's Traveling Death and Resurrection Show
04 May 06 | Comments: 2
Ariel Gore, creator of Hip Mama: The Parenting Zine among other things, has written her first novel (plus!): The Traveling Death and Resurrection Show. Already, the reviews are glowing, the buzz is gathering, and Booksense has chosen the book for...
Perhaps if they hear it from Elmo...
04 May 06 | Comments: 4
From Angela: I just discovered "It's Elmo Calling" today...a cool way to encourage good behavior for kids who like Elmo! I might just try it. My twins won't really listen to me about potty training, but they might listen to...
When they laugh, the toothbrush goes in
04 May 06 | Comments: 2
Swan's trick for brushing her son's teeth: My son, The Voice, fights me about everything. He thinks its fun to, for example, 'fight-dress,' which is he tries to kick me while I'm putting on his pants. I don't know where...
Problogger Darren Rowse wants work-at-home parents' advice
03 May 06 | Comments: 47
Darren Rowse, of Problogger fame, is about to become a dad. In his post "The Work at Home Entrepreneur," he asked readers who are work-at-home parents for their best advice. If you've got any Parent Hackery up your sleeve that...
In praise of boredom
02 May 06 | Comments: 6
From the time they were toddlers, I've involved my kids in the best, most challenging, mind-expanding extracurricular activity around (and it's free!): boredom. Our family needs a lot of unplanned, unscheduled time to maintain our balance, so at the moment...
Blog Book Tour: It's a Girl
01 May 06 | Comments: 26
This is my third go-around on Andi Buchanan's blog book tour: first for It's a Boy: Women Writers on Raising Sons, then for Literary Mama: Reading for the Maternally Inclined, and now, for It's a Girl: Women Writers on Raising...
Juggling parenthood and creativity
01 May 06 | Comments: 8
Creativity and parenting: do they mix? For some, having a baby spurs the desire to sew, paint, and build. For others, any creativity they had before children gets lost in the hazy, sleep-deprived, pulled-every-which-way jungle of parenthood. Jackie Weissman is...
Computer programming for kids
30 Apr 06 | Comments: 4
Pre-parent hacker Brian (baby due in July) wanted to share something with the "other geek parents out there": I am a computer programmer by trade, and have often thought about how daunting it might be to teach my children “what...
For the inevitable "bloody mess"
29 Apr 06 | Comments: 5
From Jennifer, in the "why didn't I ever think of this" department: I have a handful of black and navy washcloths that I save for cuts, scrapes, and bloody noses. When I'm wiping up the kids (now 3 and 5),...
MetroDad's Jedi parenting tricks
28 Apr 06 | Comments: 1
Pierre, AKA MetroDad, is leaning on the ways of the Jedi as he raises his kid. What he's discovered so far: when Peanut wouldn't eat, he put her food in a dog bowl with good results. I don't recall Obi-Wan...
Today is Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day
27 Apr 06 | Comments: 4
Every year, the fourth Thursday in April is Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day. If you're a parent who works outside the home, it's a great opportunity to show your kids what the rest of your day looks...
Babies and dirt go together just fine
25 Apr 06 | Comments: 3
A recent study suggests that early exposure to allergens strengthens babies' immune systems and protects them from allergies and asthma later on. Read Dr. Parker's entire "Healthy Children" post on the topic (there are a couple caveats), then throw away...
It's TV-Turnoff Week (cringe)
24 Apr 06 | Comments: 8
April 24-30 is TV-Turnoff week, and I find myself feeling a bit desperate at the thought of no tube. Not because I watch -- I hardly ever do -- but because TV plays a pivotal role in my 5pm get-dinner-on-the-table...
Podcast on getting children to eat well
21 Apr 06 | Comments: 2
Sara says Dr. Fuhrman's podcast at DiseaseProof.com contains a bunch of good hacks for getting your kids to "eat healthy." Tags: Feeding kids, Health, Parenting
Thingamababy has advice for parents-to-be
19 Apr 06 | Comments: 2
AJ at Thingamababy posted ten bits of advice for parents-to-be, and would love to hear others' thoughts on the topic. Tags: Baby, Newborns, Parenting
Coming soon: another Web 2.0 parenting site
13 Apr 06 | Comments: 0
TechCrunch reports a new collaborative/community parenting site on the horizon: Maya's Mom. I've signed up for a heads-up and will let you know what I hear. Tags: Maya's Mom
Modeling healthy media consumption
12 Apr 06 | Comments: 9
Nick shared his musings on how our kids learn from what we say AND do: I'm smart enough to know that I know nothing - My oldest is only 3, so who knows what our parenting will wreak upon his...
Look for the easy solution first
11 Apr 06 | Comments: 5
Kathy wisely reminds us to check the obvious, low-tech solution first: Our daughter Brigid just reached her three-month milestone. A couple of weeks ago, she started to flirt with the idea of sleeping through the night. Some nights she'd go...
365 First-Time Parenting Tips
10 Apr 06 | Comments: 0
New dad Classic Jef has committed himself to writing up a full year's worth of tips for first-time parents -- in real time. Go to: 365 First-Time Parenting Tips Tags: Baby, Parenting
The myth of multitasking
09 Apr 06 | Comments: 5
I often find myself multitasking -- running between three or four unfinished projects trying to get them done at the same time. I like to think I'm making efficient use of my time, but it rarely turns out well. I...
'The Problem' is the problem -- not the kid
06 Apr 06 | Comments: 17
Stu offers great problem-solving advice -- and a gentle reminder about the "teaching" aspect of parenting: When I have a problem that concerns one of my kids (meaning: When I want them to do something that they refuse to do),...
Advice from the original Hip Mama
05 Apr 06 | Comments: 3
Ariel Gore, creator of Hip Mama: The Parenting Zine, and author of a memoir (Atlas of the Human Heart), several parenting books (The Mother Trip, The Hip Mama Survival Guide, Whatever, Mom), and a new novel (The Traveling Death and...
Placenta Pizza, and other hacks we've rejected
04 Apr 06 | Comments: 4
Kristen Chase is the brilliant mind behind Motherhood Uncensored, and one of the founders and editors of Cool Mom Picks, but she can't seem to get it right for Parent Hacks. We simply can't endorse housing one's child in a...
Mailing labels heal imaginary boo-boos
03 Apr 06 | Comments: 0
Jill discovered a Bandaid stand-in: I have a two year old with constant "boo boos" that need bandaids to get better. Few of these are actual wounds, but all of them need some love for recovery. Since real bandages aren't...
Working Mother's Guide to Life
03 Apr 06 | Comments: 0
Sara's favorite "preparing for parenthood" book was The Working Mother's Guide to Life. Written by the founder of the Bright Horizons daycares, it is full of very logical, practical advice like "There's no one way to do this," "The three...
Spa-ing on the cheap
31 Mar 06 | Comments: 1
Olivia shares her pampering secret: I love me a great massage or facial at a chi-chi spa. I even love a quality wax job at the chi-chi spa. Hanging in the spa just tells me: "I am important enough to...
'Bad or worse'
31 Mar 06 | Comments: 2
We've talked before about the wisdom of giving kids (especially toddlers) reasonable choices instead of simply saying "no." On his blog, Patrick documents his version of the "give them choices" mantra. Technorati Tags: Discipline, Parenting
Scrapblog: does this mean I don't have to do a baby book?
30 Mar 06 | Comments: 7
My son's in kindergarten, and I haven't yet finished his baby book. My daughter...I haven't even started hers. Shameful, I know, and I'm wracked with guilt. Could there be a solution, even an imperfect one, in Scrapblog? Scrapblog merges online...
More on Flickr photo copyright/fair use
27 Mar 06 | Comments: 5
The post about decorating your kid's room with Flickr photos generated intense discussion (not all of it civil) about copyright and fair use. Many readers and photographers objected to the use of copyrighted images, despite the seemingly innocuous purpose. (Photographer...
Piquing toddler's interest in toys by playing with them yourself
25 Mar 06 | Comments: 2
Eric has discovered that his casual interest in a toy often ignites his daughter's: Sometimes my 2-year old daughter just gets bored. She wanders around aimlessly, periodically asking adults for "more Elmo? more Wiggles?" only to be refused. The hack...
Banish guilt
24 Mar 06 | Comments: 3
I wish I'd heard this advice from Sara about six years ago. I'm not prone to guilt, but I AM prone to overthinking. It took a while before I trusted my gut when it came to parenting. This is more...
Mom-friendly job s