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Category archive: behavior
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....
Lotion as "medicine" for boo-boos
05 May 08 | Comments: 10
Serena's new "magic healing potion" is plain old lotion: New hack I came up with on the spot for our not-quite three year old, who is very much into rituals, such as putting medicine on a cut and then the...
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...
"Colorful" milk rewards kids for pre-mealtime cleanup
28 Apr 08 | Comments: 11
Mari's colorful solution for getting the kids to the table: My daughter's preschool teacher came up with a fun way to encourage the children to clean up promptly for lunch. It made such an impression on our 3-year-old that we...
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...
Apply antibiotic ointment while the kid's asleep
24 Apr 08 | Comments: 6
When you can't win the game, change the rules. (In a good way.) From Jeff: Our 4 year old son was diagnosed with impetigo (also known as infantago, among other things). His doctor prescribed an antibiotic ointment for him, which...
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...
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...
Savvy Source: A great place to start your preschool research
17 Apr 08 | Comments: 7
When I started researching preschools, I was amazed by the lack of a centralized resource to find out what was available in our neighborhood. Through conversations with other parents and a dose of dumb luck, we found an ideal preschool...
Mix medicine into Jell-O Smoothie Snacks to get it down the hatch
15 Apr 08 | Comments: 15
Steve's get-the-medicine-in-the-toddler hack: My 18 month-old had an ear infection and like most toddlers she was prescribed amoxicillin. She has had ear infections when she was younger and we would either give her the medication via syringe or add a...
A game for getting two kids safely buckled into the car
15 Apr 08 | Comments: 7
Nikki's trick for keeping kids close at hand in the parking lot: My son's car seat was on the gas tank side of the car. My daughter was learning her shapes at the time. I'd turn getting into the car...
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...
Turn temperature-taking with an ear thermometer into a game of telephone
11 Apr 08 | Comments: 2
Shalini turned temp-taking into a game: After constantly struggling to take my squirmy 16-month old's temperature with the ear thermometer (he won't even hold still for the three seconds it takes to get a reading), I discovered that if I...
Stave off exam room anxiety by doodling on the paper-covered exam table
10 Apr 08 | Comments: 18
Jaclyn's discovered a great way to keep her daughter entertained during those loooong exam room waits: I discovered a new hack during my daughter's 2 year-old check-up. We were waiting in the exam room and I was desperately trying to...
For the kid who can't keep his hands off the card-swipe machine at the grocery store: a calculator
31 Mar 08 | Comments: 5
Are those credit card swipe machines kid magnets or WHAT? Hillarie's onto something: My son is three and loves to "help" when I am trying to pay for the groceries. His help consists of pushing the debit/credit card machine and...
Freeze pacifiers for teething relief
13 Mar 08 | Comments: 5
Amy's got a good pacifier hack: My 16 month-old son has always been attached to his pacifier, and has had a tough time cutting teeth. So, I run his pacifiers under the faucet, and squeeze the bulb portion under the...
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....
Torani syrup helps the water go down
01 Mar 08 | Comments: 8
Here's how Darienne makes water more palatable to her preschooler: My 3 year-old has always been a big milk drinker. We tried to get him to drink more water by giving him water with a bit of unsweetened fruit juice....
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...
When one twin gets medicine, the other gets apple juice
26 Feb 08 | Comments: 8
Kristin's got the opposite "problem" many parents have -- her kids want to take medicine! When one of my 2-year-old twin boys are prescribed medicine, it's inevitable that the non-sick boy will pitch a fit for medicine too. So...I have...
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...
Play "Marco Polo" in public to keep track of out-of-sight kids
21 Feb 08 | Comments: 12
Remember "Marco Polo," that classic call-and-respond swimming pool game? Mari and her husband use it as a way to keep tabs on their kids in public places: Okay, I know it sounds crazy. We always call out 'Marco' when we're...
A simple rule for getting toddlers to hold hands crossing the street
15 Feb 08 | Comments: 25
Kim's idea is so simple and smart: Here's my tip for keeping toddlers from walking out onto the street or parking lot unsupervised. It relies on the good old "neutral third party" idea. Just tell them it's a universal rule...
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...
Use a kitchen timer to simplify potty training
24 Jan 08 | Comments: 11
Prompted by recent kitchen timer conversation, Andy shared this wonderful story about using a timer to help with potty training: In the process of potty-training our son, we had gotten stuck for a while at the point where he agreed...
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...
Stash travel distractions into the car's seat-back pockets
19 Jan 08 | Comments: 7
Here's how Christine's keeping her daughter entertained in the car: My 18 month-old daughter is often quite tired and grumpy by the time I pick her up to take her home from child care. I often need to have something...
Kid already buckled into the stroller or car seat? Put the jacket on backwards!
16 Jan 08 | Comments: 6
Haven't most of us done this at one time or another? Thank you, Heather, for thinking to write down this hack and send it in! My 18 month-old hates wearing a coat in his stroller. About the only time he...
How to make baby nose-wiping...fun?
16 Jan 08 | Comments: 17
Scott's come up with a way to make the inevitable snotty nose-wipe tolerable for his baby: My ten-month-old daughter has a terrible cold right now, and she has developed a fear of the nose wipe. Anytime she sees me coming...
How to make flu shots less scary for kids
18 Dec 07 | Comments: 12
Shots are scary. No two ways about it. But the anticipation of shots makes it so much worse. Here are some smart ideas for making shots as innocuous as possible (and, yes, I tried to come up with a pun...
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...
A phone call from a favorite character encourages bathtime cooperation
25 Nov 07 | Comments: 2
From Rachel: My daughter hated, HATED to have her hair washed. For about two years washing her hair was one of my least favorite chores. She'd kick and scream so loudly that I would honestly worry the neighbors would call...
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...
Use movie soundtracks to steer kids away from the tube
14 Nov 07 | Comments: 22
Kirsten's brilliant hack brings to mind all the great movie soundtracks I used to listen to as a kid. Star Wars is the big one, but pretty much any John Williams score would do. Remember Close Encounters of the Third...
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...
Deceptively Delicious: A Parenthacker sneaks and tells
12 Nov 07 | Comments: 25
We recently talked about all the controversy surrounding the release of Deceptively Delicious, the cookbook that advocates hiding vegetables in kid-friendly food. When I asked for Parenthackers' first-hand tales, JT wrote this gem of a sum-up: My guess is, if...
Plastic bag "balloons" keep kids distracted while grocery shopping
11 Nov 07 | Comments: 9
I love it when I "spy" parent hacks in public places. From Sara: I was at the grocery store the other day, and saw a kid in the checkout line playing with a "balloon" made of a plastic produce bag...
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...
How to have an allergy-free Halloween
22 Oct 07 | Comments: 9
Several of you commented on the difficulty of managing the Halloween treats when your kid has a peanut allergy (or any other type of food sensitivity for that matter). Here's another place to look for good ideas: How to have...
"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...
iPod photos distract wiggly toddlers
29 Sep 07 | Comments: 5
Margot's hack proves, once again, that you have more than enough justification to buy an iPod. I noticed the spate of iPod hacks. I have another semi-hack. I keep some family pictures on my iPod nano, which can't show movies....
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...
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...
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...
Alarm clocks work for early-waking babies, too
10 Aug 07 | Comments: 11
Lisa's hack is fascinating -- an incredible reminder that babies are capable of a lot more learning than we think: I read a hack not too long ago about a toddler (about 3 yrs., I think) that used to wake...
"This Little Piggy," the extended version
08 Aug 07 | Comments: 6
Duane's kids get extra tickle time with a song that never gets old (for them, at least): You know, "this little piggy went to market" gets to be a pretty boring game for everybody but the baby. Wanna bet? My...
How to keep kids in bed till wakeup time
01 Aug 07 | Comments: 15
Father-to-be Keith has already started filing away parent hacks for future use! This one is sure to come in handy for these crazily early summer sunrises: To keep their little ones in bed until an appropriate time, some friends of...
"No tattling zone" helps parents relax during park playdates
17 Jul 07 | Comments: 15
From Sara: Kara and her local playground moms sit at a picnic table while the kids play. Around this table they've drawn a circle in the dirt. Why? Well, the circle is the "no tattling zone". Brilliant, isn't it? It...
Kids learn, work, and have fun at "Camp Mom"
14 Jul 07 | Comments: 6
Look what veteran Parenthacker Jill and her kids are up to this summer: We've implemented "Camp Mom" here and I'm putting them thru the paces every morning. After breakfast they both do a work paper at the table (if I...
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 helps pass stressful waiting room visits
10 Jun 07 | Comments: 8
Fish recounts: Our 3 year-old son had a nasty ear infection. Usually he does OK at the doctor's but by the time the urgent care opened in the morning he was in a state. I remembered the Video iPod on...
Scented lip balm as personal air freshener
22 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...
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...
Print your own "screen time" tickets
14 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.
Keeping kids safe in busy parking lots
13 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....
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...
"Ground tie" your child
10 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...
Cookie Crisp cereal stands in for toddler snack cookies
08 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...
Helping a toddler who's afraid of dogs
07 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...
Heal minor scrapes at the Body Shop
06 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 cart
05 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,...
Let your kid "drive" while you clean the car
03 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...
Diaper cartoons as changing table entertainment
29 Apr 07 | Comments: 6
Nic's hack, from the "we do what we must" file: One thing that I've started doing recently and found really useful is to use the nappy to entertain him on the changing table. We use a combination of disposables and...
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...
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...
How to encourage your baby to tip his head back during shampoo-rinsing
19 Mar 07 | Comments: 3
Lots of good hair-rinsing hacks lately! Plenty of brainpower is being spent on how to keep soap out of little eyes. From Seth: A "give him your O face" hack (not to be confused with the "Oh face" from Office...
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,...
Chore systems for kids who can't yet read? Talk amongst yourselves.
12 Mar 07 | Comments: 11
Leanne of Momcast wonders: My son is four and he's getting very helpful. I want to formalize some chores for him with a reward system to introduce concepts like family responsibility, work for remuneration, money and savings. But, he's pre-literate,...
Dry towel keeps soap suds out of kids' eyes
07 Mar 07 | Comments: 10
Todd's secret for "no more tears" in the bath: My daughter used to really hate getting her long hair washed and now she thinks it's somewhat fun. We used to use "tearless" shampoo but even that would sting her eyes...
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 --...
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...
Trying new foods often begins at the grocery store
19 Feb 07 | Comments: 8
Andrea's daughters are more open to trying foods they get to choose at the grocery store: I'm sure the majority of parents out there have trouble getting their kids to try new foods. I've discovered that "trying" often begins at...
Clock radio hack encourages kids to sleep later
17 Feb 07 | Comments: 6
Here's how Susanne conditioned her early-riser to stay in bed a little longer: This worked wonders with our early-rising son, though your mileage may vary. When our son was two or three, he had the maddening habit of awakening between...
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...
Gardening with kids: getting started
15 Feb 07 | Comments: 1
The crocuses are just starting to peek out of the soil, and suddenly my kids are dying to get their hands in the dirt. The timing couldn't be better for the great post at Z Recommends about how to cultivate...
Getting pants on a wiggly baby
12 Feb 07 | Comments: 9
Josh demonstrates proper kid-wrangling: I don't know if this qualifies as a hack, as I just thought it was how everyone did it, but my wife saw me doing this the other day and suggested I send it in. When...
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...
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...
Put shoes and socks on kids AFTER strapping them into the stroller
28 Jan 07 | Comments: 4
From Kittenpie: Before I attempt to wrestle shoes, socks, and a coat onto my girl in the morning, I put her in her stroller and do up the belt. Now she can't escape and I am not running after a...
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...
Download old radio shows for your kids
24 Jan 07 | Comments: 12
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...Gray's bedtime hack: I download old radio shows (Superman, Lone Ranger, etc.) from RUSC.com (membership costs $7.50 per month) and burn them to cd, which I play for my kids in their bedroom after...
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...
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....
Toilet training rewards that don't involve candy
17 Jan 07 | Comments: 33
Jill's brilliant take on toilet training bribery (we expect nothing less from her at this point): Here's my best potty training hack. It worked for #1 and #2 is loving the process and doing well so far. I bought large...
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...
Getting back into the school groove post-vacation
04 Jan 07 | Comments: 2
My son's in first grade, and he approached his first day back at school after the holiday break with a mixture of dread and relief. He loved the lazy days and late mornings as much as we all did, but...
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...
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...
New baby and preschooler sharing a room? Talk amongst yourselves.
12 Dec 06 | Comments: 19
From Sarah: I'm expecting my second child in April and the new baby will be sharing a room with my daughter who will be 3.5 at the time the baby is born. My daughter is very excited about the prospect...
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,...
Laundry basket "choo choo" keeps baby close during chores
06 Dec 06 | Comments: 8
Have I mentioned that Parent Hackers love laundry baskets? Here's how Kris uses hers: My son, who is 8 months, has been going through a phase for the last few weeks where he can't bear to be out of my...
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...
Getting beyond a toddler's diaper change protests
04 Dec 06 | Comments: 9
Amanda calls this "toddler diaper ju-jitsu:" Our almost-2 year old occasionally mounts a violent protest when we try to change her. Sometimes, offering her a "standing change" works (and, if you haven't tried it before, it's surprisingly easy as long...
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,...
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
Bendy straws help the medicine go down
07 Nov 06 | Comments: 10
Heather (aka hedra, creator of the no-sew Halloween costume and other hacks) sent along this most-excellent tip, just in time for sickie season: My almost-2-year-old twin daughters are at the 'ME DO IT!' stage, in a big way. They're also...
Cell phone alarm helps announce transition times
03 Nov 06 | Comments: 3
We're proponents of using the timer to announce transition times. Sara reminds us that we usually have one on us even while we're out and about: We all know that having something other than Mom or Dad dictating times and...
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...
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
A trick for figuring out which plate and glass are yours at a crowded table
20 Oct 06 | Comments: 4
From Sara: Politeness and good manners are highly valued in our house; I've been known to dance across the kitchen when my 15 month old uses both "please" and "thank you" in a transaction without a prompt. [15 months and...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Buy redundant baby blankets
12 Oct 06 | Comments: 16
Mike passes along a save-the-day tip: Most infants and toddlers develop an affinity for a certain blanket that they always must have in order to fall asleep. Most parents know that this can cause much anguish if you forget it...
Fast-forward puts you in control of TV timing
11 Oct 06 | Comments: 4
Here's how Katie ends TV tantrums before they begin: This one is simple enough that it's hard for me to legitimately call it a hack, but once I figured out that my kids (7 and 2) would accept it, we...
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,...
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!...
Kids on a Plane! (More tips on flying with kids.)
05 Oct 06 | Comments: 1
Here are Laura's tips for airplane travel with kids -- a favorite topic here at Parent Hacks. Tags: Family travel, Parenting
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....
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...
In-the-car-with-crying-baby-desperation rattle hack
27 Sep 06 | Comments: 5
From Scott: First time dad here, so I’m not sure if this hack is known by all veteran parents. My wife and I were in the car with our 3 month-old son. He wanted out of the car seat and...
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."...
More on babies + keyboards: BabySplat
21 Sep 06 | Comments: 6
Sounds like some of your kids are happy to pound on unplugged keyboards (for a while at least), while others insist on the real, working McCoy. For those kids, an option (thanks for passing this on, Fernando): I just came...
Keeping your toddler off your keyboard
18 Sep 06 | Comments: 13
Here's how Chris gained five more minutes of computer time: While using the laptop, from time to time I'd have my 1 year old son Alexander on my lap. That stopped shortly after Alex decided he wanted to "help" me...
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...
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...
Toddler afraid of the bath? Talk amongst yourselves.
12 Sep 06 | Comments: 24
Karen Rani of Troll Baby needs our help: What to do when your 2 year-old is terrified of the bathtub? Thomas the Troll Baby screams bloody murder, nearly making himself sick (this started about 4 weeks ago) and we can't...
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...
Keeping a toddler happy at the home improvement warehouse
06 Sep 06 | Comments: 8
Say "Home Depot" to my kids and you'll hear immediate groans of disapproval. I can't say as I blame them -- I get tired of trudging through aisle upon aisle of hardware myself. Here's Mike's suggestion (for the kid at...
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...
Potty training: a personalized photo tutorial
31 Aug 06 | Comments: 12
We've all got our potty training tricks. Kirsten made an illustrated potty-training guide for her son: here's a potty-training hack that i'm using for my son. i took pictures of him in all the steps of going potty and then...
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...
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...
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...
Share your funniest Parent Hackfire, win a prize!
10 Aug 06 | Comments: 18
Parent Hackfire: when your parenting strategy doesn't work as expected (and then comes back to bite you on the heinie). Thank you, Laid-Off Dad, for coining the term. Here's one of my many Parent Hackfires: When my son was four,...
Check out audiobooks from the library before your road trip
05 Aug 06 | Comments: 6
Moxie's suggestion for road trip relief: Travel hack (not nearly as creative as the one from the guy telling people how to make their own CDs for road trips): Most public libraries have a decent selection of books on CD....
Talk amongst yourselves: Your best tantrum-stopping secrets?
04 Aug 06 | Comments: 33
Sara, contributor of many hacks, needs our help! Well... we've finally reached the tantrum throwing stage. It started off small (and relatively cute) but we've now progressed to the full arched back/screaming type of tantrums.... We've been exploring ways to...
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...
BookBound: Charming, self-published children's books
24 Jul 06 | Comments: 3
My cousin Hayley put me in touch with her friend, Charysse Levine, author and publisher of BookBound Books. "You have to talk to Charysse," she said. "She decided she wanted to publish her own childrens' books, and she just went...
Parenting bag o' tricks essential: Origami
22 Jul 06 | Comments: 1
Luke is a prepared dad! Read on: Whilst I haven't had a chance to use this yet I'm sharing it anyway. Our daughter is 3 months old and when we discovered we were going to have a child I decided...
MetroDad on teaching manners
14 Jul 06 | Comments: 4
This, from one of the most well-spoken dads I know ("know" in a blogging sense, that is). Read the comments on MetroDad's post for good advice. Tags: Manners, Parenting, Toddler
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...
Calculator as TV remote stand-in
12 Jul 06 | Comments: 7
Serena pulled the remote switcheroo on her son with good results: Here's our most recent parent hack - my son Noah (12 months) is obsessed with the TV remote - and when we take it away from him he has...
Firework safety
03 Jul 06 | Comments: 0
Dana at Mombian posted some sobering statistics on fireworks safety, and reminds us to take care when combining kids with explosives. She also points to a good list of tips from the National Council on Fireworks Safety. Have a happy...
Watering can "shower" makes bathtime fun
01 Jul 06 | Comments: 0
Karen "waters" her baby to keep him entertained in the bath: A bathtime trick - I bought a cheap plastic child's watering can and use that while the baby is in the infant seat as a "shower." When he doesn't...
Turn to YouTube for toddler entertainment
29 Jun 06 | Comments: 2
Dutch of Sweet Juniper has put together a tour de force roundup of kid-pleasing YouTube videos. (Try this one if you need a little cheering up.) Tags: Parenting, YouTube, Toddler
Forget the spoonful of sugar. Stickers make the medicine go down!
27 Jun 06 | Comments: 2
Here's how KS gets the medicine to go down: My four-year-old has just been prescribed 10 days of antibiotics. With twenty doses that need to go down the hatch, I anticipated much begging, bargaining, and other tricks to get her...
How to quickly dress a newborn
24 Jun 06 | Comments: 0
Serrina provides a smooshy-newborn-dressing tutorial: Getting newborns dressed quickly is imperative to their happiness. Furthermore, getting shirts/onesies over their heads quickly is even more important. This is what I do: I put my hand down through the neck of the...
Extra spoons as restaurant entertainment for baby
23 Jun 06 | Comments: 9
Here's how Steve keeps his baby happy while out to eat: Whenever we go out to eat, we ask the wait person for 10 extra spoons. Then we give them one at a time to the baby to play with....
'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...
Getting out the door with two kids in tow
24 May 06 | Comments: 3
Speaking of Ask Moxie, she's got a good post up today about how anyone with two or more kids manages to leave the house in a timely manner. I have a feeling Moxie's readers and parenthackers are similarly generous and...
What to do when your toddler repeats your curse words
23 May 06 | Comments: 2
Nathan has found a brilliant way to deal with the inevitable cursing slip-up: Our 21 month-old daughter likes to repeat the last word we say in a sentence, and sometimes the last phrase. Because of this we try very hard...
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...
Feed grabby babies with two spoons
11 May 06 | Comments: 4
Rookie Mom Heather's tip for when spoon-fed babies are obsessed with grabbing the spoon: use two! Tags: Baby, Baby food, Parenting
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...
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...
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...
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),...
A trick for getting medicine into babies
29 Apr 06 | Comments: 6
Via Sara: The nurse at our pediatrian's office taught us a trick to get infants to swallow medicine: blow in their face. It surprises them so much they swallow as a reflex. We also used this, with moderate success, to...
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...
Cold washcloth helps teething
25 Apr 06 | Comments: 3
Crissy found a way to entertain her baby and help his teething at the same time: In the morning I usually have a wrestling match with my 10 month-old when it comes time to get dressed. He is also teething...
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
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...
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
Mommytips.com
07 Apr 06 | Comments: 0
Here's another parenting tips site -- this one geared toward stay-at-home moms, but with some useful tidbits for most parents. Technorati Tags: Parenting
'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),...
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...
How to brush your child's teeth
03 Apr 06 | Comments: 0
The Blogfathers on toothbrushing. Lots of common sense tips, and some conversation and myth-busting around flouride. [Thanks, Sara.] Technorati Tags: Toothbrushing
Trixie Tracker: for the obsessed parent who has everything
02 Apr 06 | Comments: 7
Taking care of a newborn brings out any latent obsessional tendencies lurking in the recesses of your brain. Between lack of sleep and debilitating infatuation, the details of your baby's physical comings and goings can take on monumental importance. When...
Personal slideshow on Video iPod
02 Apr 06 | Comments: 0
Matt Haughey (MetaFilter, PVRblog, A Whole Lotta Nothing) uses his Video iPod to create personal slideshows for his daughter, Fiona: I just got a video iPod and I realized that setting it on a slideshow of photos of her (with...
When the Tooth Fairy forgets to visit
01 Apr 06 | Comments: 3
I'm proud to report that the Tooth Fairy has never actually forgotten to visit in our house. On one heart-pounding occasion, she did have a close call during the wee hours of the morning, but we don't talk about that....
Japanese water gurgling trick stops babies from crying
01 Apr 06 | Comments: 3
Kieran passed this along, and, although it's not a hoax (at least I don't think it is), it's bizarre enough to merit posting on April 1. Saw this on Youtube with a bunch of other videos from that Japanese helpful...
'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
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...
Simon says get dressed!
23 Mar 06 | Comments: 0
Along the same positive lines as focusing on the body part, Mike uses Simon Says to ease kid battles: We have recently figured out that we can use a game of Simon Says to turn those battles of will into...
Mom's and Dad's comforting styles differ, thank God
22 Mar 06 | Comments: 4
When one of our kids has a boo-boo (physical or emotional), I soothe them with hugs and sympathy. "Awwwwww," I croon while rocking my babies on my lap. "I'm sorry you're hurt/frustrated/mad." Lots of sniffing and patting and passing of...
Dr. Parker on dealing with childhood fears
20 Mar 06 | Comments: 0
Dr. P. (at WebMD) has good advice for "banishing the ogres." Technorati Tags: Childhood fears, Toddler
Free 'Conversation Cards' at The Reign of Ellen
20 Mar 06 | Comments: 0
Jason pinged us about an adorable freebie his wife, Ellen (of The Reign of Ellen fame), is giving to her readers: My wife writes a blog and recently released free downloadable "conversation cards" that she created and illustrated. The cards...
Focus on the body part
17 Mar 06 | Comments: 9
Sometimes a slight tweak in wording is all it takes to get kids to listen (and comply). Here's Misty's: My goal in stores is to keep breakable things unbroken by my children. They are ages 1, 2, and 3. Our...
Turn off the lights or pay up
14 Mar 06 | Comments: 3
Bill came up with a playful way to remind his kids that wasted electricity costs money: Kids (and dads or moms) leaving lights on? Doors left open to heat the outside? Tired of haranguing and complaining about the background whirring...
Exercise ball an ideal baby bouncer
12 Mar 06 | Comments: 5
Vince passes along his baby-bouncing secret: Like many babies, our infant (4 weeks) gets fussy and restless at certain hours of the day, unrelated to feeding schedule. Without some kind of effort to calm her, the fussing can quickly turn...
Distraction suggestions
11 Mar 06 | Comments: 5
Sara passed along these distraction tips, including one from her "proto-hacker" mother: In my short tenure as a mother, I've learned the value of distraction in dealing with upset children whose issues you can't (or won't) fix. For our 9-month-old...
Minti fresh
09 Mar 06 | Comments: 1
Another victory for "real-world" parenting advice! Newly launched: Minti, a website that hopes to become "the world's largest parent-to-parent advice-opedia." You can write up and tag your own articles and tips, browse or search others', rate each article's relative usefulness,...
Use a timer to announce transition times
05 Mar 06 | Comments: 6
Andy uses a timer to help his daughter understand how much time she has left before bedtime. As our daughter approached the age of 3, she became a bit of a night-owl. So when the call would go out that...
More toddler-in-restaurant tricks
04 Mar 06 | Comments: 2
We've all got tricks for keeping our little kids entertained in restaurants. These are Sandy's: We carry a mesh storage bag full of a couple 3-inch books, a little car, play-doh, a couple crayons, a few seashells (that my son...
Simple time management tips
28 Feb 06 | Comments: 2
From "Simple Ways to Save Hours of Your Time" at MSN: To get your kids to help keep the house neat, [author Laura] Stack suggests a system she calls Jail n' Bail. "If they don't put their stuff away, it...
TV not so bad after all?
28 Feb 06 | Comments: 3
As reported in yesterday's New York Times, a new study by two University of Chicago economists finds TV-watching to have little or no effect on kids' future academic test scores. The study says nothing about TV's effects on their behavior,...
Toddlers and cyborgs: eerie similarities?
25 Feb 06 | Comments: 0
John Tolva, who will forever be remembered as the first person to call Parent Hacks "Lifehacker for those who no longer have lives," finds odd similarities between parenting toddlers and surviving a cyborg invasion. Technorati Tags: Parenting
Parenting tips down under
25 Feb 06 | Comments: 2
Australian mom Christine Tse hosts Parentingideas.org, a blog "to inspire with ideas and practical tips on parenting." Technorati Tags: Parenting
Help kids organize their own schedules
19 Feb 06 | Comments: 5
Here's how my cousin Leslee solved scheduling hassles in her very busy family: I was trapped in that nagging circle of hell: “Do your homework!”, “Get dressed for karate!”, “You have to read for half an hour!” which was invariably...
Choice words
13 Feb 06 | Comments: 3
Elana avoids meltdowns by avoiding yes-or-no questions: One of the best things we learned was that kids shouldn't get questions that can be answered "yes" or "no." Always give them a choice, and everyone ends up happy...they've decided for themselves,...
Clothes dryer can calm a colicky baby
10 Feb 06 | Comments: 3
When a certain baby we know was nine weeks old, the hours between 5-7pm were filled with crying. Endless, heartbreaking, confounding wails, which we couldn't calm, no matter how much we rocked, cooed or cried ourselves. A slightly bored advice...
Deep breathing for preschoolers
09 Feb 06 | Comments: 4
Patrick is teaching his son to pause between emotion and reaction (something I'm still working on). Amazing how even little kids can start learning about self-control (some learn more quickly than others, of course). I've been using a little trick...
How to give your kid an allowance
08 Feb 06 | Comments: 6
My six year-old son has started half-heartedly asking us about pocket money. It's a little early yet, but it's gotten Rael and me thinking about the allowance question. We both got allowances as kids, but his was a weekly payment...
Trusting their own abilities
28 Jan 06 | Comments: 0
Just came across a lovely article on Karen's blog at Take2Max. The gimicky-sounding title, "Trusting Their Own Abilities: 6 Tips for Asset-Focused Parenting," almost turned me off, but I kept reading, and I'm glad I did. Some great advice there...
Parenting hacks at 43folders
27 Jan 06 | Comments: 0
43folders is Merlin Mann's site devoted to all things productivity and organization. Devotees of 43folders can post ideas/suggestions/discussion to his wiki, and many among them are parents. I give you: the 43folders wiki on Parenting Hacks. (Unsure what a wiki...
(Play) Doh! Why didn't we think of this sooner?
27 Jan 06 | Comments: 5
Scott shares his secret for peaceful restaurant dinners with his toddler: One of our best "hacks" has been the purchase of a large bag of tiny cans of Play Doh. It came in a bag of twenty. I think they...
Accept them as they are
20 Jan 06 | Comments: 1
Heartbreaking story about parental hopes and acceptance on Dr. Steven Parker's blog at WebMD. He tells of a young man who, when he was 14, was banished by his parents because he was gay. Dr. P goes on: As some...
Duct tape their PJs
18 Jan 06 | Comments: 5
The first official hack that employs duct tape! (To be fair, Laura BC did mention duct tape in her comment on Low-tech babyproofing hacks.) Charles tells us: When our kids were still in diapers and wearing footed PJs with zippers...
Sign language for the pre-verbal
17 Jan 06 | Comments: 18
RJ used sign language to "talk" to his pre-verbal kids (and let them reply): Start learning and using some ASL (American Sign Language.) Children have the ability to grasp language before they have the muscle control or brain development to...
No pacifier? Use your pinky!
16 Jan 06 | Comments: 3
Jon of FamilyResource.com reminded me about something I often did when my kids were newborns: There are bound to be times when Mom isn't there to nurse, the formula isn't ready, or you can't find the pacifier. One way to...
The Law of Conservation of Toys
16 Jan 06 | Comments: 4
When he was a kid, here's how Tim's mom got him and his four brothers to pick up after themselves: With five boys, Mom was often plagued by a lot of toys lying around (and of course not being picked...
Video iPod makes travel time fly
15 Jan 06 | Comments: 0
On his blog, Eirik shares how a video iPod and some extra battery juice helped his little ones pass the time on an Oslo-NYC plane ride. Check it out, if only for the angelic picture of his son. Tags: Family...
Keep kids company as they do chores
15 Jan 06 | Comments: 1
Dennis in Eugene, OR offers a suggestion for easing the chore wars: Keep your kid company when they're doing their chores. My daughter hated clearing the table and doing dishes until we figured out the problem: after dinner we would...
Berkeley Parents Network
13 Jan 06 | Comments: 2
We lived in Berkeley, CA for many years, but were parents there for only a year before we moved. In that year, I must have referred to the Berkeley Parents Network (an earlier incarnation of it) hundreds of times. Full...
Controlling tattling
13 Jan 06 | Comments: 5
Tim's kids are now grown, but, while in the thick of hands-on parenting, here's how he dealt with tattling: We were plagued by siblings' tattling on each other. Someone wise gave us the solution: when one tattled, both got punished...
There is an instruction manual after all!
11 Jan 06 | Comments: 3
Ran into "The Baby Owner's Manual: Operating Instructions, Trouble-Shooting Tips, and Advice on First-Year Maintenance" (Louis, M.D. Borgenicht, Joe Borgenicht) at the bookstore the other day: a baby-care book written in the style of a technical user manual. One doesn't...
Grandpa was right: a little hardship breeds character
06 Jan 06 | Comments: 4
I read "The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children" (Wendy Mogel) a while ago, and was recently reminded by a friend how good it is. Mogel is a former child psychologist who now actively...
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