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Category archive: fun/toys
08 May 08 | Comments: 18
Jen in Toronto loves her blue tape! For good reason: We use painter's tape a lot around our house, and we take a roll with us when we travel. It makes a great impromptu electrical outlet cover. We use it...
Perfect gift for new moms: The Rookie Mom's Handbook06 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....
Retired diaper changing pad works as Play Doh play surface01 May 08 | Comments: 7
Lindsay's found a better site than the kitchen floor for playdough play: Webster's Dictionary defines the word "frustration" as my attempt to find a suitable surface cover during my toddler's play-doh adventures. He prefers to play on the wooden floor...
"Colorful" milk rewards kids for pre-mealtime cleanup28 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...
Amazon Friday sale 4/25/08: Fitness ball, swim diapers, Victorinox25 Apr 08 | Comments: 0
Parenthacker-friendly picks in today's packed Amazon Friday sale : More Huggies Little Swimmers disposable swim diapers (size Small, 16-24 lbs, two 12-count packages) for $14.99 (25% off). Lots of Parenthackers have talked about how versatile a fitness ball can be...
Pry Legos apart with a manicure tool23 Apr 08 | Comments: 5
From Amy: My son Henry is 4.5 and is in love with LEGOs. He is a little too old for Duplo, but a little too young for regular sized LEGO, mostly because he can't figure out how the heck to...
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...
Quiet loud toys with caulk21 Apr 08 | Comments: 18
Dawn's a smart mom: I don't know about you, but I've found that most children's toys that 'talk' are way too loud - - too loud for me, and I'm sure for the tiny little ears that are even closer...
Recycle Tyvek envelopes into sails for homemade boats19 Apr 08 | Comments: 3
Beth's got a tip for floaty-boat building: It's spring here in New England and my 2.5yo is into making boats for all the muddy puddles. Usually our spur-of-the-moment boats are made out of something like packing peanuts or foam packing...
Old page-a-day calendars make great doodling paper18 Apr 08 | Comments: 4
Dana's found a great way to squeeze some utility out of page-a-day calendars: My toddler loves to color using any surface that she can find. I always need paper to hand to her while I'm trying to cook or clean...
Savvy Source: A great place to start your preschool research17 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...
A keepsake journal "triples" as travel entertainment, art preservation, and a grandparent gift15 Apr 08 | Comments: 9
Jennifer's smart, simple idea for capturing some of her daughter's spontaneous art: My four year-old loves to draw and color. I found one way to preserve her art -- by giving her a journal book full of blank pages. We...
Teach your phone number by setting it to song13 Apr 08 | Comments: 22
Mark's wife applied "jingle" logic when teaching the kids their phone number -- it's easier to remember when set to a catchy tune: My wife came up with a clever song to teacher two of our little ones our phone...
Protect your coffee table-turned-play surface with a crib sheet11 Apr 08 | Comments: 4
Candie's great tip for coffee table play: I have found that the kids' favorite place to play is the family room coffee table. Usually I don’t like to allow this but I have found it is just the right height...
Turn temperature-taking with an ear thermometer into a game of telephone11 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...
Family Fluxx: The best Friday game night we've had in a long time05 Apr 08 | Comments: 21
We're a family of board- and card-game players, and Friday evening usually finds us huddled on the floor playing something-or-other. Our kids are 8.5 and 4.5 (one reads, one doesn't) so it's not always easy to find games that are...
Major league baseball game too long for the kids? Try half of a minor league double-header05 Apr 08 | Comments: 3
John's hack heralds the return of Spring... A great hack for taking your kids to a minor league baseball game is to look for doubleheaders. Given the tight schedule, minor league clubs often double up on games when one is...
Baseball cap + a clip-on light = a better bedtime reading lamp03 Apr 08 | Comments: 3
Brian's a smart guy and a good storyteller: Thing 1 wants the bedtime story. Thing 2 is kept awake by the light spilling into his room from Thing 1's light. Can't turn off the light in Thing 1's room, though....
Prima Princessa Presents Swan Lake: DVD for ballet-loving preschoolers02 Apr 08 | Comments: 93
The possession of double X chromosomes often correlates with two other genetic conditions: Princess Mania and Ballet Obsession. Such has always been the case with my daughter, despite my lack of girliness. She saw her first real live ballerina at...
Cylindrical concrete form tubes double as tall toy storage01 Apr 08 | Comments: 8
There is much inspiration to be found at the home improvement warehouse. Check out Jenn's elegant toy storage solution: With three small children, I frequently find myself tripping over toys that the kids don't have a place for. We have...
For the kid who can't keep his hands off the card-swipe machine at the grocery store: a calculator31 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...
Egg shakers: a non-candy Easter basket alternative21 Mar 08 | Comments: 11
We discovered egg shakers in a Music Together class. Smooth, round plastic or wooden egg-shaped maracas -- these simple musical instruments are a sensory treat. So pleasant to hold and roll, fun to shake (the sound is loud enough to...
Dye raw eggs for Easter21 Mar 08 | Comments: 1
Here's how Daphne avoids the inevitable hard-boiled egg inundation that comes with Easter egg decoration: Every year for Easter, my five-year-old boys are wildly excited about decorating eggs. There is a week of anticipation, thirty minutes of setup, and five...
New online educational game/learning service from PBS18 Mar 08 | Comments: 2
There's plenty of good (and free) play to be had on the Web, with the first stop for preschoolers often being the companion site for a favorite television network (PBS Kids, NickJr., or Playhouse Disney). PBS has just upped the...
Games you can play with a flat sheet18 Mar 08 | Comments: 7
Sometimes, disorganization paves the way for a new activity we never would have discovered otherwise. (Ha! An argument for chaos! The justification continues.) We were playing in the basement last night amid folded piles of clean laundry. My 4.5 year-old...
Free address labels are fun play stickers, too17 Mar 08 | Comments: 2
Why is it that anything self-adhesive is fun to play with? Lisa's found a good way to put junk mail to work: My two daughters (2 & 4) love stickers. They go through them faster than the grandparents can buy...
Wrap hard toys in a blanket if they must accompany your kid to bed12 Mar 08 | Comments: 4
Sandra's hack reminded me of my own kids' quirky hoarding habits when they were toddlers: My daughter Mia is 2yrs and insists on bringing toys to bed with her at night. She recently upgraded to a toddler bed and has...
Give your toddler his own "credit cards"11 Mar 08 | Comments: 17
Marie protected her credit cards by finding her son some of his own: Around when he turned one-year-old, our son started to love to play with our wallets, especially the credit/bank cards and licenses. We didn't want to risk it...
Simple toddler game teaches letters, numbers, turn-taking, fine motor skills and ... it's fun10 Mar 08 | Comments: 7
Maya's come up with a lovely, simple game with her daughter: I’ve been playing this game with my daughter for a while – she’s 27 months old now. You could play this a variety of ways and it teaches many...
Free bath toys await in your toybox, kitchen, and garage09 Mar 08 | Comments: 14
The ever-resourceful Heather has a great bath toy hack: New bath toys make bath time more fun for everyone, but how do you get them without spending a dime? Look around your house and you'll be surprised by all the...
Bubble play motivates kids to clean up06 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...
Wristbands keep sleeves out of the way for craft time04 Mar 08 | Comments: 2
Tracy has a clever method for keeping sleeves clean: We use old wristbands (although I'm sure some of your readers could get creative with other items) to hold sleeves up during craft time at home. This could be used during...
Fitted sheets make the best forts03 Mar 08 | Comments: 12
Alexandra's husband stumbled onto a good fort-building trick: My husband discovered a great hack when he grabbed a sheet to use for building forts for our two small children. The first sheet he grabbed was a king-sized fitted sheet, so...
CD rack as board book shelf28 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
M's storage solution: A CD shelving unit is the perfect depth for board books. In a regular bookshelf, board books can get pushed back too far, are hard to see when mixed with regular books, are often too small for...
Lower the highchair so your toddler can play the electronic keyboard27 Feb 08 | Comments: 3
Raven's going to have a two year-old maestro in the family: My 16 month-old loves to play around on our electronic keyboard . With all of the different instrument and style options available, who doesn't? Up until now, I've always...
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 Collection26 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...
Ice cube tray as kids' paint palette20 Feb 08 | Comments: 6
Red Lotus Mama's smart art hack: My daughter got an art easel for Christmas, so I bought her some Crayola washable paint to go along with it. She is only 2.5 years old, so holding a palette isn't about to...
Do you improvise upon lullabies? Talk amongst yourselves.19 Feb 08 | Comments: 45
Tim's "hack" is really more of a sweet example of how our kids can inspire us: Part of my toddler's bedtime routine is a song. Somewhere along the line, I forgot the actual lyrics to "Hush, Little Baby". This led...
Turn a laundry detergent bottle into a toddler toolbox17 Feb 08 | Comments: 7
Looking for a long weekend craft project? How about Steve's brilliant laundry detergent bottle toolbox? A couple of nights ago I was watching my son, Evan, playing with an empty detergent container. I was impressed with how easy it was...
For a toddler, catching a ball is easier with a hat17 Feb 08 | Comments: 4
Kelly sent this hack in while watching her father play catch with her daughter: It can be frustrating to play catch with the little ones. They really want to but it's hard for them to catch a ball. Next time...
Clear Valentine clutter by making a collage15 Feb 08 | Comments: 3
Jill from Atlanta is really on the ball if this project is already done by February 15! It wasn't until my house became littered with little Valentines that I remembered this trick. I had my kids gather up all the...
Valentine hack: Heart-shaped pasta bracelets12 Feb 08 | Comments: 3
Marita came up with a fun and simple project any toddler would love: My girls and I are making bracelets using some heart-shaped pasta we found at ALDI. Was $2 for a big bag of heart shaped pasta and I've...
Valentine hack: Cut out magazine "lipstick lips" to make a kissy collage09 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
Jennifer's hack makes the sociologist and media critic in me jump for joy: I like to gather all those beauty mags (that now gather dust since having kids) and cut out all those fabulous shiny lips on all the make-up...
Valentine hack: Homemade chocolate roses are easier than you might think08 Feb 08 | Comments: 6
What a lovely idea -- great for older kids who get a kick out of using the stove. From Leah: My students do a fundraiser every year for Valentine's Day by making candy roses and selling them. It's actually a...
Valentine hack: Fingerprint heart prints07 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
Carrie's girls took "handmade" to a new level: We usually do something easy - since we also find the day creeps up on us. Last year we made cards using two fingerprints to look like a heart. We also sent...
Valentine hack: Collective valentine-making, and a great photo card idea06 Feb 08 | Comments: 1
Adrienne of Baby Toolkit fame shares two great Valentine hacks: 1) My playgroup mommas are having a toddler-free pitch-in decorating party where we'll make Valentine's cards and decorate sweet treats for our families. [Always more fun with company, and with...
Valentine hack: Torn paper valentines05 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
Another simple card-making activity for toddlers on up. From Rose: Yesterday my daughter and I made Valentine's Day cards. We folded a piece of red construction paper into quarters and then cut it in half to make two cards. To...
Valentine hack: Heart-shaped cookie cutters are useful for more than cookies05 Feb 08 | Comments: 1
Zed's shares the versatility of the humble cookie cutter: Nothing is a better investment for Valentine's Day than heart-shaped cookie cutters in various sizes. Aside from the many craft possibilities, they instantly make boring food seem like Fancy Valentine's Food,...
Valentine hack: Turn fabric scraps into window decorations04 Feb 08 | Comments: 6
By now, we expect brilliance from Rookie Mom Whitney, and she doesn't disappoint: My husband says they are hideous, but we already have window decorations up for Valentine's day, and my three- year old BOY says, "I love them. They...
Valentine hack: Free-form painted hearts02 Feb 08 | Comments: 3
Kittenpie demonstrates that a) toddlers aren't too young to make Valentines, and b) "handmade" doesn't have to equal "fussy." Last year, I cut up large-ish squares of thick paper, put them two at a time on the easel, and gave...
Valentine hack: Add a little "homemade" to boxed character Valentines01 Feb 08 | Comments: 3
Jill's subverting the dominant Valentine Character Paradigm! (Any mom that hacks @#$% SpongeBob is tops in my book.) I'm one of those moms that doesn't allow characters to seep into my house very often. But since the kids' friends really...
Put a rubber band around push toy wheels to slow them down01 Feb 08 | Comments: 5
Regina's got a smart hack for early walkers: When kids are first learning to walk, their push toys generally go too fast. To slow my daughter down I put rubber bands around the front two wheels and now she is...
Fashion a fake dolly poo to encourage toddler's potty use31 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...
Tips for RV travel with kids? Talk amongst yourselves.30 Jan 08 | Comments: 8
Tiffany asks: We plan to rent an RV to travel with our 4 yr old and 7 yr old during Spring Break this year. Beyond your typical travel tips (we've traveled quite a bit in their little lives), I would...
Bring toddlers' toy shopping carts on actual shopping excursions30 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...
Crib toy bag works well on the highchair, too29 Jan 08 | Comments: 4
Emily's got a great idea for keeping the baby toys from getting underfoot in the kitchen: Sometimes while doing the dishes, I try to keep my daughter occupied in her high chair with various toys and books. I found myself...
Teaching kids to declutter their own toys22 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...
Stash travel distractions into the car's seat-back pockets19 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...
Discount calendars make good art supplies15 Jan 08 | Comments: 0
Joe and Cathy say: grab up those clearance-priced calendars! My wife discovered a great parenting hack: By this time of January, novelty desk calendars are deeply discounted - like, $2 each. Some of these are a great source of inexpensive...
Toy combination: Mr. Potato Head + Play-Doh14 Jan 08 | Comments: 3
Squishy Mr. Potato Head! Both he and playdough are more fun together. From veteran Parenthacker Jill (from Atlanta): My son and I had a rainy, indoor day yesterday (yeah! rain in Atlanta!) and I pulled out the often-neglected playdoh. We...
Clementine crates as toy storage13 Jan 08 | Comments: 6
Reuse those clementine crates! From Mason: In the winter, my family of three goes through a crate of clementines about every two weeks. Instead of just throwing away the little crates, I have started using them for storing my two-year...
Store toys in the TV cabinet to protect the DVDs10 Jan 08 | Comments: 14
New year, new hopes for organization! Here's Marita's idea for keeping the TV room a little neater: Our television is in a big cabinet which also has storage on the side and below for DVDs. My girls (2yo and 4yo)...
Indoor snow play03 Jan 08 | Comments: 4
It rarely snows in Portland, so it's always a delightful event. Not neccesarily so in a reliably snowy winter climate. Here's Melissa's hack for when she doesn't feel like going through the whole dressing/undressing drama: It's been snowy here in...
Color code gift tags to streamline distribution from under the tree24 Dec 07 | Comments: 5
Mel's gift tag hack (for those of you madly wrapping gifts tonight): I had the kids make tags for Christmas gifts out of plain cardstock. We store all the gifts under the tree until they're ready to leave the house...
Holiday craft: Bread dough ornaments23 Dec 07 | Comments: 2
There's still a bit of time for holiday crafts now that vacation is underway! Margaret shared her recipe for homemade dough ornaments: The holidays bring out the crafty in me! Here's a recipe for bread dough ornaments. I still have...
Creepy, irritating children's books21 Dec 07 | Comments: 47
It's amazing how well-aligned our opinions are about creepy or just plain irritating children's books. And here I thought Hayley and I were the only ones who had a problem with Big Nutbrown Hare! Based on your comments, Parenthackers' least...
The original recipe from the movie Ratatouille (from an insider)21 Dec 07 | Comments: 2
This may be the only gourmet recipe I ever publish on Parent Hacks, but who could resist? A wonderful followup to Rosemary's hack from Candy: My husband works for Pixar. This is the recipe we received when we asked how...
Gift idea for Dad: Sharpie-embellished wallet20 Dec 07 | Comments: 5
Brian's daughter used Sharpies to craft a unique gift for Dad: My "parent hack" turns out to be the brainchild of my, well, child. I recently bought a new wallet. It's a simple tri-fold style, made of cotton-poly blend (as...
Endless love: "I Love You More" picture book20 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: Ratatouille19 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...
Alternative trading card games: Xeko and Bella Sara19 Dec 07 | Comments: 57
It's easy to forget that trading card games are actually games, not just collections of tradable pieces of paper. And while Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic the Gathering and the rest dominate the field, two trading card games attempt to go in...
Tie-dye tissue wrapping paper18 Dec 07 | Comments: 9
As promised, Melissa's instructions for creating gorgeous tie-dye wrapping paper out of plain white tissue. This looks easy enough for young toddlers, and the results are stunning. Thank you, Melissa!
Aquadoodle water pen doubles as envelope sealer17 Dec 07 | Comments: 5
A tongue-saving hack from Kate, one of the co-founders of aftertheyhatch.com: We didn't want to lick 100 holiday card envelopes, so we used my son's Aquadoodle pen. [It's basically a felt-tipped pen filled with water. -- Ed.] It worked like...
My Mommy's Tote winner!14 Dec 07 | Comments: 1
Sounds like we all have treats in our bags of tricks! Thank you to all who shared their favorite purse-based kid distractors. In addition to the very popular keys and cell phone here are some more ideas: Food, including Dum...
My Mommy's Tote: Way more than a pop-up board book13 Dec 07 | Comments: 247
I generally forego reviewing baby and kid products that have little more going for them than cute. Given that we're all about the time-saving, problem-solving hack and not the awwww factor most products I get pitched don't make it past...
Fitness First exercise ball winner!12 Dec 07 | Comments: 1
What fantastic ideas you shared for staying active indoors when the weather outside is frightful. Highlights: Dance parties Hullabaloo (we like playing this, too) Tag Pillow fights Obstacle courses and mazes Let your kids follow along with your exercise routine...
Super Woobee winner!12 Dec 07 | Comments: 1
Congratulations, Jessie! You win the Super Woobee! I guess the rest of us are going to have to return a few gifts so we can buy our own. Because who can resist a product that can do all these things?...
Professor Pocket: Discount and free shipping for Parenthackers11 Dec 07 | Comments: 0
I just got a note from Nathalie Simmons Jorge, Co-founder of Professor Pocket. Apparently, hedra's review caused such a sensation that the CD sold out at Amazon! So (Nathalie says): I'd like to extend a $2 off/CD and free shipping...
Kids' exercise ball good for fun and fitness11 Dec 07 | Comments: 97
Of all the toys we've tested this year, the one that gets the most consistent and varied play is a kid-sized exercise ball from First Fitness. Not only is it good fun to roll around the basement, it encourages both...
Craft paper makes cheap, recyclable wrapping paper11 Dec 07 | Comments: 21
I've finally accepted that I just can't deal with wrapping paper. As much as I love beautifully-wrapped gifts, I can't abide buying paper that's meant simply to be ripped up and thrown away. I've used newspaper in the past, but...
How to encourage family conversation around the table06 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...
Softies: A craft book for the (relatively) non-crafty05 Dec 07 | Comments: 117
Ok, so this book called to me from the front table at Powell's City of Books. I happen to have a little thing for items made of felt. I don't sew, I don't craft (really), but something about the bold...
Toddler Spanish practice with Professor Pocket04 Dec 07 | Comments: 55
hedra here, helping out with a review. [Hooray! The more hedra in the world the better. -- Ed.] Because I tend to write huge long content, I'm putting the 'bottom line' stuff up front - you can read on for...
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...
Plastic soap holder as crayon container30 Nov 07 | Comments: 5
Tracy's smart hack works at home or on the road: We use a plastic bar soap holder (the kind that has a top and a bottom that you could use for travel or in your shower). Take crayons out of...
Featured find: Flip Video Camcorder29 Nov 07 | Comments: 7
I love watching videos of my kids, but I hate dragging out the video camera. I find that inserting a camera between myself and the experience often turns me off to taking videos in the first place -- which is...
Simple, beautiful Hanukkah crafts29 Nov 07 | Comments: 2
Hanukkah's next week! But you've still got time for some lovely crafts (if crafts are your thing). Check out Amber's Hanukkah crafts at the always-fabulous Kids Craft Weekly. Toblerone chocolate box as a template for a Star of David stamp?...
Free art supplies: Paint color chips from the home improvement store28 Nov 07 | Comments: 16
[Note: When I first posted this hack, I mistakenly thought Andi was talking about actual paint samples, but several readers pointed out she was referring to paint chips, the colorful cards that display different paint colors. Sorry about the mixup....
Travel tip: Clean the DVDs!27 Nov 07 | Comments: 5
Ginger reminds us: If you're traveling with a toddler and a portable DVD player, remember to clean the DVD's before you get on the plane! Believe me, that will be 2 minutes well spent. Didn't I hear somewhere (here?) that...
Uses for old mustard and ketchup bottles24 Nov 07 | Comments: 2
Ashley rescued the mustard and ketchup bottles from the recycling bin: If you wash them really well, empty mustard and ketchup bottles make great bathtub squirt toys. If you use powdered tempera paint, they also make great dispensers! Related: Don't...
Cheap indoor entertainment on dark rainy evenings? Talk amongst yourselves.19 Nov 07 | Comments: 29
Stephanie asks: I have a friend at work who has an 12-year old step-son and a 2-year old son at home. Now that it's dark after work, she can't take the boys to the park to play. The family lives...
MotherTalk review: The Daring Book for Girls16 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...
Use movie soundtracks to steer kids away from the tube14 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...
Use a hula hoop to simplify ball-catching games with young kids14 Nov 07 | Comments: 3
Kirsten's ball-playing hack would work well indoors, too. (I'm thinking rainy day basement play.) You know when you're playing catch, soccer, baseball or such games with preschoolers or toddlers? They always move really close to you in between turns, and...
Parent Hacks Store Featured Find: Yellow pages-shaped booster seat! Hilarious!13 Nov 07 | Comments: 5
Rael and I found ourselves with three kid-free hours at Powell's City of Books over the weekend. Pure heaven. Besides all the lovely reading I got done, I stumbled onto this clever phonebook-shaped booster seat in the kid section. It's...
DadLabs: Nothing this funny has ever been so useful12 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...
Paint swimsuits on naked dress-up dolls12 Nov 07 | Comments: 7
Making old toys feel new again -- always a great hack. From Sarah: Some plastic dress-up dolls I bought for my daughter only came with one outfit, and there are no others available through the manufacturer. I get tired of...
Plastic bag "balloons" keep kids distracted while grocery shopping11 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...
Playing the cloud game with props05 Nov 07 | Comments: 1
Cloud-watching season may be over where you live, but we're having an unusual spate of sunny weather here in Portland. Duane recently shared this cloud-watching experience with his daughter: Everybody knows the cloud game, where you try to spot animals...
Sure to be a bone-ified bestseller03 Nov 07 | Comments: 1
You know a book's reached phenomenon status when a well-produced parody hits the shelves in six months. From the book description: The Dangerous Book for Dogs asks a simple question: isn't there more to being a dog than wearing a...
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...
Expand the dress-up wardrobe with discounted Halloween costumes01 Nov 07 | Comments: 0
Rather than raid the dress-up bin for Halloween, Wendy raids the after-Halloween sales for the dress-up bin! Great setup for future costume swaps, too. My 3 year-old daughter loves playing dress-up, but we only have a couple of items. I've...
Glow stick fun (potential Halloween hack?)28 Oct 07 | Comments: 12
Rachel didn't specifically connect this hack to Halloween, but I am...could be a fun giveaway! To all you parents who haven't tried these yet (or lately). Glow sticks are fun!! I know it seems like a big "duh," but every...
Take a vacation toy inventory27 Oct 07 | Comments: 5
Smart travel planning, from Duane: Going on vacation? If the kids are planning to bring more than 1-2 toys, then set up a space for them to "pack" their toys just like you pack your clothes and supplies (even if...
Household chores meet online gaming: Chore Wars26 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...
Halloween hack: Tootsie Pop ghosts as decoration and hand-outs26 Oct 07 | Comments: 2
Amie's hack makes me want to run out and buy Tootsie Pops! I love that these simple little decorations can double as the Halloween handout. I just bought my annual ginormous bag of Tootsie Pops and realized other parenthackers might...
Halloween hack: Get creative with the notion of door-to-door trick-or-treating26 Oct 07 | Comments: 4
Lyric shares the Halloween-cum-block party that happens in her neighborhood: I'm in love with Halloween in my neighborhood! (This coming from a parent who dreads anything that takes advanced prep.) We've made it into an event the kids love and...
Halloween hack: Prolong the life of cut pumpkins with petroleum jelly25 Oct 07 | Comments: 8
Kieransma passes along another jack-o'-lantern tip: I haven't tried this (yet) but recently read that a jack-o-lantern will last much longer if you coat the cut edges with petroleum jelly. Oh, and thanks to the costume swap hack, my almost...
Halloween hack (redux): Save leftover candy for holiday gingerbread houses21 Oct 07 | Comments: 4
Maribel reminded me of a past hack we used with great success a couple years ago: use leftover Halloween candy for holiday gingerbread houses. Tags: Halloween
Halloween hack: Never again forget how much halloween candy to buy20 Oct 07 | Comments: 9
Kristin (mom of 2 sets of twins ages 6 and 3) answers the burning question: how much candy should I buy? I can never remember how busy our neighborhood is and how many trick or treaters we get so every...
Cool Mom Picks: Safer Toy Guide19 Oct 07 | Comments: 5
Holiday toy shopping may be a little trickier this year, what with all the recalls. If you're not sure where to begin, start with the Cool Mom Picks Safer Toy Guide. Believe me, these fabulous women know their stuff. From...
Non-TV ideas for organizing children during social gatherings? Talk amongst yourselves.19 Oct 07 | Comments: 20
As the holidays approach, so do the potlucks and dinner parties and get-togethers that mark the season. My good friends, Mary Wells and Bryce, wonder how folks occupy the kids once the adults are ready to settle into a little...
Halloween hack: Let your toddler glue a face on the pumpkin19 Oct 07 | Comments: 8
Rebecca's got another jack-o'-lantern idea for the not-old-enough-to-carve set: For my daughter who is almost two, we’re not carving pumpkins this year. I’m going to cut pieces of black construction paper out in various eye, nose and mouth shapes and...
Chew on This: Teething Bling18 Oct 07 | Comments: 5
When my son was an infant, I often found myself wearing a big multicolored teething toy on my wrist like a giant clown bangle. It was practical, but it definitely lacked style- especially on the days I forgot to take...
Halloween hack: Make a paper jack-o'-lantern18 Oct 07 | Comments: 3
I'm pretty attached to traditional pumpkin jack-'o'-lanterns, but they are admittedly difficult-to-impossible for young kids to carve themselves. Kate makes luminarias instead: I hate the whole "rotting pumpkin" thing that happens after the holiday -- so I make mine out...
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...
Halloween hack: Cut the jack-o'-lantern hole in the bottom of the pumpkin17 Oct 07 | Comments: 15
Give Rob a pat on the back for this brilliant pumpkin-carving hack! So smart. We learned a couple of years ago what we think is the best idea for carving a pumpkin: cut the hole from the bottom not the...
Send in your Halloween hacks!16 Oct 07 | Comments: 2
T-minus 15 days and counting! Halloween's on its way. You've got the costumes made, the candy purchased, the decorations up... PSHAW! But of course you don't! Halloween is the ideal occasion for Parenthackers. Improvise costumes! Buy candy at the last...
Keeping Lego sets organized: Ziplocs and cookie sheets12 Oct 07 | Comments: 26
It was my son's birthday last week, and he got two wonderful Lego building sets. Of course, his first inclination was to rip open the boxes, dump the contents on the floor and start building -- which was fine, except...
"I Spy" keeps kids awake in the car08 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...
More good toy deals to be had at Amazon right now03 Oct 07 | Comments: 1
Amazon's got some good deals on toys right now, so if you're the stockpile-the-holiday-gifts type, it's worth a visit. A few of my favorites, all on sale for over 50% off: Brilliant Basics Ready Steady Rider: That thing isn't tipping...
Use old mattresses as jumping pads03 Oct 07 | Comments: 24
Debbie's response to a recent IKEA mention: My three-year-old son wet his inexpensive toddler mattress (SULTAN BLUNDA) all the way through (yeah, he's got talent--as does my husband for forgetting to put a pad on it that day). We replaced...
iPod photos distract wiggly toddlers29 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....
FM Fall Shopping Guide: Little Hands Help Around the House28 Sep 07 | Comments: 0
My next post is up at the FM Fall Shopping Guide: Little Hands Help Around the House. Inspired by a recent thumb-through a Montessori catalog, the post follows a theme we've discussed at length: giving kids the tools and opportunity...
Kettler Supertrike on super sale28 Sep 07 | Comments: 1
Awesome Kettler Kiddi-o tricycle on sale at Amazon...for who knows how long? Via WantNot.
Use baby wipes to clean DVDs27 Sep 07 | Comments: 2
Violet's tip may salvage your too-well-loved copy of Finding Nemo: If you have a DVD that is smudgy or lightly scratched, use a baby wipe to clean it. It'll play again. Related: Uses for baby wipes
Bungee cord "leash" helps pull novice bike riders over bumps26 Sep 07 | Comments: 9
I'm lucky to live in a neighborhood where there's a mix of single folks, families with kids ages 0-17, empty nesters, and retirees. As such, I get a parenting education each time I walk out the door. Someone's always around...
IKEA: Real furniture kids can build24 Sep 07 | Comments: 4
From the Obvious department: IKEA recently came to Portland. Cause for city-wide celebration! Free child care! Swedish meatballs for less than a buck! And (oh yeah) cool, cheap furniture! But there's more. My almost eight year-old son is always looking...
Upside-down kiddie pool as makeshift trampoline19 Sep 07 | Comments: 20
Leta's still getting some use out of the blow-up pool: Our rectangular blow-up kiddy pool was upside down in the yard after being cleaned out. My 3 year-old discovered that it was as much fun to jump on it like...
Cheapass Games: For the true cheapass, they're free19 Sep 07 | Comments: 6
Another Rael find! Cheapass Games -- imaginative, simply-produced board, dice, and card games (and even a few computer games). From the site: Cheapass Games come with the bare essentials: boards, cards, and rulebooks. If you need anything else, we'll tell...
LibraryLookup makes searching your local library easier than ever18 Sep 07 | Comments: 4
My bookshelves and wallet have begun to groan under the weight of our book buying habit, so I'm making a point of using the library. I'm fortunate that my county's library has a wonderful online lookup system, but my smart...
How to keep your kids happy while you watch football17 Sep 07 | Comments: 7
Bill figured out how to keep his daughter entertained (but engaged) while he watched the game: My son Griffin (2) is crazy about football - almost every shirt he owns has a football on it - but my daughter Erin...
Turn old baby bottles into mess-free paintbrush holders12 Sep 07 | Comments: 5
Carrie's sister is an extremely smart woman. (Thanks for thinking to send this hack in, Carrie.) Here's a hack my sister taught me. All of her kids are well past the nursing/bottle stage, and they all love to do various...
Real Simple Family: full of good hacks04 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...
DIY Learning Tower to encourage pint-sized kitchen help? Talk amongst yourselves.26 Aug 07 | Comments: 32
In the comments of the kid-friendly kitchens post, Marta asked: Anyone have a hack for improvising one of those Learning Tower things? They cost a lot. I agree -- a lovely product, but the price is prohibitive. When I was...
Put a bell on toddlers' belts to more easily locate them24 Aug 07 | Comments: 42
From Will, Hedra's husband! When your toddlers start to walk around, it can be tiring to track their presence at all times, especially in crowded areas, or in the outdoors. When we had this situation while on vacation in Vermont,...
Color code hot and cold water taps with nail polish21 Aug 07 | Comments: 14
Amazing how a little change can help kids get what they need on their own. Here's kittenpie's great idea: My girl understand that red=stop and green=go, so in the bathroom, I have painted (in nail polish for durability) a large...
Record your own storytelling CD16 Aug 07 | Comments: 10
Sarah's hack would work well for bedtime, sleepovers, travel, or road trips: For a cool bedtime (or anytime) CD, record yourself, grandparents, siblings, etc. reading your child's favoritie books. They can even tell stories they made up or (especially for...
Let baby "finger paint" with baby food in restaurants16 Aug 07 | Comments: 9
Christy's hack may give you a few precious moments of quiet at a restaurant: When my first child was about 8-10 months old and we wanted to go out to a restaurant for dinner she was always too finicky to...
Encouraging the next generation of hackers14 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...
Pipe cleaner party hats11 Aug 07 | Comments: 1
Jill's got a great idea for your next birthday party: I saw a fun idea I thought kids might enjoy for a birthday. The party "hats" consisted of five sparkly pipe cleaners per person. They could be made into any...
wallOVERs: Web-based kaleidescope fun for preschoolers09 Aug 07 | Comments: 4
Thanks a lot, Vincent. I just spent 20 minutes distracted by your hack. We recently spent an afternoon at a local children's museum. My three year old spent a good portion of that time enthralled by a Mac running an...
Danger Rangers DVDs teach kids about common safety pitfalls08 Aug 07 | Comments: 1
Through action adventure storylines and songs catchy enough to be labeled "brain worms," the Danger Rangers work toward their real mission to battle the 90% of childhood injuries which are preventable through education. Season 1 also covers a vast array...
"This Little Piggy," the extended version08 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...
Glow sticks as travel night lights07 Aug 07 | Comments: 11
Allyson's hack does double duty: after-dark fun, and an easier bedtime: I just discovered a wonderful hack while on vacation. We brought along glow sticks to play with on the beach after dark, but discovered they worked great as night...
Martha Stewart (and staff): Parenthackers?04 Aug 07 | Comments: 7
There's a fine line between the hacker-ish DIYers and the stylish crafters. Case in point: the Martha Stewart Omnimedia folks got in touch to tell me about Good Things For Kids, a new special issue of on newsstands now. It's...
Mattel/Fisher-Price toy recall02 Aug 07 | Comments: 4
Many of you emailed me with news of the massive Fisher-Price toy recall currently underway -- thank you. In general, I don't post recall notices here; the CPSC covers this territory well, even offering an RSS feed of recall notices...
Pipe your car's navigation system into your kid's portable DVD player02 Aug 07 | Comments: 3
Eirik's brilliant road trip entertainment hack for GPS/navigation system users: Our four year old son has been very interested in the navigation system I am running while we're out driving. He leans over to follow it closely and it's actually...
Develop a Shutterbug: Time with Kids with Cameras01 Aug 07 | Comments: 2
When I heard about the "A Little Perspective" kids' photo contest, it struck me as golden Parent Hacker opportunity for some late summer family fun. Get out the camera, but this time you may get to be the subject or...
Turn a large plastic storage container into a splashing pool31 Jul 07 | Comments: 12
Fun in the sun, with prolific blogger Sherry: Based on the hack for the water play set, I got inspired and went one step further. I live in an apartment building and though we have a courtyard, we don't have...
Easy cooking project: Homemade tortillas27 Jul 07 | Comments: 8
My kids both have an attraction to anything squishy. They love all of those stretchy, gel-like trinkets flooding the market, and all manner of playdough. When I can muster the patience, I pull out the flour, water, salt, baking soda,...
Head to mall and restaurant playspaces first thing in the morning26 Jul 07 | Comments: 9
We do what we must some days to keep the kids busy. Here's how Gretchen makes the most of free indoor playspaces at malls and fast food restaurants: I rely on indoor playspaces to run off my daughter's energy when...
Freeze old teethers for cool boo boo relief22 Jul 07 | Comments: 4
Good thing Sara didn't throw out all those old teethers: Remember those water filled plastic teething toys? My daughter is well passed teething, but I popped them into the freezer and now when she has a "hurt" I offer her...
You're reading this? I figured everyone's reading Harry Potter!21 Jul 07 | Comments: 19
It's the day half the world's been waiting for: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is out, and kids and adults everywhere are holed up in beds, on couches, and in sunny corners reveling in their last few hours at...
Fill baby's high chair tray with water for warm weather splashing21 Jul 07 | Comments: 3
Misty's found a way for her baby to enjoy some summertime water fun: We are trying to not use the air conditioning, so things are really starting to get warm. My daughter is too young to really go swimming or...
GeekDad: Watch live bugs under a blister microscope16 Jul 07 | Comments: 0
I've got a new post up at GeekDad about the fantastic blister microscope -- our new gadget for spying on live bugs.
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...
Fish tank net makes short work of cleaning debris out of wading pools12 Jul 07 | Comments: 8
Here's how Pam keeps the baby pool clean! I just purchased a fish net at my local dollar store - works great for cleaning out leaves and dead bugs from the babe's wading pool. Not as cheap as what you'd...
Mow "pathways" in the lawn12 Jul 07 | Comments: 10
Katherine's (neighbor's mother's) practical hack simplifies a relentless summertime garden chore: My neighbor told me that her mother used to keep the kids occupied while she was cutting the grass by first cutting some fun pathways and rooms in the...
Free entertainment: the pet store02 Jul 07 | Comments: 21
Sherry's easy toddler outing: Perhaps others might not think this idea rocks quite as much as I do, but I have 19 month-old twins and finding fun and reasonably-priced things to do with two curious toddlers is tough. Some places,...
Telephone books as scribble material02 Jul 07 | Comments: 9
Irene's found a great use for all those unused copies of the Yellow Pages: I'm always amazed at the number of phone books that get delivered to my door. I have a nice place in my kitchen to store them...
Stroller toys as "undropable" baby entertainment30 Jun 07 | Comments: 5
Eric found another way for his son to play with a magnetic stroller toy: My six-month-old son has a plush rattle that has a magnetic clasp wrapped in fabric that can easily attach to his car seat or stroller. The...
Cut broom handles down for toddlers30 Jun 07 | Comments: 5
From uber-Parenthackers Sara and Ben: I was looking for a child size broom for J, but not having a lot of luck finding one that was affordable. Ben went to the grocery store, bought a cheap wisk broom with a...
Where to stick the alphabet magnets with a stainless steel refrigerator?28 Jun 07 | Comments: 17
Whitney's tip: For those who have magnetic letters or other magnets, but have a stainless steel fridge to which no magnets stick, use the magnets on your washer/dryer, trash can, or oven, depending on if these things have exposed sides...
Uses for clothespins28 Jun 07 | Comments: 13
Paul says: Use spring clothespins to close up any bag you like (chips, cereal, etc.) Right! Why do we spend money on big plastic "chip clips" than never stay closed? We've used wooden clothespins for some cute craft projects. Amber...
Crayola Bath Tub Tints teach color theory27 Jun 07 | Comments: 6
Sara's back with bath hacks! Inspired by this really neat set of photos I ran across on flickr, I got my daughter some of the Crayola Bath Tub Tints -- just drop a pellet into your bath and you get...
Styrofoam castle hack in this month's Parents Magazine21 Jun 07 | Comments: 4
My styrofoam castle hack appears in a blurb in this month's Parents magazine! (That's a package insert, toothpicks, and some Post-It notes, by the way.)
Underwear packaging makes ideal flash card storage21 Jun 07 | Comments: 6
So many products come with promising outer packaging -- I'm thinking sheets and larger bed linens. Sharon came up with a good use for the thick plastic packaging in which underwear is sold: I love to find new uses for...
Play "Memory" with loose change while waiting in line20 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...
"Show" your child poetry with the Flower Child DVD16 Jun 07 | Comments: 1
Flower Child: Beautiful Poetry for Beautiful Children (by Wonderworld Film & Video) immediately piqued our interest. In college, Jim and I got involved in a number of poetry projects focusing on contemporary poetry and teaching great poetry to young children....
Baby jumper helps facilitate toddler foot soaks14 Jun 07 | Comments: 1
Should your toddler ever require a pedicure or a medicinal treatment (as Maia's son did), do this: My son had an injury to his toe when he was 18 months old, and we had to soak his foot in epsom...
Modified paper cups as paint holders13 Jun 07 | Comments: 8
Liz's tip: I’ve found a great hack to keep our painting projects easy to clean up and manageable. When we get out the liquid paints for my 2 year old, I pour each color into a Dixie cup. The cups...
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...
Hotel card keys as play credit cards10 Jun 07 | Comments: 23
Liz's funny money hack: My 2 year-old’s only concept of how things are paid for is those magical plastic cards mama keeps in her wallet. Needless to say, I don’t want her running off with my AmEx (not now, not...
How to tie knots in balloons without sacrificing your fingers09 Jun 07 | Comments: 3
Here's how Lisa kept her digits intact during a marathon balloon-knotting session: Our children’s elementary school puts on a BBQ Fun Day that uses 1,000 air balloons. I volunteered to blow up 200 balloons. I knew that my fingers would...
Interview with "Dangerous Boys" author Conn Iggulden06 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...
Store small bath toys in suction cup shower baskets04 Jun 07 | Comments: 7
Michelle's solution for bath toy storage: I don't know if I'm the only one, but I find those mesh bags for bath toy storage really annoying. Yes, they let the toys drip dry, but the toys get all caught up...
Tricks for taking a shower with your baby04 Jun 07 | Comments: 25
From Kendra: I used to have trouble getting a decent length shower. I had to get up EARLY before dad left for work or wait until my son was napping to do it. Now I get nice, long showers every...
Blog book tour: The Kids' Book Club Book30 May 07 | Comments: 52
Parent Hacks is part of the MotherTalk book tour for The Kids' Book Club Book (email mess be damned!). This book is a great resource for kids and parents alike, especially with long summer days ahead. Here's a complete how-to...
Pinpoint public playgrounds along your road trip route23 May 07 | Comments: 13
Mike found a great resource for road trip fun: Cool new website called Waymarking.com, which pinpoints the location of all sorts of attractions such as historical markers, covered bridges, etc. One of my favorite categories is public playgrounds. It doesn’t...
Preview family movies without sitting through (or paying for) them twice23 May 07 | Comments: 5
Just in time for the summer movie season, inconsequentia's hack for checking out movies before taking the kiddies: We've long been looking for a way to check out some aspects of certain films before deciding whether to take the children...
Meta-scrapbooking: Save pictures of your kids doing art projects23 May 07 | Comments: 3
Katharine's hack is space-saving and wise: My 7 month-old son is in daycare and they have been sending home a few little arts and crafts things as of late. I love to scrapbook and make commemorative things for my son...
Via Toy Box: Toy storage they won't outgrow22 May 07 | Comments: 3
Just yesterday, a company I'd never heard of, Via Toy Box, booked a small ad on Parent Hacks (see it right there in the right-hand sidebar?). I always visit potential advertisers before I accept their ads, and I was immediately...
GeekDad: Play instant messaging games with your kids21 May 07 | Comments: 0
I've been meaning to write up our little iChat game for a while! Here it is, as a guest post on GeekDad.
The "random play" button makes kiddie music more bearable20 May 07 | Comments: 5
Kathy's found the best use I can think of for the "Random Play" button on the CD player: have a fourteen month-old who loves music and has just begun to dance, and prefers a few of the children's nursery rhymes...
Movie adaptation of children's books? Talk amongst yourselves.19 May 07 | Comments: 11
Margaret says: Sarah and I watched this great adaptation of The Secret Garden (directed by Albert Grint with a Colin Firth cameo at the end!). I'm sure there's lots of other adaptations of children's books out there that are done...
Kids bored? Dump the toy box!18 May 07 | Comments: 7
Ah, the pleasure of forgotten toys. From Duane: Every once in a blue moon, just dump the toybox completely upside down, every single toy out on the floor. If your kids are anything like mine they'll have a blast rediscovering...
Need to lie down on the job? Play Tattoo Parlor!18 May 07 | Comments: 16
Merrill's a brave, creative mom who has hopefully hidden the Sharpies: I was a mom of a 4 year old and an infant. I was tired. My 4 year old had long since given up her nap and my baby...
Strawberry basket as bubble blower17 May 07 | Comments: 3
It's strawberry AND bubble season! From Serrina: New hack, courtesy of Pat in my office. Pat just gave me a bunch of old green strawberry baskets. Dip them into a plate of bubble solution and swing them in the air...
Newborn diapers: more economical than doll diapers17 May 07 | Comments: 3
For all the little parents-in-training, from Amanda: If your kid wants doll diapers (6 for $5 at Target), buy a 40-pack of newborn diapers for just a dollar more. They fit stuffed animals and baby dolls just fine (and are...
Send your used toys to children in Iraq17 May 07 | Comments: 6
Updated 8/07: The toy drive is back on! Two of Edmay's comrades have taken over her role, and are accepting toy donations. send your donations to: Michael Fellenz or Natalie Sudman USACE-GRS APO-AE 09331 7/30/07 update: Edmay's toy drive is...
Print your own "screen time" tickets14 May 07 | Comments: 3
Prompted by Mel's ticket-for-TV-time hack, John of Flagrant Disregard, fd's Flickr Toys, and LetterPop fame designed these lovely tickets. Even better, he's made them available for download and printing! Awesome.
Happy to Be Nappy DVD models tolerance and empathy10 May 07 | Comments: 5
From my good friend Jonathan: What a wonderful opportunity to entertain and educate your children all at the same time in this diverse and engaging HBO production. Happy to Be Nappy is a show that my family stumbled upon one...
Blog Book tour: The Dangerous Book for Boys07 May 07 | Comments: 28
I'm pleased to help kick off the MotherTalk blog book tour for The Dangerous Book For Boys. To say that this book is lovely, or interesting, or useful, really understates what's going on when you open the crimson canvas cover....
Tips for helping kids play Internet games05 May 07 | Comments: 4
Here's how Toni made it easier for her kids to play games on the Web: My children (ages 2 1/2 & 5) have started using the computer more since Grandma gave us an extra but sometimes they have a little...
Parenthacker toy recommendation: Parents Animal Hospital01 May 07 | Comments: 10
Misty's got a toy recommendation for key-obsessed toddlers and preschoolers: Animal Hospital (Parents magazine brand). Has it all. Keys that WORK for starters (six of 'em). Several critters to lock up and bail out. A good assortment of real-enough-for-kids instruments....
Mealtime hacks for new eaters29 Apr 07 | Comments: 7
Amberlynn shares her tips for mealtimes with babies who are just starting to eat solid food: My little boy still loves nursing, so eating is still an entertaining novelty to him. However, so far (six months of solid foods, and...
Rubber bands keep wooden puzzles in one piece29 Apr 07 | Comments: 3
From veteran Parenthacker Sara: We've reached the stage where toys start coming in many small pieces -- it's starting to drive me crazy! On fast fix to keep those wooden toddler puzzles together -- rubber bands. There's usually only a...
Quick cleanup tips for paint-loving kids26 Apr 07 | Comments: 4
There was a time when I firmly believed that craft paint of any sort had no place in my house. It's not that I'm a neat freak or anything, but the potential chaos was just too intimidating. I've gotten over...
Video drawers as art supply storage24 Apr 07 | Comments: 1
Another winning organizing hack from hedra: Those old video drawers you had before you started buying DVDs can be put to use as art supply drawers. They fit on deeper book shelves, they're just the right size for 8.5x11 paper,...
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...
Review: Charlie Davidson's Tricycle Club (CD)20 Apr 07 | Comments: 1
Parker Bent is a preschool music teacher in Beverly Hills, CA who recently released his second CD: Charlie Davidson's Tricycle Club. Lovely songs, perfectly geared for a pipsqueak-and-parent audience, but what I enjoyed most was Parker's obvious glee while recording...
'Toy library' promotes cleanup AND creativity20 Apr 07 | Comments: 8
Hedra's amazing system of toy organization is so...so...amazing, it's a wonder we don't all do this. To contend with the overflow of toys, without violating the principle of ownership (that is, the toys belong to them, not us), we instituted...
GeekDad: Build construction toys out of hardware parts19 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.
Turn office printouts into school scratch paper19 Apr 07 | Comments: 6
A recycling reminder from Karen: My work generates a lot of printouts that are only used for a day, are non-confidential, and are single-sided. When we're done with them, I take the paper to my son's day care and they...
Homemade finger puppet stand17 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
Amber of Kids Craft Weekly offers this tip for organizing finger puppets: Get yourself an old shoe box and some wooden laundry pegs and use them to get more play out of finger puppets. Slip the pegs onto the side...
Tie toys to the diaper bag for in-flight toddler entertainment16 Apr 07 | Comments: 3
Here's how Emmie kept her toddlers busy on the plane: When our twin boys were 18 months old, we took a 3 hour plane trip. Both boys are very attached to their bunny lovies, which they need in order to...
What to do with empty plastic Easter eggs08 Apr 07 | Comments: 22
Don't throw away those plastic Easter eggs! Save up a couple of egg cartons and store them for refilling next year. Or use them as part of your kid's play kitchen, grocery store or farm. I'm sure you've got more...
Tips for dyeing Easter eggs with toddlers07 Apr 07 | Comments: 12
We've come to rely on Sara for sharing her best hacks on just about anything -- today, it's dyeing Easter eggs: I just got finished dyeing Easter eggs with my almost-two-year-old, and we both had a blast! Here are some...
How to keep your kids entertained during airport delays30 Mar 07 | Comments: 3
Vacation season's here. Here's how Margaret dealt with a canceled flight: After a weather cancellation, a rebooking, a canceled rebooking, and eventually going standby, we made it home from a recent trip three days late. So, my daughter and I...
Kiddio audio "adventures" a good complement to audiobooks29 Mar 07 | Comments: 3
We're so busy playing music around here that I often forget just how much my kids love other types of audio entertainment. We've listened to several StoryNory stories and enjoyed them immensely, but I've never searched out any other options....
Up to 70% off selected toys at Amazon28 Mar 07 | Comments: 1
Amazon's having a spring toy sale -- if you've got birthday presents to buy, now may be a good time to do it. Up to 70% off selected toys . [Thanks for the pointer, David!]
Record your child's voice with your cell phone28 Mar 07 | Comments: 4
Andi found a reason to be happy about her toddler's obsession with her cell phone: We all know that our babies and toddlers love to play with our cell phones. They will often babble away on pretend phone conversations for...
Making up new rules for card- and board games26 Mar 07 | Comments: 14
Here's how Cathy (Mayberry Mom) and her daughter hacked Uno: My daughter (age 4) and I figured out a new way to use Uno cards. She loves Uno, but wanted to try something different, so we played War. We decided...
Pass secret messages on diapers26 Mar 07 | Comments: 13
Who says every hack must solve a problem? From Sara: The other day after "school" I was surprised at changing time with a message on J's diaper: "My Last Diaper!" -- a message from one of her teachers that we...
Save grungy socks for indoor playgrounds25 Mar 07 | Comments: 2
Suzanne's eminently practical use for old socks: Before you throw out your kids' old, dingy socks, let them use them one more time -- in those indoor, McDonald's-type playland places. I keep a bag of old socks in my trunk...
Vinyl placemat as sticker repository22 Mar 07 | Comments: 1
From my SXSW buddy Sara (such luck that she lives in Austin!): So my husband Ben and I are prolific ParentHackers, but it seems our daughter J. (almost 2) has also inherited the gene. Unprompted by either of us she...
GeekDad launches as part of Wired Blogs22 Mar 07 | Comments: 0
GeekDad -- Wired Editor in Chief Chris Anderson's group blog devoted to "nerdy stuff you can do with your kids" -- is the newest addition to Wired Blogs. A year ago today I posted about Chris's plans for GeekDad, so...
Aqua Doodle Mini Mats: Squirm-free entertainment on the go20 Mar 07 | Comments: 5
Tim, co-founder of the family travel site Parentography, passed along his favorite travel toy suggestion: Here's a hack that has been a big hit for us lately: Our daughter is nearing her second birthday and it is becoming more difficult...
Turn a styrofoam package insert into a make-believe castle17 Mar 07 | Comments: 0
A few toothpicks and Post-it notes turn the styrofoam insulation from a computer carton into a fanciful castle wall. Can't you imagine the archers stationed, ready to fire, and a fire-breathing dragon patrolling the moat?
Photocopy favorite book illustrations to create coloring pages16 Mar 07 | Comments: 5
Printable coloring book pages -- we've talked about them here before. They're popular because kids prefer coloring pictures of characters and scenes they already know and love. For better or worse, my kids love the Captain Underpants series by Dav...
Kid rock in Portland: The Grease Ball!15 Mar 07 | Comments: 2
If you're in Portland and you're free this Sunday, here's where I'll be: Greasy Kid Stuff, the hip, hit radio show for alternakids and their parents, presents the Grease Ball! Captain Bogg & Salty, The Jellydots, A mini-squadron from The...
Add glow sticks to bathwater for psychedelic water play14 Mar 07 | Comments: 10
Chris must have bathed my kids in a past life...they'd faint with happiness if I did this. Toss a couple of glow sticks in the tub, and turn off the lights. Voila, a mutlicolored glow in the dark bath!
Use fridge magnets to boost your kid's vocabulary13 Mar 07 | Comments: 4
Michelle at Scribbit uses fridge magnets for a higher purpose: When my oldest was five I used our refrigerator magnets to showcase a Word of the Week. With the definition nearby on an index card the idea was to reward...
Plush toys double as travel pillows09 Mar 07 | Comments: 2
Tricky road trip trick! (Tricky road trip trick, ticky road tip trick, tippy road trip tick...okay, so I have a weakness for tongue twisters. Try it on your kids five times fast.) From Kirsten: The best travel pillow ever. On...
For older kids struggling with catching a ball, try a Frisbee08 Mar 07 | Comments: 11
Phil of A Family Runs Through It stumbled upon a new way to help his son learn to catch: My 8-year-old son has always had trouble catching a ball. He knows how to throw, but the catching skills have eluded...
Apple Youth Workshops: Mac-centric multimedia education07 Mar 07 | Comments: 1
Apple's offering free hands-on "Youth Workshops" across the country in March and April. Kids get to play around with Garage Band, iMovie and iPhoto to create their own songs, movies, and photo projects. Isn't Apple sweet? Be sure to register...
Color 'n Kids: cards that turn writing thank you notes into a fun activity06 Mar 07 | Comments: 28
Portland mama Kate Rosenthal is the creator of Color 'n Kids notecards -- simple, bold designs that give kids a boost in the homemade card department. I love them because, for less than the price of a pre-fab piece of...
Massive collection of free software for kids05 Mar 07 | Comments: 12
KidsDomain has compiled an incredible list of PC and Mac freeware for kids of all ages, including the "keyboard bangers." [Via Lifehacker]
The two Dr. Seuss books that changed my life02 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...
Toyinstructions lets you throw away your toy manuals02 Mar 07 | Comments: 2
For those of you who agonize about saving the instructions from your kids' toys and games, or who've stumbled onto vintage toys at garage sales, the folks behind Z Recommends have create a new site: Toyinstructions. This is site is...
Art for the non-crafty01 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...
Birthday party keepsake: an autographed photo mat26 Feb 07 | Comments: 5
Liz, of Mom-101 and Cool Mom Picks fame, made this simple keepsake for her daughter's first birthday party: Buy a cheap photo mat, put photo of the birthday girl or boy inside, and leave a felt pen or marker for...
Ze Frank can babysit my kids any day16 Feb 07 | Comments: 3
I'm perhaps one of the last people to find out about Web star Ze Frank, host of the daily video blog the show. Lifehacker turned me onto his wonderful riff on procrastination. Funny, smart, and all that. I'm hooked. Of...
Kiddley shuts its doors15 Feb 07 | Comments: 1
One of my favorite sites, Kiddley, has gone on an indefinite hiatus. Claire and Phil, creators of Kiddley and Loobylu, point to the demands of balancing work, family, and blogging...and that family wins out. Sad as I am to see...
Playing in the snow...in the bathtub15 Feb 07 | Comments: 7
Snow play! Without all the bundling! From Colleen: There is something to be said for playing in the snow. From the mouth of my mom, “Kids need fresh air every day”. But thinking about dressing the kids to go play...
Make a last minute Valentine t-shirt13 Feb 07 | Comments: 2
Pam to the rescue! The activity center at www.hp.com has 2 free Valentine’s iron-ons available to print. Because we don’t need any chocolate, and because money for flowers is better spent on diapers these days, I printed one that my...
Favorite kids' cookbook? Talk amongst yourselves.13 Feb 07 | Comments: 44
My daughter is expressing a keen interest in cooking, and I'm finding myself rifling though my cookbooks looking for simple recipes she and I can follow together. I'm a big fan of Mollie Katzen's cookbooks for kids: Pretend Soup, Salad...
Turn valentines into placemats13 Feb 07 | Comments: 9
From Heather: As kids, my brother and I would take our stacks of valentines from our school parties and turn them into a holiday placemat by arranging them between two sheets of clear contact paper. We did the same thing...
Make a geometric sculpture out of marshmallows and toothpicks11 Feb 07 | Comments: 2
This was my son's first-grade activity last week -- to build something out of marshmallows and toothpicks, and then to see if it was strong enough to support the weight of a book. Simple, fun, educational...and tasty. By the way,...
Send a Tabblo valentine today!09 Feb 07 | Comments: 4
Awesome. With a few clicks, you can turn your digital photos into Tabblo valentines. For $1 each, Tabblo transforms them into paper cards which it prints and mails to the recipient of your choice. (They even arrive sealed with a...
How to color rice07 Feb 07 | Comments: 4
Chris (In the Trenches of Motherhood) explains how to color dry, white rice. Why? To transform it into playstuff for tactile indoor fun. Tags: Crafts, Parenting
How to give your kid a personalized (managed) email address06 Feb 07 | Comments: 4
John Watson (of Flagrant Disregard, LetterPop, and fd's Flickr Toys, among other things) wrote up a sweet little Gmail hack for setting up dummy email accounts for his kids (really just separate identities). He keeps track of the email, but...
No-sew tutu05 Feb 07 | Comments: 3
Perfectly pink and poofy, but you had me at "no sew." At the always-wonderful Kiddley. Tags: Dress-up, Parenting, Tutu
Educate your kids with Google Video05 Feb 07 | Comments: 11
Kim's husband introduced their toddler to the wonders of Google Video: I took a nap on Sunday - a VERY RARE happening, but my husband agreed since he was going to be going four-wheeling later in the afternoon. When I...
Gift registries simplify birthday present paralysis01 Feb 07 | Comments: 10
As my kids get older, the number of birthday party invitations seems to be increasing exponentially. I'll save my birthday party rant for later (hint: Birthdays Without Pressure), and for now, will simply complain about the discomfort of choosing presents...
Turn a laundry basket into a sled26 Jan 07 | Comments: 3
Michelle at Scribbit ("Motherhood in Alaska") knows her snow and transformed a laundry basket into a cozy pull sled for her two year old. Look at that happy baby! [Thanks for the pointer, Brian.] Other things laundry baskets are good...
How to make crayon scratch art25 Jan 07 | Comments: 3
Crayon scratch art! I used to love doing this myself as a kid -- scratching through the black layer of wax to reveal neon-like colors. Mehhhhhh-mreeeeees.... Skip To My Lou's scratch art how-to suggests using tempera paint as the top...
Free printable folded paper toys25 Jan 07 | Comments: 5
Print, fold and play! That's the idea behind the beautifully designed paper figures at Readymech. [Via Babygadget] Tags: Parenting, Printables, Readymech, Toys
Download old radio shows for your kids24 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...
Use Photoshop to clean up your baby23 Jan 07 | Comments: 8
Zac of Baby Roadies posted a couple impressive examples of how a little Photoshop retouching can greatly improve baby pictures. Ugly car seat warning labels? Errant spitup? Gone with a flick of the cursor. If only it worked in