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“Picky Eaters Hate This One Simple Trick”: 50 Parenting Hacks People Wish They Knew Sooner (New Pics)
Interview
Sometimes parents have to do whatever it takes just to survive. And those who turn on their creativity and out-of-the-box thinking succeed the most. Luckily for other fellow moms and dads, they enthusiastically share the hacks they come up with online so they too can overcome anything children throw their way.
To save your precious time, Bored Panda has rounded up the crème de la crème of parenting hacks in the list below. From keeping ice cream eating mess-free to reusing pizza boxes for canvas, scroll down to find genius childcare tricks that might come in clutch when nothing else seems to be working.
While you're at it, make sure to check out a conversation with parenting coach and founder of Be Kind Coaching, MegAnne Ford, and Logan Blackburn-Issitt, transgender dad of six, community advocate, and parenting blogger over on Dad Business, who kindly agreed to share their creative tips for parenting.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Found A Hack For Short Hikes. Mantracking
We live near a state park/forest and my wife and I like hikes. HOWEVER with a younger kids it can be a pain. It's either too slow for the adults to get decent exercise or take FOREVER because of groaning, wanting to pick up every rock, etc.
Today I had an idea.
My wife took a head start and set clues at intersections and landmarks to show the way she went. The kids and I looked for the clues to "track" and "catch Mommy." They took turns being the "clue finder."
My wife slowed to a stop near the end of the trail and waited to be "caught."
Result?
She got an actual home at her pace. The kids hiked farther and faster than normal. They got practice taking turns, being observant, and thinking critically.
Your mileage may vary, but I recommend giving it a try.
Deborah B 4 days ago
With siblings, it was always "race you to that tree!" "first person to the crossing gets to push the button!" My parents used to go jogging with us kids on bikes. When we were faster, it was "bike ahead to the end of the street and back." It was 7am, on empty roads, and worked great. They also ran separate routes, intersecting on this long stretch where they were coming from different ends, and we'd swap from one parent to the other, so they each got half their run alone.
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#2
Best Hack
Scott Rackley 5 days ago
You also have to have them take 5 minutes and tell you what the book was about.
#3
It Is All In Marketing
quentariel 4 days ago
Creative naming is everything. I read one where they called veggie sticks veggie fries and their kids no longer hated them. (Not frying them, just cut in french fry sized sticks).
Creativity is truly a great skill to have under the belt when parenting. It helps find solutions to various childcare challenges, which makes raising kids significantly easier.
“Creativity is a vital skill that new parents learn very quickly. We all do this to a different degree,” says transgender dad of six, Logan Blackburn-Issitt, who also runs the Dad Business parenting blog.
"Parenting is a creative venture by nature! Building a life involves a balance of values and aesthetics that require creative thinking always!" agrees parenting coach and founder of Be Kind Coaching, MegAnne Ford.
"I find that the happiest parents are some of the most creative and open in their approach. Too rigid in practice and they become authoritarian and strict in nature- no room for anything new. And too fluid in approach means lots of chaos and movement—that nothing sticks or dries—like a goopy mess of paint without a canvas to stick to. So striking a balance of appropriate structure and flow requires a parent to be creative in their approach," she explains.
#4
My Son Will Only Eat Paw Patrol String Cheese Because He Swears It Tastes Best. I Was Tired Of Paying Extra For It And Bought The Generic Brand
But he said it didn't taste the same and wouldn't eat it. So yesterday I put paw patrol stickers on it and he ate two in a row. "See, mommy?" he said. "I told you the paw patrol cheese tastes better."
Aidan Pite 5 days ago
I've seen this one before, but with produce. "Today their snack will be Cars apples with peanut butter. Tonight we'll be having pasta with Frozen tomato sauce and Bluey salad."
Blackburn-Issitt also notes that the real skill is matching the creativity to the child's personality. “Whether it's pulling faces to get your one-year-old to lie still for a nappy change or using a blender to hide the veggies. Sometimes it's a lack of animation, like reading the last bedtime story in a monotone to induce sleep, that works best.”
#5
Kids Want To Express Their Individuality. Dying Their Hair Is A Pretty Benign Way To Do That
Blaze Onyx 4 days ago
Yeah! When I did track in 8th grade, I always wore bright pink shoes so my mom could find me while we were out on the track. Bonus points because they looked REALLY good in pictures :)
#6
Went On Vacation, Wife Brought A Game-Changer: Snackleboxes
The concept seems so simple, and I'm sure has been done many times before, but for some reason it blew my mind. Get some sectioned containers, clean them thoroughly, gather together some of your and kids' favorite non-liquidy snacks, and you have the perfect travel-ready collection of treats for even the pickiest and most indecisive eaters.
The tricks that he uses the most with their kids are distraction and redirection. “Kids fighting over one colour pencil, you get really excited about something one of them has coloured. Kids getting frustrated about waiting at the doctor's, start having a sing song or play a game,” he says.
“The best piece of advice I have is to try and make it fun. Look for the fun, the opportunities to play and laugh. Forget about the funny looks other people will give you and let your inner child out to play. It's so easy to get bogged down in adulting: money, time management, work, etc., but kids aren't affected by these so give yourself permission to forget about them for a while as well, go and play,” he kindly shares.
#7
It’s A Good Trick
Steve Robert 2 days ago
And when you're out, you can scream 1,2,3. Mommy is glue so they stick by your side.
Meanwhile, Ford's go-twos are connection and understanding. "When a child is learning a new skill, building their ideas, or navigating through a hard moment, having their safe adult be right alongside them to help them make sense and navigate with them helps de-escalate any struggle," she says.
"Connection and understanding allow the child to be seen, heard, and understood in their truth and experience—and in turn teach them how to see that in others. There isn't much that can't be solved when the other person feels safe and connected."
#8
To Whoever Posted This Hack Before: You Are A God Among Men
Using a piece of plywood and some zip ties (and some duct tape for flare, obviously) solved what was until then a total nightmare trying to find a tension-mounted baby gate that worked on a rounded bannister post. Seriously, this was driving us insane, and whoever posted this before on Daddit has my undying gratitude. Now I just need someone to tell me what hardware store purchase can fix my kid getting sick at daycare all the time, and I will truly be made in the shade.
Joseph Miller 4 days ago
This might also save a rectangle bannister post. I've probably dented several items trying to get the tension tight enough.
Her advice for staying creative and having fun while raising kids is to not be afraid of the mess and get involved in the creative process. "I think that most adults stay out of the mess—emotional and creative—because they want to avoid it. They may even feel stressed and angry about the mess. So to protect themselves, they just avoid the creative options altogether. So I like to get really good at building the clean-up into the flow," she explains.
"For example, I was with two babies recently, one of them skipped their morning nap, so she was feeling a bit irritable so to do our art project together, which was painting a holiday wreath, I moved the project inside a plastic bag. It allowed me to be able to introduce the art project in a new and creative way while also giving ourselves space to not push the moment past our abilities or energy level. It wasn't what was planned, but it was in a way better!" she shared.
#9
I Have A Crawling Baby. This Is My Mom Hack To Help The Older Kids Remember To Replace The Outlet Covers
Staying creative not only helps to deal with parenting challenges easier but it also sets an example for children and fosters their creativity, which is crucial in today’s world driven by innovation and novel ideas. "Creativity has been demonstrated to impact career success, enhance educational accomplishments, and contribute to overall well-being,” said Crayola Executive Vice President Victoria Lozano.
#10
Easy Dad Points Tip I Picked Up This Weekend: Duct Tape And Sharpie = Road
#11
Parenting Hack
If your three-year-old is anything like mine, she absolutely loves listening to Disney soundtracks constantly and as we all know, it is easy to be driven insane by listening to the same song 3000 times in a row. I recently found a refurbished iPod nano that was fairly inexpensive and put all her favorite soundtracks on there. Now when she wants to listen to music, she just asks for her iPod, and listens on headphones. Since the nano is pretty much only a music player, there are no apps or videos, just music. No more asking for our phones or yelling at us to change the music we’re already listening to. Not sure, but iPod nano could be the move.
SirWriteALot 4 days ago
Our kids grew up with the nano. All kinds of songs and audio books on there.
#12
Beach Dadhack
Wanted a wagon for the beach but didn’t want to struggle with it in the sand. I found a wagon that fit inside a cheap sled I found on Amazon. Bungee the sled on top the wagon from the condo to the beach, then put the wagon on the sled when you get on the sand. Worked like a charm.
If I was really motivated, I would have found a way to just add wheels to the sled that could swing up out the way in the sand, but that may just have to be a project for the next beach trip.
Parents themselves agree that encouraging creativity in children is very important, with 9 in 10 saying it’s essential for their development and learning. 53% believe they need to be creative themselves so their children will be too.
Unfortunately, 33% of parents struggle to incorporate creative activities into their day due to lack of time, ideas, or resources. In fact, 29% find it difficult to come up with novel things to accomplish with their little ones.
#13
You Have To Do What You Have To Do
ElvenFairy 4 days ago
I used to cup my hands and start exaggeratedly saying wow. They stopped crying because they wanted to see what I had. I would then hold my hands out for them to look and when they leant in I'd shout it's the tickle monster and start tickling them. Worked every time.
#14
She Kept Pulling Things Out Of The Bottom Shelf Of The Diaper Cart. So I Replaced It All And Tricked Her Into Playing With Her Own Toys
Upstaged75 4 days ago
A basket full of random stuff they can take out of it makes an excellent baby toy.
#15
This One Is 100% Effective
Cosmos in your eyes 4 days ago
Accurate. Works on some grown-ups including myself! I'll set a timer for 5 min to see how much of the kitchen I can clean. So much!
However, fostering creativity isn’t as complicated as it might seem at first. Children naturally possess this skill, and all parents need to do is provide opportunities for their kids to use their imagination and let their creativity flow. It can be as simple as making the tools to create easily accessible.
#16
Small Kids And Ice Cream Cones?
PhaseWitFact 4 days ago
A typical toddler will remove the ice cream and turn the plate and cone in to a big mess.
#17
Always Carry A Pack Of Balloons With You
They’re small and don’t take up much space in your bag. Rather than letting a group of kids fight over toys, you can blow up ten or twenty balloons for $3 and turn anything into a party.
This is the family room at a religious gathering we went to last weekend. Instant friends. And they all get to keep one.
Settled for Infamy 4 days ago
Balloons terrify me as an adult with a child. Especially in the car, driving along, it's like a ticking time bomb for those of us with anxiety/PTSD 🤣😞🤣😞 p.s. I do allow my kid to still have them. I live with the fear.
#18
Parent Hack 101
"This can include setting up a dedicated space for drawing and crafts, keeping art supplies like crayons and paper readily available," says Amanda Gummer, PhD, a child psychologist, parenting and play expert. "Try and keep play materials accessible, so your kids can dive into creative play whenever they feel inspired."
#20
Taking Kids To (Non-Kid) Museum Parenting Hack
I took my 4 year old to a museum.It was mostly classical art, sculpture and paintings. For small kids it’s kind of difficult as they need to walk a lot and after 5 minutes they normally want to leave. But I really wanted to see some art and decided to give it a go.
At the entrance they gave us this floor plan and I gave it to my son, not knowing it would become a great game as he decided to try to find all the artworks in the map.
That’s it! Problem solved!
So next time I will find a way to do this myself and print out a sort of DIY museum bingo. It was really helpful.
majandess 4 days ago
So many things were solved by the simple concept of going on an adventure. Food issues, boredom issues, reading issues, anxiety issues... Just put on a figurative hat of being an explorer/adventurer and trying a thing. Side effects may include kids wanting to try foods that even you're afraid of, or wanting to go down a street because they've never been that way before.
#21
Instant Kid Size Countertop
In addition, child psychiatrist Megan Maher, MD, suggests that one of the simplest ways to encourage the flow of creativity is to put away the electronics. Screen time takes up a lot of our day, which can be dedicated to activities that promote imagination. "Parents want to engage their kids and being fully present and not distracted by a phone tells kids that this time and activity are meaningful," says Dr. Maher, noting, "Don't apply pressure—make it fun."
#22
Parenting Hack. Scotch Tape Reduces Toys Volume By At Least 50%
#23
Parenting Win
#24
Saving This One For Later
majandess 4 days ago
I don't have a teen at the sullen stage, but this is great advice. My son was already a little adventurer, so going for a ride in the car was something he enjoyed. But it totally escalated when he turned 13. In Washington state, where my son and I live, a kid can sit in the front seat of a car after their 13th birthday. My son looked forward to this the same way I looked forward to turning 21. For his birthday that year, we took road trips all over the state, and he got to sit in the front passenger seat and navigate (by paper map!). He absolutely loves being in the car and just talking.
Simplicity is key. A creative activity doesn’t have to take up a huge chunk of the day. Including a child in cooking and making it playful counts as a creative exercise. As does letting kids pick out their clothes in the morning—independence can be a great creativity booster.
#25
Dad Hack
Senior Advisory Dad here with a small lifehack to all you first timers out there. Today I wanted a piece of chocolate with my coffe, but my 3rd child, who is almost 1, woke up from her nap before I got around to make that cup of coffee. She knows well what Chocolate is, but shows zero interest in coffecups so the solution is to put the chocolate in a cup and "sip" from it. Used that trick on my to older sons when they were younger. Dosent work any more but I can still foll the with Coca Cola in a coffee mug.
ElfVibratorGlitter 4 days ago
This seems like a more wholesome variation of drinking wine out of a coffee cup during zoom meetings. 😁
#26
Just Bragging On My Wife. Our Son Loves Trash Truck But Tt Toys Are Non Existent. She Took Matters Into Her Own Hands And DIY’ed One
Upstaged75 4 days ago
When my kid was a toddler he was obsessed with trash trucks. So I found a YouTube channel that shows nothing but a montage of various trash trucks driving and dumping. He would have watched it for hours if I'd let him. He learned his colors on YouTube as well through a channel that shows different cartoon busses and says the color out loud. I have an adorable video of him watching and saying the colors along with the show.
#27
Dad-Tip: Add Grip Tape To Help A Slippery Bunk Bed Ladder!
Francesca Annoni 4 days ago
My two sons have a loft bed, I lined the edge of the bed and steps with fluorescent tape so nobody hits the head in the dark and he can go up and down the stairs without the light on (and it look a bit like TRON..)
Lastly, experts recommend not to overthink it. “Parents don't need to be creative themselves to raise creative kids; they just need to provide opportunities for imaginative play, encourage exploration, and support their child's creative endeavors," says pediatric mental health expert Roseann Capanna-Hodge, EdD. "Doing fun and creative activities together just adds another level of connection and shared memories."
#28
So I Adapted An Apron To Be A Food Catcher For The High Chair! Especially Important When You Have A Greedy Cockerspaniel
#29
Tetra Pac Hack - Make An Extra Breather Hole So When They Squeeze It, It Doesn't Spray Out
#30
Quick Tip: No-Slip Slippers
Back in November I was lamenting that these adorable granny-square slippers might be too slippery for a toddler when an ingenious anonymous commenter suggested adding hot glue to the bottoms. Brilliant!
Jan Moore 1 day ago
Thanks for the tip! I fell recently and may have torn my Achilles tendon, I have to wear a boot, trying to find a shoe that is close to the same height as the boot. I found a sandal that would work but it was too smooth to let me push when I am in my kitchen chair. Thought about silicon but don't have any. I do have hot glue.
Gracie Mae 2 days ago
take it from me that you don't want to do this on something that will go thru the washer/dryer...hot glue will make a mess in the dryer because IT MELTS & can also leave holes in other clothing it comes in comtact with. it does NOT come off the inside of the dryer easily, if at all. guess how i know?
arthbach 4 days ago
SirWriteALot, 'Clare' is the Irish/English way of spelling the name. 'Claire' is the French. There are plenty of people who spell the name 'Clare', and spell it correctly.
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#31
Toddler Dads: This 80x80 "Dog Blanket" Cost $25 On Amazon And It's Waterproof And Machine Washable
#32
After 7 Days Of Her (5 Mo) Kicking And Screaming Every Time She Got Her Medicine, This Little Thing Turned The Entire Affair Into A Quiet 30 Seconds
Our little girl absolutely hated getting medicine, didnt matter if it was interspersed with the bottle, or if she was mostly asleep she would just cry and scream every time the syringe went near her mouth. My wife brought this home and instantly she just sucked the medicine down without so much as a peep.
#33
Use A Cheap Shower Curtain To Make A Little Pool For The Kids At The Beach
#34
Anybody Else Fold The Bottom Of The Kids Menu Like This So The Crayons Don’t Roll Off The Table At The Restaurant?
Brittany Grawe 4 days ago
I'm a server. I'm going to try this. Maybe the kids will unfold it.... but it is worth a try
#35
$10 At Home Depot And 10 Mins Of My Time. Little Man Is Loving It!
#36
I Brought My New Fan On Our Zoo Day And Felt Like A Superstar
Every other person that we passed commented that it was such a good idea. Spoiler, I saw someone do this last year. We always used to use the Ryobi clip-on fans previously, but I upgraded when this one went on sale. I highly recommend looking into something similar for whatever battery powertool family you've chosen!
Feathered Dinosaur 5 days ago
If you buy a wagon be sure it has a sun roof. This way your child will be out of harm's way and cooler than it ever would be with just a fan. Plus it doesn't need electricity
#37
Our Child Loves Helping Out With The Laundry
#38
Your Young, Picky Eaters Hate This One Simple Trick
Made my 6yo son’s lunch on Friday, but forgot it was pizza Friday at school. So, I threw the lunch in the fridge before we left for drop off.
24 hours later, my wife SWORE there was no way he’d eat the lunch because it would be ‘disgusting’.
Guess whose face lit up like Christmas when he saw the plate?
MotherofGuineaPigs 4 days ago
My mom would cut them diagonally and place them on the plate looking like butterflies and call them 'fancy lunch'
#39
Genius
#40
Pool Noodles FTW
I don't know who needs to see this, or if it's been reposted, but pool noodles are dirty cheap & practically the only thing that will work in this instance to keep your baby's head from smacking back if you use a changing table regularly.
Hoi-Polloi 4 days ago
I used pool noodles to cushion the poles holding up the "kiddo net" around my trampoline.
#41
Christmas With A Toddler Requires A Little Creativity
SweetCheesySpaghetti 4 days ago
I just told my son that if he touched the tree it would break the santa beacon, and then Santa won't be able to find our house. He never touched it.
#42
Does It Work On Husbands Too?
OrangeStripey Hat 4 days ago
The kid is quiet and I can only assume isn't looking at all the random items in the shop wanting to buy them
#43
How To Keep Your Baby's Feet Warm While Walking
#44
Dog Beds Make For Affordable, Safe And Comfortable Places To Let Your Kid Stretch Out On The Floor
#45
Pro Tip For Blowouts
If your baby is really handsy during their diaper change and you just need a second to clean them up use a second shirt/onesie and only put their arms and head through, tying the arms of the shirt together. This has helped me so much as a SAHD.
#46
This Hack
#47
It’s Been A Hot Minute Since I Mentioned This Little Invention Here - Maybe Because While Strappy Is A Life Saver. Strappy Is Designed And Made By Me
Surly Scot 4 days ago
My grandmother would've just forced me to walk the bike by myself while she walked alongside me, this strappy thing doesn't teach kids accountability for taking their toys outside. It's just giving the kid the idea that mommy will carry everything for them.
#48
Life-Hack For Diaper Changes; Add A 10$ Book Light To Your Changing Tables
#49
Stuck In The Doc Office Waiting W Kids? Outline Drawings Are A Huge Time Consumer
quentariel 4 days ago
A honest question. Is it really common for the patients to wait in the examination room for the doctor? Here patients wait in the lobby (which had chairs, tv, magazines and some toys for kids) and doctors have their own room and they call the patients in when they are ready for them.
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What do you think ?
Gavin Johnson 4 days ago
Best resource for parenting tips? Your own Mum & Dad, Grandparents (if you are lucky enough to have them around), your friends and using your common sense, no one knows your child like you do.
Dariusz M. D. 1 day ago
If I ever wanted a confirmation that I shouldn't have children. Raising them seems to be an ongoing emergency with no end in sight.
Gavin Johnson 4 days ago
Best resource for parenting tips? Your own Mum & Dad, Grandparents (if you are lucky enough to have them around), your friends and using your common sense, no one knows your child like you do.
Dariusz M. D. 1 day ago
If I ever wanted a confirmation that I shouldn't have children. Raising them seems to be an ongoing emergency with no end in sight.
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