Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
Parenting is a full-time job, and everyone knows that to work well, one needs to find and use a variety of tricks. A clever worker knows to learn from others, since experience is good, but can take a lot of time.
So It’s no surprise that some forward-thinking internet users seek out others' advice on how to get the most out of parenting. Netizens share the tips and tricks that helped them but be warned, these tidbits of advice are more clever, cunning, and unethical than cuddly. Be sure to upvote your favorites and comment your own suggestions below.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Ensure your kids won’t bother you by telling them to wake you up in an hour so we can start cleaning the house - they will do anything to avoid waking you
RELATED:
#2
Tell your kid that they snore in their sleep really often, that way you’ll know if they’re pretending to sleep because they’ll fake snore
Serial pacifist 1 year ago
And if you tell them they fart in their sleep, they will poop trying, and you will know they are awake.
#3
Play a game with your kids "Cop Cars" while traveling. Whoever spots the most cop cars from the start to end of the trip wins!
Great way to keep the kids occupied while also having an extra couple set of eyes looking out for cop cars you might not have noticed
Take me to dinner first 1 year ago
I was ready to compliment this parent and then I read the last part LMAO
A quick perusal of these tips shows that a lot of them involve manipulating information. Or, to use a slightly more ugly word, lying. One doesn’t have to be an expert to know that lying isn’t an ethical skill to teach any child, but discerning truth, half-truths, and lies is a skill to start learning early.
Setting aside questions of ethics, which is not something we actually recommend one does at any time, there could be some benefits of “lying” to your kids. Lying through omission, perhaps, but still not exactly telling the truth. In many situations, experience is the best teacher. We don’t recommend actually putting a child in danger, but touching a hot stove teaches one about the heat a whole lot faster than just being told about it.
#4
Going somewhere with your kids that doesn't allow outside food. Pack sandwiches and chips anyway. When questioned at the entrance, just say these items (bread, chs, meat, etc.) are approved for your child's "restricted diet".
Just did this recently with my son twice this week at my local water park. Saved me about 40 dollars in 2 all day trips. Just make the food reasonably healthy of course
#5
Parents of young kids - Keep a stash of dead batteries with your good batteries. 1) Annoying toy. 2) Batteries go dead. 3) Replace batteries in front of kid from stash. 4) Aww, sorry honey, I just replaced the batteries but I guess it just doesn't work anymore. 5) Is that wrong?
#6
Hate your siblings? Buy their kids the loudest most obnoxious toys possible.
Similarly, parenting is a lot of work, some might even say a full-time job. In 2023, most of us already have one full-time job, but what about a second? Parents do need to find ways to recuperate energy and if that means lying about chores to get a slightly longer nap, then all is good. At the end of the day, a parent needs to be rested in order to do all the things that are a part of raising a child.
#7
If you have a newborn baby, try to teach it to say the other parent's name first (e.g. "Dada", "Mama") then whenever the child is upset or needs something they will call for your partner not you, saving you a lot of hassle, especially at night.
...as a bonus you'll probably seem very altruistic for teaching your child your partner's name instead of your own as many people want their name to be baby's "first word" and actively try to teach it theirs first.
#8
Want your kids to become good liars? Overreact about every little thing they do growing up.
#9
When your children are young, tell them that when they lie a vein pops up in the middle of their forehead. When they are lying to you, they will subconsciously cover their forehead with their hand and you will instantly be aware of their dishonesty!
In fact, just the status of parenthood gives one a few tools for manipulation. Children have a slightly unhinged fascination with all things adult, so by selectively limiting or labeling certain activities, one can trick children into doing chores, for example. Tell them the lawnmower is very powerful and off-limits, then find an excuse for why you can’t use it and see how quickly they flock to mow the lawn.
#10
Concerned about unvaccinated children spreading infection? Start rumours amongst antivaxxers that exposure to vaccinated children can cause their unvaccinated children to develop autism....the antivaxxers will be sure to keep their children at a safe distance.
Monday 1 year ago
I'm more of a fan of the Russian antivaxx ploy. Tell the antivaxxers that Russians are spreading false news about vaccine effects so parents will choose not to vaccinate their kids, thus leaving future generations weaker and making it easier to invade. This only works if the antivaxxer in question is both dumb and racist though.
#11
Occupy small children for hours by hiding four sweets in their bedroom and telling them you have hidden five.
#12
How to stop kids from ding dong ditching? Install motion controller sprinklers.
Some parents might find that their kids figure out the deception later. This is also not a bad thing. Parents generally have a child's best interests in mind, but out there in the real world, bosses, potential partners, and a whole slew of people are interested in manipulating and exploiting others. Best to teach them to always think a little and not take everything at face value.
#13
Next year get blackout drunk before you hide the kids Easter eggs. Finding them the next day will be fun for you too since you won't remember where they are.
#14
Prepare your kids for social media by putting their artwork on the fridge and writing a bunch of mean comments underneath
#15
Set your toddlers YouTubeKids videos to 0.75X speed so they're distracted for longer.
Ultimately, some of these methods fall into the category of incidental teaching. Often, it’s easier to retain lessons if they aren’t presented directly as lessons. Teaching through experience and example are all useful skills and tools, so the “unethical” part is more just a label than a true value judgment.
#16
Wanna find out if your kids are doing drugs? Tell them you're going on a weekend away and come back that evening.
#17
Have some rowdy children who want to play? Tell them that you're all going to play hide and seek and that you'll be "it". Once you finish your countdown don't go anywhere and just enjoy your peace and quiet.
#18
Teach your kids that the ice cream truck only plays music when it is out of ice cream. It will make your life SO much easier. Trust me.
Kobe (she) 1 year ago
Nope - no lying. Just say no. Or have store-bought or homemade ice cream in the fridge, that they can have instead.
StitchIsCuteAndFluffy 1 year ago
We have that. My mom and I both have massive sweet tooths (would it be sweet teeth, grammatically speaking?), and we almost always have ice cream on hand. Or she’ll bake cookies, and her cookies are delicious
Load More Replies...
Tree sticker 1 year ago
Yeah... My parents did this to me. I was old enough to know it wasn't true, but the feeling of trying to get a fun treat and your family being like, "it's all out haha!" Isn't fun, especially as a young kid
A Happy Doggo 1 year ago
They’re going to figure it out eventually and then they won’t trust you. Stop lying to your kids
StrangeOne 1 year ago
Nah, it means it's adult's time for ice cream. But don't worry, the ice cream truck will be back around soon. Or the next day.
cartoon.ghostss 1 year ago
My parents called it the music truck when I was a kid and just didn't mention the ice cream
whatscookin 1 year ago
Hey, getting ice cream is one of the good memories to make with your kids when they're still young. :c
Abandoned1 1 year ago
Recently my kid heard the ice cream truck.i told him we need money for that..he brought me .15 cents..I went to freezer and gave him a popsicle..it was fine by him 😂
Kayleigh haigh 1 year ago
My mum tried that my response was y ishe givin icecream to them same thing at Christmas she said if we are naughty we get coal yet they were always complaining at price of coal so i said well if im naughty n get coal u can buy me such and such in exchange for my coal i was about 8-9 with the coal comment about 5-6 with the icecream one
#19
Make friends with a police officer in your city / town. If your teenagers ever get in trouble with the law, they’re more likely to be let off easy when the officer recognizes them as your child.
Mark Mark 1 year ago
This actally happened with me, I'd known the local cop since I was young and when I got into my rebellious teenage phase and had constant warrants for my arrest, he used to come to the house and give me the option to hand myself in, therefore easing any potential punishments.
#20
If you decide to adopt kids, tell them that if anyone makes fun of them for being adopted, they should say "At least I was wanted. You were probably a mistake and your parents didn't have the heart to tell you.".
Sandra Morison 1 year ago
That's cruel , some children are not wanted. Better just to say at least I'm.special, I was chosen because they really wanted children.
#21
Acquire a taste for spicy food and you most likely won't have to share with your kids.
Kobe (she) 1 year ago
That is exactly how you learn the kids to eat spicy food though. They will keep on trying, until they like it too :)
#22
If you are a parent, use your child's library card when checking books out of the library. Not only can you check out any book (adult or children's), but there is no fee if you return them late.
#23
Chuck E Cheese has timed cards as well as points, but the trick is that you can swipe the timed cards every 10-15 secs, So Instead of having to buy 4 cards for my kids, I just buy 1 timed card for them to all share & it works out perfectly, spent 2 hours having a ball with 2 60 min cards.
#24
Tell your kid that if he or she doesn't brush their teeth well enough, they'll all fall out. When they start to lose their baby teeth, tell them they didn't do a good enough job. This way, they'll brush their adult teeth really well.
#25
As a parent of a baby, smell their diaper. If you DON’T smell poop, say, “Woah, somebody has a poopy diaper. “ Then take them to the other room and pretend to change them. Then the next time they poop tell your spouse, “It’s your turn. I changed them last time.”
#26
When picking pumpkins this year, secretly buy them beforehand at Aldi’s where it’s significant cheaper and put them in the trunk. Then, take the kids to the pumpkin patch and have them pick out their pumpkin and tell them the workers will put them in the trunk for them.
#27
Is your child waiting on a package? When you receive it, hide it before they see it. Every day they will offer to get the mail for you until it "arrives".
Depressed Owl 1 year ago
But why? It's just around 10 steps. And they kid will get the package later.
#28
If you hold up your phone at the right angle during present unwrapping you can browse reddit while making it look like your taking family photos
#29
Tell your kids that every time they lie or break a promise, they permanently lose a strand of hair on their head, and that if they lie too much, they will go bald at a very young age. Works like a charm!
Note: Avoid if you are bald, and also make them promise to keep it a secret at least till they turn 15 or something. Believe me, you don't want them going to a relative and be like "I see that you lie a lot" "No I don't, who told you that?" "LIAR LIAR!!! My mum told me!"
You can also add that they earn a strand everytime they help you, do a good deed or something...
#30
If you're a teenage parent, name your child your EXACT name. No JR no 3rd etc. It will come in handy when you select singular personal healthcare later in life. Age between 20 and 40 is extremely difficult to discern.
What do you think ?
Heiko Braun 1 year ago
One of the worst posts on BP I've ever read. With very few exceptions, it is recommended that you lie to your children and raise them in fear! As your children grow older, they will realize what you did to them. And then don't be surprised if you have to spend Christmas alone!
Monday 1 year ago
I think a couple of people may have missed the point. None of these were supposed to be "omg I want to try these" hacks. They're all meant to be so bad nobody would follow them.
Jake Lewis 1 year ago
Should've been funnier/more horrible then, I guess? They read like actual things bad parents would say.
Load More Replies...
peace 1 year ago
i think this whole post is a test of whether people still think independently and empathetically. or whether they just mindlessly like what is presented to them as "funny". the " hacks" presented here are at the expense of the child. at the expense of the child's trust in adults and in the world. it learns that it's ok to be lied to, for a selfish purpose by parents. how about respecting children instead, accompanying them and protecting their emotions? wtf, really! ..or should this try be a satirical post?
Monday 1 year ago
It's labelled as "evil" in the title and "unethical" in the url, what were you expecting? No good advice was meant to be offered here.
Load More Replies...
Def_not_a_snake (they/them) 1 year ago
Some of these are actually horrible. I do not recommend these at all
HelluvaHedgehogAlien 1 year ago
Yeah the title says ‘evil and unethical’ so maybe expect that
Load More Replies... Gianna B D 1 year ago
"BuT iT's A jOkE!" Just because something is a joke doesn't mean it's funny. This list is unfunny.
FantastiKitty 1 year ago
I know this is a joke post, but some of these hacks were way over the top evil.
Steve Robert 1 year ago
This should be called How Not To Raise Children. Unless it's completely sarcastic
madbakes 1 year ago
It is. "Evil" and "unethical" are in the title. So yes, it's satire.
Load More Replies... 
Gavin Johnson 1 year ago
Teach your children that lying, cheating, being abandoned, being misled, not being trusted, adults hate sharing time with them, and that generally speaking your parents are fuckwits. This will all end well when it comes time for them to choose your retirement/ care home, there’s zero chance they’ll choose the cheapest, dirtiest, nastiest home……. That’s if they haven’t emancipated you long before that time rolls around!
Heiko Braun 1 year ago
One of the worst posts on BP I've ever read. With very few exceptions, it is recommended that you lie to your children and raise them in fear! As your children grow older, they will realize what you did to them. And then don't be surprised if you have to spend Christmas alone!
Monday 1 year ago
I think a couple of people may have missed the point. None of these were supposed to be "omg I want to try these" hacks. They're all meant to be so bad nobody would follow them.
Jake Lewis 1 year ago
Should've been funnier/more horrible then, I guess? They read like actual things bad parents would say.
Load More Replies... peace 1 year ago
i think this whole post is a test of whether people still think independently and empathetically. or whether they just mindlessly like what is presented to them as "funny". the " hacks" presented here are at the expense of the child. at the expense of the child's trust in adults and in the world. it learns that it's ok to be lied to, for a selfish purpose by parents. how about respecting children instead, accompanying them and protecting their emotions? wtf, really! ..or should this try be a satirical post?
Monday 1 year ago
It's labelled as "evil" in the title and "unethical" in the url, what were you expecting? No good advice was meant to be offered here.
Load More Replies... Def_not_a_snake (they/them) 1 year ago
Some of these are actually horrible. I do not recommend these at all
HelluvaHedgehogAlien 1 year ago
Yeah the title says ‘evil and unethical’ so maybe expect that
Load More Replies... Gianna B D 1 year ago
"BuT iT's A jOkE!" Just because something is a joke doesn't mean it's funny. This list is unfunny.
FantastiKitty 1 year ago
I know this is a joke post, but some of these hacks were way over the top evil.
Steve Robert 1 year ago
This should be called How Not To Raise Children. Unless it's completely sarcastic
madbakes 1 year ago
It is. "Evil" and "unethical" are in the title. So yes, it's satire.
Load More Replies... Gavin Johnson 1 year ago
Teach your children that lying, cheating, being abandoned, being misled, not being trusted, adults hate sharing time with them, and that generally speaking your parents are fuckwits. This will all end well when it comes time for them to choose your retirement/ care home, there’s zero chance they’ll choose the cheapest, dirtiest, nastiest home……. That’s if they haven’t emancipated you long before that time rolls around!
You May Like “Nothing Like Being Gifted Debt”: 35 People Share The Worst Presents They Received 50 Funny Christmas Gifts For A Peal Of Merry Laughter 95 Funny Gag Gifts For Friends To Leave Them Grinning All Day
Gabija Palšytė
Linas Simonaitis
Neilas Šurkus
Related on Bored Panda
