Being a parent is not for the weak. It’s a hard job, but it has big payoffs. Most parents do the best that they can, but not all parents realize how many shortcuts they can take and still be seen through their children’s eyes as the best parents ever. This list might give you some ideas.
Give Everyone Their Own Cups
Use a sharpie (or many sharpies) to let your child decorate his or her cup. Then let them know that they should only use that cup all day, rinsing it out in between uses. This will cut down on the number of dishes that need to be washed. Bonus: put a magnet on them to store near the water dispenser.
Give Everyone Their Own Towels
Assign each child a different color of towels; give them an entire set to keep in their room. They should use only these towels and get them to the wash room on wash day (or teach them to launder their own). This will cut down on bathroom floor mess and laundry.
Give an Allowance
Instead of giving an allowance for “extras,” give them an allowance for everything starting at about 12 or 13 years of age. With this money they will buy whatever they need to, include toiletries, school supplies, school clothing, savings, eating out and also movie tickets (even when going out with the family). This will teach your child more about money than anything else as they’ll be more careful about what they order and what activities they do.
Understand Essential Oil Uses
Did you know that putting lavender on a bruise will make it go away faster? What about using helichrysum oil to immediately stop bleeding? Well, now you do. You’re welcome.
Bed Accidents
This works for young children when you are trying to potty train, but can also work for older girls to prevent period accidents. Just put a puppy pad on the bed. They cost less, and they really work.
Time, Not Money
The thing children want more than anything is your time. Find ways to spend even ten minutes reading a book to them, or cuddling and watching TV, and they’ll feel super special all day long.
Make Baby Baths Easy
Use a laundry basket to bath baby. It will help them have a safer time and they can easily play with their toys too because they can’t float away too far.
Get Chores Done
Be creative about chores. Make them earn the Wi-Fi password by getting a certain thing done each day. If you have multiple children, let them draw chores for the day instead of having the same thing all the time. Also, set a time limit for chores to be completed.
Being a parent is hard work, but if you know what to do to make it more fun and more interesting and your children happier, then go for it. Is there something you have done to make your parenting job easier?
The ACTION AIR [Updated Version] Bounce House, Inflatable Bouncer with Air Blower, Jumping Castle with Slide would be great for summer fun!
I’d get the Sable Splash Pad.
Inflatable Splash Pad Sprinkler for Kids Toddlers is perfect for summer fun!
I’d put the money into a new computer for my youngest, who’s starting speech and debate in school next year!
The Melissa & Doug USA floor puzzle looks fun. Great learning opportunity!
I love the Best Choice Products 12V 3.7 MPH 2-Seater Licensed Land Rover Ride On w/ Parent Remote Control, MP3 Player
In this hot weather I would like a pool for my grandkids.
I would get the Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether Toy.
The Melissa & Doug Solar System Floor Puzzle looks like fun!
I also like the Melissa & Doug USA floor puzzle
I would also buy the Melissa & Doug 20 Animal Magnets in a Box
I would get the Gund Hug Me Hugo Animated 16″ Plush for my niece!
So many great toys! I would buy the Melissa & Doug Large Stuffed Tiger! It would look great in my kiddo’s room!
I think my granddaughter would also like the Manhattan Toy Put and Peek Birdhouse Soft Activity Toy
We’d have fun with the Melissa & Doug Classic Peg Puzzle Bundle (3 Puzzle Bundle).
My granddaughter would love the Melissa & Doug Take Along show horse stable.
We’d like the Melissa & Doug USA map floor puzzle.
The Melissa & Doug U.S.A. 51pc Floor Puzzle looks like a great learning puzzle.
I might also buy Hape Eggspressions Wooden Learning Toy with Illustrative Book.
The Melissa & Doug Classic Peg Puzzle Bundle (3 Puzzle Bundle) is something my daughters would enjoy.
I like the Melissa & Doug Solar System Floor Puzzle.
I would love to have the Melissa & Doug Take-Along Show-Horse Stable for my granddaughter.
Our grandson would like the Melissa & Doug Pound & Roll Tower.
My daughter would love the Melissa & Doug USA map floor puzzle.
I would purchase the Hape Homemade Wooden Pizza Play Kitchen Food Set and Accessories.
Melissa & Doug Classic Peg Puzzle Bundle (Alphabet, Numbers and Fish Colors)
I also like the Green Toys tea set
The Melissa & Doug Happy Handle Stamp Set is cute.
I would get the Manhattan Toy Nursing Nana Dog Nurturing Soft Toy. Cute!
I like the Green Toys products and would buy the submarine
The Melissa & Doug Classic Peg Puzzle Bundle (3 Puzzle Bundle) would interest me.
The Melissa & Doug USA map floor puzzle looks really fun.
I also would like the Melissa & Doug solar system floor puzzle
The Melissa & Doug USA map floor puzzle interests me.
I would purchase the winfun Letter Train & Piano Activity Table.
I would purchase the Manhattan toy Winkel rattal &sensory Teether toy.
I would like to buy Green Toys Dump Truck in Pink Color for my granddaughter.
The Melissa & Doug USA map floor puzzle looks fun.
I would get the Manhattan Toy Skwish Stix Baby Table Top Suction Activity Toy for my nephew.
I’m also interested in the Melissa & Doug Large Stuffed Tiger.
My younger daughter would like the Melissa & Doug Happy Handle Stamp Set.
I would get the Gund Rock-A-Bye Baby Musical Teddy Bear.
I would buy the Bristle Blocks by Battat
Melissa & Doug Car Carrier is nice.
I like the Melissa & Doug Happy Handle Stamp Set.
I would also love to purchase the Nursing Nina Cat. It’s so cute.
Melissa & Doug Felt Food Sandwich Set.
I would purchase the Happy Trails Plush Rocking Patricia Pony.
I would buy the Melissa & Doug veterinarian outfit
I’d like the Melissa & Doug USA map floor puzzle.
I would get the Melissa & Doug Take-Along Show-Horse Stable.
Green Toys Seaplane in Green Color – BPA Free, Phthalate Free Floatplane for Improving Pincers Grip. Toys and Games is cute
I would buy the orange Green Toys tractor for my grandson
I also like the Melissa & Doug Take-Along Show-Horse Stable.
I would get the Melissa & Doug U.S.A. 51pc Floor Puzzle.
My daughter would like the Melissa & Doug Happy Handle Stamp Set.
I would also like to buy the Melissa & Doug Pound & Roll Tower.
I would purchase the Manhattan Toy Baby Stella Take Along Baby Doll Crib Accessory Set!
I would buy some magnets or something from the Melissa and Doug line.
The Melissa & Doug USA map floor puzzle would be of interest to my daughter.
I would buy towels
I’d get the Manhattan Toy Skwish Classic Rattle and Teether Grasping Activity Toy
I would get the Green Toys shape sorter.
My daughter would get a kick out of the Melissa & Doug Wash & Dry Dish Set.
I would purchase the Motorworks Race Pace Power Pack.
The Green Toys Train is super cute!
I would get the Melissa & Doug Solar System Floor Puzzle.
I’d like to get the Melissa & Doug USA map puzzle.
I like the Take-Along Show-Horse Case by Melissa and Doug.
I would get Melissa & Doug 20 Animal Magnets in a Box.
I would purchase Battat Bristle Block building sets.
I would purchase the Melissa and Doug USA Floor Puzzle.
I would also get the kit for my granddaughter to practice being a doctor.
I would buy the nursing Nina cat and some bath toys! I love the Melissa and Doug toys as well.
I’d love to get the Melissa & Doug USA map floor puzzle.
Melissa & Doug Solar System Floor Puzzle would make a great gift.
I would purchase Melissa & Doug toys.
I like the Melissa and Doug Large Stuffed Tiger for my granddaughter.
Thank you for the good info
I would also buy essential oils.
I love artsy crafts for kids that use their imagination and fine motor skills. The Melissa & Doug Wooden Stringing Beads would be great for my niece!
Green Toys My First Tugboat is really cute also!
I like the Melissa & Doug Classic Peg Puzzle Bundle (3 Puzzle Bundle).
I would buy the Green Toys Ferry Boat and probably another Green Toys too.
Thanks for the opportunity
I would get the Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether Toy
My daughter would like the Melissa & Doug USA map floor puzzle.
I would like to buy the Maxim Deluxe Wooden ABC Blocks for my son.
I would love to get the Hape Kid’s Wooden Toy Ukulele in Red.
I would get the Melissa & Doug Take-Along Show-Horse Stable
The Solar System Floor Puzzle is neat as space is cool and so are puzzles.
I would get a green toys airplane and tractor for my boys.
I would get the Hape Kid’s Wooden Toy Ukulele in Red so my niece can play music with my brother!!
I would get a badminton set or Croque so the kids can play outside! They need fresh air but away from others.
I would purchase the Happy Trails Plush Rocking Horse.
Toys would be my first pick.
I might go with the MOLUK Bilibo Blue… we bought one of these in red when my oldest was a little over a year old… it is STILL being used by my now 12 year old son, and his 6 year old sister too. Would be good to have another!
I would buy more children’s/YA books.
Melissa & Doug Pound & Roll Tower for sure and I know they have amazing hand puppets… New grand baby will be so entertained.
I would buy the Green Toys ferry boat and other GreenToys
I would buy the Award Winning Hape Walk-A-Long Snail Toddler Wooden Pull Toy
i love the pretty Green Toys Tea Set! so cute!
I love the Melissa and Doug scratch art!
I would get the Melissa & Doug USA map floor puzzle.
I’d get some Melissa & Doug puzzles and summer toys.
Green Toys Ferry Boat with Mini Cars Bathtub Toy for my grandaughter
I would get the Battat Medical Kit for my niece who wants to be a nurse.
My stepsons both love learning about the human body. The Battat Medical Kit is perfection!!
Love many of the Melissa and Doug.. dishes and stamp sets.
I would get the Melissa & Doug Take-Along Show-Horse Stable for my daughter.
I would put it towards things for our second child. My due date is May 24th.
Both of my stepsons would get a kick out of the Battat Medical Kit.
I would put use it to buy my daughters birthday gift.
Green Toys Submarine is nice!!
Use Pocky sticks for birthday cake candles… (you are safe from over spray when blowing out candles) and you can eat them!
I would get the Kid O Marble Maze – Blue so i can have some fun with it as well as the kids!
I would get the Battat Medical Kit so my kid can practice being a doctor!
Green Toys Ferry Boat with Mini Cars Bathtub Toy would be perfect for our little grandson.