Parenting is very rewarding, but sometimes it can also be overwhelming. It's tricky to come up with endless activities and ways to occupy the kids so that we can have a few minutes to drink our coffee. But sometimes what we need most to relieve stress and pressure is a good laugh with our kids and get in touch with our inner child in the process. Read on for some hacks that will provide entertainment for children as well as peace of mind for parents.
1. Monster Spray
There are times when we all experience some irrational fear of the dark spaces in our closets or beneath our beds. It's only natural that our little ones will as well! Now there's a perfect solution that will help children vanquish those monsters on their own.
Monster Spray is an easy solution to soothe fears of the boogie monster. Simply take an empty, clean spray bottle, remove any labels, and replace them with stickers and a label of your own indicating that it is now Monster Spray. Fill the bottle with some water, and done! A couple of squeezes of this Monster Spray will leave kids free of fears. And best of all, they can use it themselves!
2. Baby Pool Play Pen
What the best solution to keep a child entertained and in one place so that parents can get things done around the house? Why, an inflatable baby pool, of course!
With a large play area flat on the floor and sides that are high enough that they can't climb out, inflatable kiddie pools are a wonderful way to create a designated play space for little ones. As they get older, the sides of the pool will be great to practice pulling up and standing. Even when they transition into later years, 3-4 year olds can also enjoy some messy play time with paints, markers, water, and other sensory activities, with only minimal clean up for parents.
3. Sandbox Tent
There's nothing worse than not being able to use your sandbox because it's crusty, wet and full of animal poo. But don't worry! This is a solution that will ensure that the sandbox will be clean and ready to use no matter the weather.
Step 1: build a tent in an outdoor area like the backyard. Step 2: fill with sand and beach toys. Step 3: Have fun! When the kids are done for the day, simply zip it closed, and it's ready for use again tomorrow. The tent has the added bonus of providing shade for the little ones.
4. Bathtub in a Shower
Trying to give the little ones a bath in a shower stall is hard--it's slippery, cold, and the water goes everywhere! Instead, why not inflate a trusty kiddie pool on the shower floor?
It's best to inflate it just enough so that it can be maneuvered into place between the shower walls and doors. And voilà! Now the water stays in the stall, the babes stay warm, and those soft rubber sides prevent any injuries on the hard tile walls. Peace of mind for parents and lots of fun for the kiddies!
5. Protect the Carpets!
We'll never have to worry about cleaning stroller tracks off the carpets again now that we've seen this hack! One of the most annoying things is to have dirt tracked onto freshly vacuumed floors and carpets. Here is a solution to that problem!
Once the stroller is inside the house, take two shower caps and place them over the back wheels of the stroller. Ta-da! The floor stays clean! And as an added bonus: we don't get wet socks from stepping on damp stroller tracks. Plus, it looks silly and the kids love it!
6. Lego Storage
One of the worst feelings in the world is going through the living room after turning off the lights and stepping suddenly on that one piece of Lego left out on the carpet. Argh! Ouch! We hear you. Well don't worry, there's a solution for that.
Take an over the door shoe organizer and attach it to the door or wall nearest to the children's play area. Sort the Legos by color, making them easy to find and cleanup a breeze. Use the extra pockets for wheels, trees, or Lego people. Now the kiddos will be able to find everything they need easily, and cleanup will be quick and fun!
7. Ziplock Masterpieces
This hack is genius for babes who like to paint with parents who hate the mess. Place a piece of paper into a ziplock bag, add a couple of globs of paint, seal it, and tape it to the floor or high chair tray.
This creates instant art through a fun sensory experience for children. There's no mess and no cleanup. When the child is done, take the painting out of the ziplock bag, let dry, and hang their masterpiece on the fridge for everyone to admire!
8. Protect the Clothes!
Children are messy. Sometimes it seems like they get dirty just sitting still! Next time they're going to do a messy activity, slap some cling-wrap on their shirts and pants.
Once they're through playing, eating, or generally making a mess, remove the cling-wrap. Their clothes underneath will stay clean, and there won't be any tough stains to deal with during the next laundry time.
9. Masking Tape Racetrack
As long as there's a roll of masking tape in the house, there is fun to be had. For this hack, all we needed was some imagination, masking tape, and toy cars. We created a racetrack out of masking tape on the floor with as many twists and turns as we wanted. Just make sure that there are two lines of masking tape so create the "road."
With this hack, there is no need for expensive roadway carpets, and there's no way for the kids to get bored. Every track is a new adventure, only limited by how much space (and how much tape) we're willing to devote to this activity.
10. Water Painting
Here's another fun activity with limited mess and almost no cleanup--plus it's a lesson in physics as well. On hot days, take a bucket of water and some large paintbrushes or sponges and "paint" the fence, brick walkway, or the side of the house.
The surfaces will darken once the water is brushed on, and the kids can draw large images or create patterns that will eventually disappear due to the hot weather. Best of all, there's no mess because the "paint" is actually just water!
11. Sand Barrier
We hate sandy sandwiches as much as the next person, and that's why this hack is perfect for us. Bring a fitted sheet to the beach, and place a chair, cooler, or other sturdy item in each corner. Pull the sides up so that they create a barrier between the sand and the surface of the sheet.
It's as easy as that! Less sand in our food means less cranky family members. Not to mention that the sides of the sheet act as a safe space for baby to play as well.
12. Laser Beam Obstacle Course
On those rainy days when there's nothing to do, we turn once again to our trusty roll of masking tape. This time, we're going to make a laser beam obstacle course! It's best to do this in a narrow space such as a hallway. Take long pieces of tape and string them at various angels from one wall to the other all the way down the hallway.
Then call in the kids! They'll have hours of fun trying to get through this maze without getting zapped. And the best part is: when it starts to get too easy, just restring the tape!
13. Masking Tape Spider Web
Break out that masking tape again for another excellent indoor activity. In a wide doorway or entryway, build a large spider web. Then gather some balloons, crumpled up newspaper, or other small objects that will adhere easily to the tape.
Once the basket of spider food is full, it's time to feed the spider! Throw the gathered items at the sticky side of the web to see what sticks and what doesn't.
14. Cardboard Blocks
Large cardboard boxes provide endless entertainment for kids! For this hack, take cardboard boxes in varying sizes and tape them shut. Then set the kids loose and watch as their imagination creates everything from obstacle courses to giant cities!
An added bonus is that this activity is easy to do outdoors as well, making it perfect for children who would rather spend time indoors than go outside on those beautiful, sunny days.
15. Food on the Go
We're tired of cleaning out the car every time the kids eat a sandwich. With this handy hack, all the food stays in one shower caddy for easy access--and most importantly, easy cleanup.
This works for both fast food and home-packed lunches. Once the kids are finished eating, they leave their trash in the lunch caddy. At the end of the car ride, grab the caddies and bring them inside for easy trash disposal and washing.
16. Bubble Wrap Pop
As adults, we know how enticing bubble wrap is, the satisfying pop of bursting the little bubbles one by one. Kids find it just as exciting, and there are plenty of ways to make popping those plastic bubbles more educational, too!
Take some colored stickers and place them on different bubbles in a random pattern. For younger kiddos, use fewer colors. Once the stickers are in place, instruct the child to pop the bubbles of the same color. This will keep them entertained for a while as they look for the different colored stickers and derive much joy from that satisfying pop!
17. Toilet Paper Crafts
There are a million ways to upcycle toilet paper rolls! This fabulously versatile craft supply can be used to make anything from cities to desk organizers. It can even be used to make dolls!
Get creative and set the children's imagination to work by making figures for a holiday theme or dolls for a dollhouse. Maybe the toy farm needs more animals or the Jurassic Era could use a few more dinosaurs. Break out the construction paper, glue, and markers, and have the children make their own customized toys!
18. Living Room Camp Out
When it's too cold and rainy, or the little ones are a bit too afraid of the dark, camping is still an option--just do it in the living room! Pitch a tent on the cozy carpet, build a "fire" out of paper towel rolls and construction paper. Make s'mores and eat them huddled in sleeping bags surrounded by blankets and pillows.
Best of all: there are no mosquitoes, the temperature is perfect, and the birds won't wake us at the crack of dawn! Though it's very possible the little ones will...
19. Safety Sticker
What's the best way to keep kids safe in a busy parking lot? Have a designated spot on the car where they must place their hand. This is especially helpful when we have to get a bunch of things--or other kids--out of the car as well.
While companies make magnets for this purpose, we also like the idea of using magnets with the logo from each child's school, to designate spaces for more than one kid to hang on to the car. Alternatively, if magnets cluttering up the sleek design of the car seem like an eyesore, designating the gas tank or the front door handle as "home base" is also a good option.
20. Spin Cycle
Limiting screen time can sometimes be a struggle, especially when the kids pitch a fit when they are not allowed to watch their favorite shows. Here is an alternative that will keep them away from the screen but still keep them entertained.
When the washing machine is running, have the kids sit in front of it. Soon they will be mesmerized by the colors going around and around, and they will have fun trying to figure out which clothing items are theirs. This works for little babies as well, and with any luck, babe will fall right to sleep!
21. Bathtub Ball Pit
For those of us who live in small apartments, there's no need to but extra baby gear if there's a bathtub in the house! Bathtubs are incredibly useful as safe places to put baby to play when we're trying to get things done, especially when they can be filled with balls and used as a ball pit!
This great activity works on baby's gross motor skills by requiring him to wade through lots of plastic balls. Baby can throw, bounce, jump and play all in a relatively safe environment.
22. Pacifiers To Go
One of the trickiest challenges for new parents is how to keep pacifiers clean in the diaper bag. Well, here is a great solution: use the little salad dressing containers that come with take out orders! They're the perfect size for pacifiers and keep them clean on the go.
There's no need to buy a pacifier holder that can only hold one pacifier at a time when upcycling these containers is a great alternative at no extra cost. Free baby gear? Yes please!
23. Mysterious Messages
One thing that children will always love is uncovering things that are not visible to the naked eye. This hack is so simple and will provide hours of fun for the kids.
Take a white crayon or colored pencil and draw a picture or write some letters or words on a white piece of paper. Then give the paper along with some watercolors to the child. As they paint, the white crayon drawings will emerge, creating a cool effect in their painting.
24. Unplugged Gamer
Parents are very aware that no matter what we're doing, our children want to do it, too. This can be particularly frustrating when they want to join our game but we're about to beat our personal best. Well, there's a hack for that!
The next time a child wants to jump in on Mario Kart, happily hand them a controller--just don't plug it in. For younger children, this is a great way to practice fine motor skills. Just beware that as they get older the kids might catch on, and they may not be too happy about being duped!
25. Scavenger Hunts
Are the kids bored with nothing to do? With a piece of paper and a pen, that problem is easily solved: draw a bunch of pictures of items they need to find, and set them loose! For older kids, writing easy clues is a great way to practice reading skills.
This is an activity that can be done anytime, anywhere. Take a premade list to the supermarket and have the kids pick out some grocery items. Have them find objects beginning with specific letters. It can even be done in a pinch in the car using some scrap paper. The possibilities are endless!
26. Crib Desk
As kids get older, they need a place to color, do their homework, and be creative. Sometimes we don't want to shell out a bunch of money on a new piece of furniture. Instead, we can put an unused item to good use and turn the old crib into a desk.
This can be done simply by removing one of the sides of the crib and pacing a flat piece of wood on the frame instead of the mattress. Add in a chair or two, some office supplies, and the kids are all set to get to work!
27. Non-Slip Socks
As parents, we want to ensure our children's safety down to the last detail. It's easier for us when these safety tricks are especially fun. One of the most annoying pieces of a child's wardrobe are socks without skid-protectors, especially for babies and toddlers learning to walk.
Fortunately, skid-free socks are easy enough to make. By using puffy paint, we can make fun designs on our children's socks that they will love and that will keep them safe. For those of us who aren't Picasso, even a design as simple as different colored dots can save our children from lots of falls and be a fun addition to their socks.
28. "Practical Life" Activities
We parents are constantly cleaning up after our kids. It's enough of a struggle just to keep all the toys in their proper place, forget the endless list of cleaning chores that simply never gets done! One way to tackle that list, however, is to get the kids to help out. To do this, present chores as activities.
If the windows need to be cleaned, offer a spray bottle and a squeegee. Do the plants need watering? Show them how to fill the watering can. Emptying the dishwasher is a great activity since it involves sorting. Offer kids opportunities to help, and they will do so enthusiastically. And that to-do list? It's done!
29. Baby Purse
In our experience, our kids cannot get enough of our purses and wallets. They love taking out the credit cards, zipping and unzipping pockets, opening Velcro, and generally just wreaking havoc on the delicate ecosystem of our bags.
Instead of letting the kids mess with personal items, create their own bag with an old wallet and credit cards, unused keys, and other odds and ends that can be found in a purse. They will still have loads of fun taking everything out and exploring all the nooks and crannies, but it won't cause a panic when the credit card appears to be missing from our wallets.
30. Pool Noodle Door Stopper
Children love to play with doors as it gives them a sense of control over their environment. However, doors pose a danger to little fingers and can also inadvertently damage the walls when slammed by oblivious kids.
To protect the kids and protect the walls, cut a piece off a pool noodle, slice down the side, and fit it over the edge of the door by the door jamb. And there you have it! The door will no longer close all the way, and will always bounce off the wall as well.
31. Water Balloon Bath
Water balloons are one of those things that kids love to play with because their squishy nature makes them difficult to hold on to. At the same time, it's not always the right weather for a water balloon fight, nor do we parents always want to clean up all the little bits of broken balloon scattered around the yard.
So why not have the kids play with water balloons in the bath instead? Get all dressed up in bathing suits, fill the tub with a bit of water and plenty of water balloons, and get to playing!
32. Kid-Proof the Faucet
One aggravating thing for parents is telling kids to wash their hands and then hearing "Mom, dad, I can't reach!" This hack will solve that problem once and for all.
Take an old shampoo bottle, cut a hole in the bottom, and fit it over the head of the faucet. Then turn on the water, and see how much easier it is for the kids to access the water flow. Now just make sure to leave the soap within arm's reach as well!
33. Wipe Lid Outlet Protection
One of the best ways to make sure children don't play with the things they're not supposed to is by making sure the dangerous items are out of site. This hack operates on the same principle.
In order to hide outlets in plain sight, take the hinge lids of wipe packages and place them over the outlets, directly around the plugs. Make sure to place the plug protectors within the sockets themselves! Once the lid of the wipes is closed, the outlet becomes invisible to the kids.
34. Daily Calendar
It's a constant struggle to get our kids out of the house on time. Between making sure they're dressing with their teeth brushed, serving them breakfast, and getting all the bags prepped and ready to go, it can be a real ordeal when, on top of all this, the kids just won't listen to what you're saying.
Instead of losing your voice first thing in the morning, make a daily schedule or calendar that the kids can consult. This will tell them the order that things will occur throughout the morning, as well as their own responsibilities before heading out the door. Providing this schedule fosters independence and gives the kids a sense of responsibility all while taking a load of parental shoulders.
35. Emergency Bracelets
We want to make sure that our children will always be able to reach us in case of an emergency. In some instances, they may be too young to memorize phone numbers or addresses. A craft for the whole family solves this problem.
Set out a bunch of number beads for the phone numbers of mom and dad, as well as letters to spell the name of the parent. Add some colorful beads as well, so the bracelets are fun to wear. Then each family member can make bracelets according to their own taste, which will encourage the kids to wear them.
36. Washing Legos
Sometimes the toys need a good bath! We don't want to spend hours scrubbing every last piece of Lego though. How will we even know if we've gotten them all clean?
Instead of doing this chore by hand, place all the Legos into a mesh delicate wash bag. Zip it up, and toss it in the washing machine. Run the cycle, and when it's done, remove the Legos and place them to dry on a towel. Ta-da! Clean Legos, simple as that!
37. Dry Winter Gloves
One of the worst feelings is running outside to play in the snow only to come running back in a few minutes later with sopping wet gloves and freezing hands. Aside from investing in more expensive, water-proof snow gear, here is an easy hack that will keep kids gloves dry.
Once the kids are wearing their gloves, place a latex glove over their winter glove. Tuck the edges under their coat sleeves to ensure they're water tight, and that's it! When they're finished playing outside, dry the latex gloves and reuse them on the next snow adventure.
38. Cheerios Snack Necklace
When we go to the supermarket or run a long errand, we know that our kids are going to get hungry. Part of that hunger comes from being bored. So instead of just giving them a snack, we like to give them an activity to go along with it.
These Cheerios snack necklaces are super easy to make and provide plenty of entertainment for kids on the go. Prepare a few in advance by stringing Cheerios on a ribbon and popping them into ziplock bags. When the kids get whiny on the go, pass them around. The kids will love eating them, counting the Cheerios, and wearing them!
39. Apple French Fries
One of the oldest tricks in the book is disguising healthy food to look like less healthy options. When kids would rather eat French Fries than their fruits and veggies, here's a great way to get them excited about that apple again.
Peel an apple and slice it into thin strips like French Fries. Throw them in a bowl and serve them to the kids. For an extra special touch, put the fries in an old fast food container or "serve" them out of the frozen bag of fries.
40. Restaurant Busy Bag
Going to restaurants with kids can be tough. Waiting for food, keeping them entertained when they're hungry...whew, it's tough! Next time, come prepared with a busy bag just for restaurants.
Fill the bag with a few healthy snacks in case the kids are hungry while they wait. Add in some stickers and coloring books. Finally, top it off with some kid-sized utensils so the little ones can feed themselves and a package of wipes for easy clean-up!