Parenting tips that aren't shit

[Rory786]

Hi all, Im loving the household tips that aren't shit thread, so here's a spin off. I'm desperate for parenting tips.
I have 2 teen boys doing GCSE's and 3 girls 4yrs, 22 months and 8 months. I'm being pulled all over the place, helping with algebra while changing nappies and doing finger painting.
At the moment I'm relying heavily on the iPad. Leaving the house seems so hard, we live in the country, can't walk anywhere and trying to defrost the car with the little ones seems so hard. The boys take the bus to school.
dd1 will be starting school in Sept and I'm dreading the school run.
Any tips appreciated, thanks.

Awesome idea for a thread, thanks OP. Placemarking to read later.

Oh and Thingy I have 3 kids. You bet your arse I give them iPads (any fucking electronic item to be fair) to guarantee me a few minutes peace. I've even told them what time I MUST have them back to ensure they don't waste any precious time on me. My friend taught me that. She's a genius.

google chrome cast is fab, the kids can then watch on the big tv. This can prevent iPads smashing on the floor. Or get a really good iPad cover that protects it from falls. You can also control what they watch on the internet.

Baby bum nursery rhymes (on youtube) are loved here too.

Loving this thread 😍
yes to getting the kids involved with chores early on. Who knew a 4yr old could enjoy recycling more than playing with toys!
Meal plans, stick to them. No making 4 separate meals for the picky eaters.
Get into the schools lost property box as soon as the item is lost. Leave it any longer and you will never get your item back.
The bin bag threat! Set dc off tidying their rooms. Give them an agreed amount of time, then tell them your coming in with a bin bag. Anything still lying about will be placed in the bin bag and put in the bin. I have never had to bin an item yet!

My toddler loves this: I put her in a dry empty bathtub no clothes on and squirt a few blobs of paint. She paints to her hearts delight then I just wash her when she is done.

ou can use a fitted sheet as a lego catcher

Night time potty training (or older DCs who have the odd accident) layer the bedding.... disposable mat, sheet, mat, sheet. At 3am so much quicker to remove the top mat and sheet than change the whole bed.

Get a family calendar with different columns and put everything on it asap (and remember to check it).

While I agree with not always asking questions (e.g. Do you want to eat your breakfast now), they can be useful for options children don't like e.g. Are you going to clean your teeth or get dressed first? You can put your toys away, or I will take them to the charity shop... your choice. ;-)

Meet "specialist" parents. I can't bake to save my life. I do love to go swimming though. I take your kids swimming and you bake cakes with mine. We do this a lot. Some parents are less keen on the drizzle in the park, others are not so keen on artwork.

Live somewhere kids can play out. Mine started playing out last year and omg it's amazing. He was out playing for 5 hours yesterday (cold but sunny) and came home head to toe covered in mud as usual. I watched homeland and ate ice cream . Only consider is kids forever knocking on your door.

Consider . 'downside'

RubyRoo2016 you are a wondrous fairy godmother genius SWEETHEART. The good karma you get from posting the paint-in-bath tip (and how many parents it will help) is probably going to bag you a lottery win. Bless you. My son will be delighted ❤👏🏼💐

Also thank you OP for this excellent thread. Have seen some great tips I haven't come across before. 💐
(Although am fully expecting the 'Pull envelope neck vests down instead of up in the event of a poonami' to be along in a minute 😏)

Thanks Avon for the lego bag link, think I will get one they look great!

Write a list of all the things that you need and want to do in the day. I do this and slip it rolled up in the sleeve of my phone. So it reads: tablets, coffee, feed cats, dress, etc. I make sure I include stuff that I typically forget such as charging my phone, feeding cats before bedtime. Those things that if you forget you chase your tail for afterwards. Now that I know what order I should do things in, it gets done quicker and I have space for hobbies and exercise.

Write a list of all the things that you need and want to do in the day. I do this and slip it rolled up in the sleeve of my phone. So it reads: tablets, coffee, feed cats, dress, etc. I make sure I include stuff that I typically forget such as charging my phone, feeding cats before bedtime. Those things that if you forget you chase your tail for afterwards. Now that I know what order I should do things in, it gets done quicker and I have space for hobbies and exercise.

thanks ordinarygirl, I was feeling really overwhelmed before but just reading other mnetters tips have really helped me feel more positive.

print or draw labels for your younger kids drawers. My four year old can see from the picture where her socks are or where to put away her pajamas etc.

we have a huge whiteboard attached to a wall. The older boys write out their hmwk and give it a tick when its done. I can just glance and see rather than asking a load of questions.
Also its helpful when you are trying to teach them how to answer a math problem for example. My four yr old can write away without worrying that her younger sister will steal her pen. Keeps her busy.
It is a bit of an eye sore so when guests come I hang a wall covering over it!

Marvellous ideas on here for when mine are a bit older.

I agree having emergency clothes in the boot of my car (plus carton of ready made formula and jar of baby food when they were younger) has saved me on a number of occasions.

I also save small colouring books/stickers/crayon packs from party bags or other freebies and have them in my changing bag for entertainment. I also used to keep small tubs of bubbles for the same reason (good for when you have ordered a meal in a restaurant with kids which seems to take ages to arrive!)

I also keep an eye out for used wellie boots on ebay and buy them for max 99p + P&P for the next size up/couple of sizes so that we always have wellie boots that fit for winter walks/muddy puddle days. And I sell on the used wellie boots on ebay for 99p so free wellies!

If you have a bedwetter make up the bed with a bed mat, the fitted sheet, then another bed mat, and then an old cot sheet over the top. That way if they have an accident in the night you don't have to re-make the whole bed, just whip off the top two layers and hey presto.

Always shucks ordinarygirl you are so sweet😊

Some super tips on here!

Another potty training one ... crocs or jelly shoes are the way forward in case of accidents (weather permitting) just rinse, wipe dry and you are good to go.

My sister uses this tip on neices and nephews. They are at the age they have tablets and what not in there room for bed time but also at the ages where they can sort of read time. Before handing the tablet over she'll put forward the time so the kids think they are staying up later than usual but they actually aren't! They go to sleep with no fights.

1. If you use wipes, don't use up a whole packet at home. Stop when the packet is nearly empty (say, 20 left?) and use that packet in your changing bag and start a new one for home. Much lighter.

2)for young children when you are knackered, play doll factory/hospitals/salon/garage/whatever context appeals. Lie down on the floor or sofa and give your children some cotton wool, clean paint brushes, pots of warm water, baby lotion. The game is that you are the patient/doll/broken down car/etc and they tend to you with their equipment. You get to lie down with your eyes closed, they are entertained with you and some pretend play, they are generally touching you and within ear shot so not getting up to any trouble and it's all nice and safe. That game has been my saviour so many times.

If you have family members who wee in their sleep, leak from nappies or are sick a lot, if finances allow it I recommend having an extra quilt, duvet, sheet and Matress protector ready nearby

Spare potty in the back of the car with wipes (cleaning & baby), nappy sacks, hand sanitiser, water etc.

Yes to shared calendar!

Also, use songs as timers - you need to be standing at the front door ready to go by the end of the song.

Get into a routine to get things done. When DD (5) gets home from school, she has a snack and then does her reading/homework and then does whatever she wants. She knows that if she mucks around rather than doing reading then it's her play time she's using up.

Older DC - mobile phone, pocket charger, and a bus card. Once they're 16, get a railcard as well if they use the train. That way you spend less of your life taxiing them about.

Train them young - On days you're not in a rush, get younger DC (from age 3/4 maybe) to help cook, sort laundry, load washing machine, etc. It will probably be slower than doing it yourself, but within a few years they'll be able to do it for you on days when you are in a rush.