Mumsnet users tell Disney Junior their best parenting hacks

[EllieMumsnet]

This activity is now closed

No matter your child’s age, if you have tips for encouraging them to help around the house, how to overcome fear of the doctor or dentist or knowing the little things to remember every time you step out with the family, Disney Junior UK wants to hear them.

Here’s what Disney Junior UK has to say: “A child is the greatest gift you can have but we know being a parent can be stressful at times. Our shows like Vampirina and PJ Masks, aim to spark little conversations around everyday problems that can sometimes be difficult for parents and children, and provide fun solutions for them. Disney Junior UK has now launched a new Parenting Hacks podcast with Helen Skelton to bring together parents, experts and special guests to explore tips, tricks and ways to provide more support to busy parents.”

Have you found the best ways to turn household chores into games? What’s your best trick to stop a supermarket tantrum? Do you have a life-changing laundry hack that has been passed down through generations? Perhaps you have tips that will help other busy parents at meal times? Or what about the little tricks that you’ve learnt to encourage your child to use their imagination?

Whatever your best parenting hacks are, share them on the thread below. Everyone who comments will be entered into a prize draw, and one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

Well I suppose our main hack has been to try and always explain to the children - and model in our behaviour - the importance of kindness and working as a team within the family. So jobs are to be shared and other's feelings to be respected. This works mostly, and I reassure myself that this will be the 'inner voice' as they grow up. But I am not smug, and there are times when their behaviour or squabbling or self-centredness (I have two teenagers) is grim. But they know behaviour of that type is not rewarded, (by trips out, pocket money) but better behaviour is. It mostly works. My best hack? Remembering that everything is a phase. It will pass. [Breathe]

Mine are a bit older but I've also set age appropriate chores, made them responsible for keeping rooms tidy and having a standard checking day with incentives. They know how to wash and dry up, vacumm and feed the pets. We talk about why everyone in the family needs to help out and how that makes it a happy place to live. They know they can ask questions, especially about things they hear at school or on the news, nothing is taboo as I would rather they heard the facts then gossip.

Right from when mine were tiny, I always play the same bit of music on a loop during tidy up time. This means they are now conditioned to tidy up when that music is playing, and it really works well.

Another hack is I have capsule wardrobes for them all ( unless they choose something themselves) and also their clothes are stored as complete outfits, so in their drawers they, or DH or I, just need to take out a pile and the whole outfit is there (trousers, vest, socks, top and jumper in winter). It makes dressing in the morning really easy and keeps keep their capsule wardrobe to a minimum as it's easy to see what they have and what they need. ( Between seven and ten outfits is plenty for all ages I have found)

Pick your battles and realise some aren't worth fighting - if they want & can have the green cup instead of the blue one, let them!

Get them to put away their washing as soon as they can. Start with small tasks and build up to helping around the house. They are keener when younger though!

As a parent and a teacher, I know how important it is to raise kids with high aspirations and grit. We read a lot of books about powerful women (I have daughters) and talk about things in the world we don’t like and could try to change. My eldest talks about being an inventor now.
Biggest problem I have as a teacher is lots of kids think it will all just work out for them without having to work hard, their aspirations are high but their grit is so, so low.

When weaning put a small amount of peas and/or sweet corn (straight from freezer, no need to cook) on their tray at the start of every meal. Keeps little ones occupied whilst you're getting everything an everyone else to the table and helps them develop their pincer grasp. Also great when their teething as cools their tender gums. Both of my children still eat peas and corn frozen now as a quick, nutritious snack.

Benign neglect works and not micro-managing. It's ok for kids to be bored and it's ok for kids just to play, either on their own or with friends. The stress of the organised "playdate" horror becomes easier if you call it what it bloomin' well is "playing with your friend"
Our children don't need to belong to 46 educational clubs and have their telly programmes chosen by us for their educational value. Part of the delicious memories of childhood are doing things that your mum and dad would never "get". Watching things that would bore them rigid.
Best "hack" of all? Get to grips with the idea that whilst your children are the most important people in your life, you're not obliged to give up your own separate life to make theirs what you've been sold is perfect parenting.

At this time of year it has to be reminding that Santa says good kids eat their vegetables. Works a charm!

start from the off and don't make it a "thing" to have to clean or tdy up or help.as soon as something beceoms a chore at many ages its something to rebel against.
so from the beginning you can all set the table.help mum fold then towels.etc and ok if they then decide to rebel anyway its then you bring in the other hacks for help.
always teach them to share and be kind.so when they are little give them a bag of sweets to share.or to offer there friend or sibling one of there crisps.
give them the confidence in anything and everything.always keep listening and encouraging even if they aren't the best at something.
at the end of play we tidy up.whoever clears away first get to choose tongihts pud or snack.or first choice of tv.etc.
get them helping with the cooking as soon as.even if at first its choosing the colour of a veg or food.get them stiring."ask chef for help in tasting" make food something more than how it seems to be nowadays which is for sustainance or fear! get them interested in vcooking and in balance of all foods.
play dress up.get a laundry basket for dressing up clothes.
make dens.its an essential when your little.out of anything.the sofas.sheets.blankets.
take them out walking when you can.just to the park.let them see what nature and imagination can do to be fun.
let them be bored.if a child isn't given a screen or item to amuse them their minds will wander to the greatet of places!
read in bed.
always always say please and thankyou.even if you don't say them for that particular thing anymore yourself just make it really pronounce in most things so they get used to it.
avertion.when in tantrum try and get something else to get their attention.
in the supermarket being good gets an ice bun or ginger bread man from the bakery section at the end.or if at tea time yes a mcdonalds.
make cards for family and thankyou and special occasions.
try and get them to write thankyou letters.
get a piggy bank.
for laundry its 3 minute dirty dash.they have three minutes to gather all their daughty laundry.the last one has to sit at the bottom and have the dirty washing chucked on their heads.somehow they love being last far too often!
no tech at meals.
when out get them to name things.get them to see colours and make stories up as you go to fuel their imagination.
story time in bed.

Mine are only little but my best tip is to spend at least 20 minutes of time playing whatever they want to do, with your completely undivided attention. I find even if you’re really busy this is great for making them and you feel like you’ve had quality time and strengthens bonds. It doesn’t sound like much but it makes a big difference IMO.

When he was little and too young to read I would do a list of pictures for him to find in the supermarket - he enjoyed looking and never complained about helping with the weekly shop!

DD earns money per chore, or is banned from screentime until she has done certain jobs. She is 10 now so plenty old enough to help with the laundry and the dishwasher.

She loved Sophia the First on Disney Junior

I'm not sure I'd say it's a 'hack' as different things work for different people. I've always encouraged my DC when they want to help do things when little as they then automatically do it when older and don't realise it's a chore, eg setting the table is fun for a 3yr old so by the he time they're 8, 9 etc it's a habit. Same with putting their washing away, doing dishes etc.
Also, don't get toddlers toy hoovers, get a lightweight proper one (dyson handheld works here) DC have fun and floor gets hoovered. :)

Instead of nagging just reminding them with few words, eg : DD bathroom light!
Turning chores in to games
"Let's see who can tidy up first!"

Reverse psychology for me too! Works wonders with my super stubborn 5 year old!

To encourage teeth brushing and any other boring job I use a combo of pictures and threats. At bed time we either watch a video or draw something. For my eldest girl I use a lot of visual aids. I find that she honestly loves using colours and maps as part of her revision sessions too.
My second child prefers music so I sing with her as she brushes her teeth. Also at bedtime I read a book out loud to her. She prefers me to ask her some questions to help her remember and test her memory too. It’s like a oral exam really. She is a big fan of audiobooks so we have them in the car.

Never make a threat that you're not prepared to follow through. No point threatening to cancel Christmas, birthdays or days out if you know that you can't.

And always try to explain the 'why' even if it's an unpopular choice or decision. It won't always be listened to but as they get older my experience is that children appreciate knowing the reason why they can't do/have something rather than 'because I said so'.

To quote the Lady herself "in every job that must be done there is an element of fun. You find, and snap the jobs a game. So in our house we try to turn everything into a game or competition. There is no bigger motivator than who can get their jacket and shoes on first or who will be the first to tidy all their toys away.

Biggest parenting hack when DS was born - always have a go to bag packed and by the front door. I had it drummed into me by so many people that leaving the house after a baby would take me ages as there was so much to organise, but we found that if the go to bag was packed (and that was DH's job every night, to make sure it was fully stocked and ready to go) then we could decide to go out on a whim and be out of the house within 5-10 mins which made it feel far less of an ordeal in the early days...

Now DS is a bit bigger (17mos), I find that music is our go to/hack - songs encourage him to help with things ('clean up, clean up, everybody clean up' will have him sprinting to throw toys in the drawers) and also come him down if he starting to get fractious when we're running errands or driving. And where that fails, there's always Mr Tumble (he loves it, and I can tell myself its educational..).

DC2 hates the shower. We just say it's raining inside which has helped.

Household chores are presented as how grown up they are and now we can trust them to do X job. We also discuss all of the things the grown ups do in the house and how we are a family so we have to work together, like I help you with your homework, I need some help with this washing etc.

The oldest is getting a bit difficult with it apparently none of her friends have to do so much as take their own socks off so I normally say a natural consequence "ok, well since I will be busy doing that i guess I won't have time to take you to your friends" she can see the logic in that and it's better than arguing with her over it, it gives her a choice and only once has she not done what she was supposed to but it made her realise that I really won't be able to do something for her (didn't make a big deal out of it, I just did it and didn't take her somewhere), and she's not done it since