Mumsnet users tell Disney Junior their best parenting hacks

[EllieMumsnet]

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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

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I've only got little ones but talking to them properly making sure they understand covers most things at the moment. Am aware that won't last though!

My son used to run around the store when went shopping, shouting and just generally being silly.
I've found it makes shopping less stressful if he has a list of his own, it's also a bonus it helps with his reading. He happily tells me what we need and ticks it off as we go.

Always reward good behaviour and give loads of positive attention for the good stuff. Overlook as much negative stuff as you can, without obviously being negligent. Specific praise about specific behaviour or activities is a hugely under-rated parenting tool.

If my children refuse to carry out a task then I challenge them to complete it in a set amount of time...we put the oven timer on and they have to finish the task before the timer goes off!

Pocket mirror when changing babies older babies nappy, saving poo hands everywhere! They're much more concerned about looking at themselves than grabbing their bits

I appeal to his competitive side. He will do things he doesn’t want to if it’s a race.

I make things fun and use lots of positive language to encourage my daughter to help me. Even though she is young, this is when it begins.

I make things into games as much as possible.. “let’s put on our favourite song and rush to tidy the toys before it finishes!’

I also always try to give them a choice so even if it’s something they don’t like, they can still make the decision for themselves and have some control over it, like ‘do you want to eat the carrots or the brocolli’ or ‘do you want to do reading or mathletics before bed’ etc.

We have a reward jar that has been a godsend for achieving a less stressful bedtime. They go to bed and sleep great and in the morning add a crystal to their jar.. when the jars are full they get a treat, like a day out or a toy they’ve been wanting.

My son has a toy Henry hoover which we bought for him as he developed a fascination with our real one! This keeps him entertained for ages and as he's a toddler it's helped with his balance and motor skills too! Plus I'm hoping when he gets older he'll be so used to it, he won't mind cleaning his bedroom!

I wish I had known about this before. If your children get anxious over tests, exams or whatever it is try the Bach Flower Remedies. There are pastilles to have at bedtime. I was desperate and cynically tried these, expecting at least a placebo effect, but they really work! They help children (and adults!) to sleep and miraculously seem to melt away their worries!

I try not to sweat the small stuff, so battles over clothes etc I avoid. I save my energy for the stuff that really matters. On a practical notes, I always make sure I give plenty of notice for things like going to bed, leaving somewhere fun etc.

I try to remember to get important messages over to them with a hug - even a row for doing something they shouldn't have - so they know I don't like the behaviour but still love them. I also find singing helps to lighten most situations, as does "I bet you can't finish that potato by the time I count to 3..." to.get some veggies eaten!

Hello, my tip to help my child is that I will not overload them with praise because in their heads it may after so long and so often become stale making them think that it means nothing, but what I do is I will overlook them and when they start to doubt their own skill within a game or look down reassure them of how great they are or to try to give tips. This might seem pretty simple yet many parents forget this.

We use trips to the park (it's across the road from us) and family board games sessions as rewards for doing the boring stuff like tidying their rooms and completing homework during the week.

My oldest child is 5 and this is what works for me so far. I know these may be obvious things, but sometime simple just works-

So, mainly by trying to set a good example and giving a basic explanation of what I'm doing and why eg. Washing clothes so you can have your favourite t-shirt back soon.

Asking if my son wants to join in and help, and a reason why it will be good eg. So we can play together sooner.

If he doesn't want to help, then I never say anything negative, I just go and start the job. I don't want it to become a negative thing, and more often than not, if I just do it at a slow place, he will come and ask to help me.

I always show my gratitude and praise any small things he does to help himself or me, especially if it is something he has done on his own initiative, which is increasing as he is getting older.

Teaching what brave actually is. It's not feeling no fear, it's being scared and accepting that, but keeping going anyway. (Good for doctors, airport security etc)
Teaching what sorry actually means. 'I wish I hadn't done it, and I'll try not to do it again.' Don't say it if you don't mean it!

I put a bowl of sweets and chocolate on the kitchen island so DD could help herself, whenever. I put a bowl of tempting fruit on a high shelf and made a fuss of the fruit saying she could only have a banana or some apples if she was good. 6 months later I had to throw all the sweets away! Reverse psychology can and does work. I would also eat the fruit in front of her, and make yummy noises, but I never ever offered her a bite. I also totally disregarded the sweetie bowl and asked my visitors to do the same.

Oh! I forgot about the tantrum. Generally allowed DD to tantrum away at home, never lasted long and I never referred to it. I just carried on as normal with a smile on my face. Didn't take long for her to notice that outside tantrums could become a thing. I reacted to the first trying to placate her, but it felt wrong, I was falling into a trap! Second outside tantrum was in a supermarket. I found a shopping basket, sat on it, and waited for DD to get it over with. I received a few knowing looks, a few smiles and a few scowls, haha. But pleased to report she never did it again. At the first sign of any paddy I would reach for a shopping basket and hey presto, catastrophe avoided!

Every life event, moment and experience can be related to something we've read, or something they've watched. I remember a time when most conversations would start with "do you remember that episode on Peppa Pig where..." this could relate to being scared of the dark, going to the dentist or getting a cold. Relating their lives to characters they know and love, is extremely comforting for my two.

I forgot to add how I get mine to eat vegetables. Just cover it with houmous..

We are still in the toddler phase so my main survival tips are distract, distract, distract, and remember YOU are the grown-up.

For doctors and fear of jabs, I was honest with my very pain sensitive son about what would happen and that it would hurt a little but would quickly pass. I then promised chocolate at the end! The old tricks are the best!

Letting children know in advance what is going to happen, helps with things like tidying up (and everything really).

Also, helping young children with tidying up toys. They find it so much easier to do it with a parent. And this gradually leads on to doing it all themselves.

Home made smoothies are my best parenting hack. You can fit so much secret good stuff in there and whizz it up along with some soya milk or almond milk, plus something like pineapple or berries and a banana, and it gets eaten. Even spinach!

Gold star stickers ! I have a pack for every occasion, which is worn proudly on a jumper all day for trying our best, helping being kind, and sharing. They work wonders, cost pennies, and give your little one a visible statement on their behaviour.