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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Trousers too short or holes in the knees? Cut off at the knees and use iron in hemming tape to make shorts. Works particularly well with school trousers which can last all year.

Supermarket tantrums happen because your toddler is overwhelmed by noise, lights, people - and sweets at the checkout you really don't want them to have - so talking to them about what they will see and expect, and can and cannot have. If the journey around the supermarket goes smoothly, then yes, give them a reward for good behaviour, and if a tantrum occurs - just ignore, carry on and don't give in to the tantrum (and ignore those tuts and looks from those shoppers who don't understand your predicament)

Both my DS loved bath time - but hated hair washing - so I use swimming goggles in the bath - they splash each other - look under the water for their toys and spend so long in there now they also tire themselves out for bedtime.

My DS was always putting his shoes on the wrong feet - so I got a sticker from his superheros sticker book, cut it in half and put it inside the sole of the shoes - when put side by side they made up Spiderman - (really helps for school too) - no more wrong feet. (works with Disney Princess stickers too)

Hello mummy of a 2 year old little boy and 7 month old twin girls... I would recommend making everything reward based. In a toddler’s or little child’s mind they will remember your choice of language so if you say ‘don’t run in the hallway’ they will most likely run where as if you say ‘please remember to walk slowly and carefully so you don’t break anything’ they will remember the word walk. This won’t work every time but will most of the time and it’s lovely to be using positive language all the time you will feel happier and find yourself smiling more.

So instead of ‘don’t do that or you can’t have that’ which is going down the line of punishing them for behaviour (which is very tempting) I’d say ‘please can you -i.e put your toys back in that box- and then we can read a book/ sing a song/ etc etc’ this has definitely improved my relationship with my toddler x x

Pick your battles with your teen! For a while SOME teens become the most self-absorbed buggers you could ever hope to meet, but, this passes!!! Yay!

I used to fight all the time with my eldest, and one day I had had enough, neither of us would get anywhere by constantly arguing, except get overheated headaches! So, we came to a truce, and I learned to pick the battles I fought.

I haven't (as yet!) had a single fight with my other three, we talk, we might have a whinge but no more screaming matches, because life is too short and now I know which fights to go with, and which to simply scream into my cushion about! lol

Pick your battles.

My DS will not eat carrots, onions peas or leeks, to solve this, I make meals as usual and add the pureed vegetables to my batch cooked bolognaise, which I then make into Spag Bol, lasagne, cottage pie. The meals are easy to make with the mince and vegetable concoction, they are different every day, and they are getting their 5 day without all of the fuss. I will introduce the vegetable gradually by adding chopped carrots into my meals and see how it goes, but for now, its working well.

Pick your battles! My DS goes to be quite late, but sleeps through till 7/8 in the morning. I'll take the late-ish evening for the 8/9 hours of uninterrupted sleep!

I explain why she can't have something, even if I have to explain it several times in slightly different ways, she eventually goes "OK" and lets it go (2yo) I think as long as she knows there's a good reason then she accepts it, eventually! I will continue to do this as my folks never did explain anything to me and it's such a simple thing to do.

Think I’ve tried everything.... Making chores into a game, rewards, closed choices, sometimes it works and sometimes I have to think of a brand new approach.

I’ve always tried to encourage my children to just have a go at things. That trying something new or difficult can feel uncomfortable or scary and that not everything is going to be fun but just give it a go.

Our hack that we’ve been using for years and it really works is making things a competition or using timers, so if i want the toys put away on the living room I say who can put away the most toys wins, if leaving the house I bet you can’t put your shoes on in 10 seconds, I use the timer on my phone to show them and give loads of praise and make it fun. It works for loads of different things!

Home work done before computer time, no pudding or treats until you've finished your dinner / Meal.

To help a toddler get their coat on put their faces into the hood with the coat hanging down their front and then swivel the coat round to their back. Now the arm holes are where they should be

At this time of year Santas elves checking everybody is behaving

With chores beyond the usual ‘keeping your bedroom tidy’ I give the option of doing specific tasks to earn small amounts of money to add to the pocket money app we use eg. £1 for sorting a basket of clean laundry

Also for clean washing - every member of the family (5 of us) has a named plastic trug. Clean washing is put in here and then everyone is expected to empty their bucket and put clothes away. I find it’s better than a pile of clean washing in the bedroom which soon gets spread around.

I have a post it note up by the door with what instruments/kits etc need to be remembered for each day.

Delegate! If you have more than one little darling, one strategy that can sometimes work is delegating responsibilty for the younger to the older. If you're really lucky and the elder(s) have the right character, they can effectively help bring up the little 'un. Helps reduce bickering too. Rewards for good results, of course...

"tidy up time" has become a bit of a game in our house - only because I have to sing the 'tidy up song' as fast as possible while the DCs race to see who can sort their area out first. The song in question is the benny Hill tune which my children find hilarious. The novelty is wearing off a bit for me though!

We race! DD will literally do anything if we race. Tidying up, finishing dinner, getting shoes on. We always make sure we are very silly and laugh about it as soon as the winner is decided.

After three children I have learnt that when children are toddlers and do something wrong, there is no point getting cross with them which ends with them having a tantrum. Instead draw attention to the issue and explain how to be nicer etc. If they don't want to listen wait a few minutes and try again.

Bribery is my best hack! Try star charts with a prize at the end of the week. Or if it’s trying to drag them out of the library or a shop or the house I might resort to a lollipop or a chocolate coin. My son did eventually start looking through my handbag asking for some bribery!

Tidying up can always be turned into a game/challenge. I remember saying 'I bet you can't do this a quickly as me' which was almost always was followed by 'Oh yes I can!' and an instant speeding up of the process. The inevitable Himalayan pile of Lego can very easily be tidied up at the end of the day if you put a sheet on the floor first, then it can all be gathered up and tipped into a box almost instantly. Encouraging 'help' with washing up can entertain little ones for hours. OK, you will end up with a soaking wet kitchen floor but it also enables independent play.

At the end of each day we put on a tidy up song and my husband, son and I race to have all the toys and books away before the end of the song.