Most parents want their kids to be more independent. This means your little ones wake up, brush their teeth, get dressed for school, and don’t mix up their left and right shoes — and the main thing here is that they do it all by themselves without any help. It’s a parent’s dream come true, right?
We at Smalljoys have collected these smart parenting hacks that will hopefully teach children how to become more independent. We couldn’t wait any longer and invited this adorable young man to our office to check if these tricks really worked. By the way, ice cream, bubbles, and lots of love and attention served as the foundation of our friendship, so no children were harmed during the testing process.
How not to spill bubble solution
Every parent has faced this problem at least once. On the one hand, your kid gets excited about catching the bubbles. On the other hand, he wants to hold the container with the soapy liquid and blow the bubbles himself. Pretty challenging task for one little guy, don’t you think? As a result, the spilled bubble solution makes the floor very slippery and leaves your child upset about the whole thing. Try this simple trick: stick the container to the chair using some tape. This way your kid will get his new cool no-spill bubble tumbler to play with.
How to prevent those ice cream stains
Ice cream won’t ruin your child’s clothes if you use a cupcake case as a popsicle drip-catcher.
How to be more organized
Help your kids with their routines by creating this fun colorful clock for them. Just color code the segments on your children’s clock, and from now on they’ll know when it’s time to play or to do their chores.
How to turn housework into a fun game
Your child will gladly do the sweeping if you turn the whole process into a game. Use some colorful Scotch tape to make a square on the floor, and tell him that his special mission is to score a goal.
How not to mix up the keys
If you trust your child with the keys, try this trick. Paint them in different colors, and your kid will easily memorize which key opens which door.
How to tell which shoe goes on which foot
Kids often have trouble telling left from right, and so they mix up their shoes. Just place half a sticker in each shoe. Your little one can match up the sticker and get their shoes on the correct feet.
How to hold a pen correctly
If you want your children to learn how to hold a pen or pencil correctly, try using a napkin: tell them that they have to hide it under their fourth and fifth fingers.
How not to get locked in
Use some Scotch tape if you want to prevent small children from accidentally locking themselves in a room or asking for your help whenever they need to open a closed door. Kids love to slam doors, don’t they?
How to use the right amount of toilet paper
Colorful “stop” arrows will tell your kid how much paper they need.
How to get them to brush their teeth for two minutes
It’s difficult for children, and sometimes even for grown-ups, to know if they’ve spent enough time brushing their teeth. An hourglass, set for 2-3 minutes, is a perfect solution for you and your child. Another smart idea is to find a children’s song that lasts for at least 2 minutes, and turn it on every time your kid brushes their teeth.
How not to get lost in a mall
It’s easy for a child to get lost in a mall or during a crowded event on the street. To find your child more quickly, try this. Write your phone number, his/her (or your own) full name on your child’s wrist with permanent marker before going out. Also, teach your child how to behave in such a serious situation. For example, tell them they have to wait for you in the same place where they lost you, or they could turn to a woman with a child or a store employee for help, etc.
How to behave while mom unloads shopping bags
To prevent your hyperactive kids from running around the parking lot while you’re busy unloading shopping bags or younger children, offer a fun game. Place a bright sticker on your car, and tell your child he’s a transformer robot who needs to recharge his batteries at this time.