parent hacks

links for 2010-02-08

• kidyos - the best of the web for kids
  Pre-screened videos, games and educational content for 1-6 YO kids. Thanks, Oren!
• Baby Toolkit: Dock those tails: Streamlining adjustable elastic pants
  YES! My no-waist daughter always has these thingies sticking out. Thank you, Adrienne (by way of Tracy)!
• Smart-Bottom Enterprises: Personal ABC Books
  I always admire when parents put time into projects like these. Thanks for sharing, Darcy!
• glue sky » Fixing Crazy Action Figure Eyes
  Hilarious. Sharpies to the rescue!
• Cook Play Explore: Avoiding Mealtime Battles
  Interesting...may help some, although in my family it would create more battles. Thanks for passing this along, Cindy!

Life Scoop: Your own personal "events" calendar

How do you keep track of the about-town activities you might want to do if you feel like it and have time and noone's sick and...

My next post for the Intel-sponsored site Life Scoop shares my solution: a personalized "Possibilities" calendar.

Related: Life Scoop: Five ways texting can make your life easier

Contain small-parts toy play with a tray, cookie sheet or roasting pan

Kobie's hack solves two problems at once -- mess and babyproofing:

My daughters have recently discovered the delight of playing with HAMA beads (also known as Perler beads or fuse beads). This is small beads that you stack in a pattern and then iron to form a picture. When they started this hobby my middle daughter was four and rather clumsy so we were always picking more beads up from the floor than off the table. Having a 1 year-old didn't make this very safe. I happened on my roasting tray and gave this to her in a moment of genius and problem solved! She now works with the beads in the tray so we now have virtually no mess! This also works for collage making, play dough or any other games or hobbies that have tiny bits needing to be contained.

Yes! We happened upon this hack when my son got one of those million-part LEGO sets as a birthday gift. We used a cookie sheet, and, eventually, found some spare trays which we now just store with the LEGOs. Good use for disposable foil or plastic trays as well.

Expand this hack to any messy or small-parts activity: sand play, small jigsaw puzzles, even messy marker drawing and eating (keeps stuff off the table better than a placemat).

Amazon deal: $50 off selected Britax car seats

Amazon's taken $50 of several models of Britax car seats, which translates to about 15-20% off the regular price. In my opinion, Britax is worth the investment -- both of my kids rode in their convertible seats for years.

links for 2010-02-06

• Is your kid an orchid or a dandelion? - The Atlantic (December 2009)
  Mindblower theory about genetics, and why some kids thrive despite harsh environments while others struggle even when comfortable. Thanks for passing this along, Lyla!

links for 2010-02-05

• Chicken Counting: Custom Cereal Boxes
  What a smart idea! I am convinced that cereal boxes are a major vehicle for early readers. How fun! Thanks, Laura.

Let your toddler ride your rolling carry-on luggage through the airport

Daniel demonstrates that wear-and-tear on luggage wheels is far less important than a happy toddler in an airport:

Be it the distractions, the fatigue or just the miles to whichever gate we are rushing to, our toddler never seems to be in the mood to walk on his own in the airport. With our hands full of tickets, passports and carry-ons, we've always struggled to get from one place to another. Until we realized that rolling carry-on suitcases make fun and efficient child carriers. Now the minute we get in the airport, our son jumps on the suitcase and holds onto the top handle. He can ride happily and quickly that way all the way to the gate, and even onto the plane, down the aisle right to our seat.

Related: Tote-a-Tot: savior or silly?
More: Family travel tips  

"Unstick" burnt pots and pans with cola

Lisa's kitchen cleanup hack:

I saw this tip on TV in Ireland years ago. It comes in handy when I've attempted to cook while dealing with a colicky 2 month-old.

I hate scrubbing burnt pots and pans. So pour some cola (bubbly coca-cola works best) into the pan and bring it to the boil. Use a scrubbing brush to stir the cola and the burnt on food comes right off. It's a strong enough acid to clean the pan but mild enough to not damage any non stick coating.

Hm. Acid. I wonder if a mild lemon juice or vinegar solution would work as well? It would certainly be cheaper. A little kitchen chemistry anyone?

More: Parent Hacks for your home

Please vote for Parent Hacks in About.com Reader's Choice Awards

I just got a lovely email from Christy, the About.com guide to Family Internet. She's let me know that Parent Hacks is one of five finalists for the About.com Reader's Choice Award for Best Parenting Blog -- a wonderful honor, as the nominations came from readers as opposed to a panel of judges.

Now, it's time for the readers to make their choice! Won't you take a moment to vote? It's a single link click (go to the voting page and click Parent Hacks).

I appreciate your support, but most of all, I'm grateful for all of your contributions here...this site is what it is because of all the amazing hacks you send in every day. This is an award for all of us!

links for 2010-02-03

• Kids Craft Weekly - Valentine's Day Favourites
  Amber never goes wrong!

links for 2010-02-02

• Toddler Keyboard: Script for "locking" keyboard keys
  I just ran into this hack that came to me soooo long ago -- brilliant application by a dad who just wanted to make computer games less frustrating for his little ones. At AutoHotkey. A very belated thank you, Bob!
• Make Your Own Valentines (For Cheap!) :: Heavenly Homemakers
  Easy, cute, fun. Thanks as always, Laura!

Never throw it away: bubble wrap

Polly reminds us about kids' never-ending fascination with bubble wrap:

Keep kids busy and occupied with bubble wrap. Most kids can’t resist popping all those bubbles. It’s great to bring with you when traveling in the car or sitting in the doctor’s office and easy to carry in your purse or diaper bag. Don’t let them know you have it and wait to pull it out when they are getting restless. Just be sure they are old enough to know not to put it in their mouths. My kids love it.

For us, rubber bands are a constant source of inspiration. What household items do you consider worthy of the "never throw away" title?

Cut your toddler's nails while he's "playing" with the computer

Another distraction-while-grooming tip! From Stephanie:

Cutting nails has ALWAYS been a struggle with my son (now 2). He absolutely hated it and I was always afraid of cutting him since he was squirming so much until I found...THE COMPUTER (insert any favored hands-free distraction here. -- Ed.). I go to the Sesame Street website and let him bang on the keyboard. Meanwhile, he doesn't realize he's even getting his nails cut. It worked so well he now asks if he can go "Cut your nails?"

Related: Cut baby's fingernails while she's in a front carrier

Makeshift "peek-a-boo" nets you a few wiggle-free seconds to change a diaper

Martin's wiggly baby tip:

My daughter is 8 months old and is wriggling and rolling like nobody's business - especially when we're trying to put on a fresh nappy (I guess you call them diapers). One way I've found of creating a few seconds' wriggle-free window of opportunity is to cover her face with whatever's handy, usually a washcloth or some about-to-be worn clothing, a la peek-a-boo - she's then concentrating on pulling it off her face instead of wriggling and I get to finish the job!

More: Poop/pee/potty tips

Best of Parent Hacks: Valentine's Day

In my opinion, Valentine's Day should be a modest affair. Handmade cards, perhaps a few treats to supplement the lovefest -- that's all anyone really wants, right? (I take it back. Honey, I want the pink Valentine Domokun.)

I'd love to hear your ideas for a fun and simple Valentine's Day with your kids. For inspiration, we've got a bunch of lovely Valentine's hacks nestled in the archives:

• Make personalized Valentine photo stickers
• Sweet and simple Valentine gift wrapping
• Free-form painted hearts
• Fingerprint heart prints
• Heart-shaped pasta bracelets
• Turn valentines into placemats
• Make a last minute Valentine t-shirt
• Turn fabric scraps into heart-shaped window decorations
• Cut out magazine "lipstick lips" to make a kissy collage
• Valentine's Day "mistletoe"
• How to make heart-shaped cupcakes without a special pan
• Celebrate with your spouse the weekend after
• Clear Valentine clutter by making a collage
• Heart-shaped cookie cutters are useful for more than cookies
• Collective valentine-making, and a great photo card idea
• Torn paper valentines
• Add a little "homemade" to boxed character Valentines
• Turn catalog pages into homemade Valentine stickers

And, finally, my suggestion for the Valentine's gift every parent wants more than anything.