Keep Kids From Using Too Many BandagesAny parent can probably relate to the bandaid dilemma. Kids seem to think they need a bandaid for every bump, bruise, scrape or whatever they receive.
Parking Tip For Shopping With KidsWhenever I take the kids shopping with me, I always park near a cart corral. This way, after shopping, I do not have to walk all over hunting for a place to put the cart, plus the kids can see me from the car.
Working vs. Staying at HomeThis is really kind of a testimony. When my daughter graduated from high school I decided to go to work to pay college expenses. My daughter was a straight A student but found it difficult to get scholarships at the time locally.
Preventing Squeaky Crib RailsSqueaky crib rails waking baby? Spray them with non toxic Pam spray . . .
Jungle Day in the BackyardAre you looking for a way to have fun with your kids right at home? Then consider having a jungle day in the backyard. There are many things that can be done in the backyard to turn it into a pretend jungle.
Summer Sprinkler FunMy kids never turn down a chance to run through the sprinkler on a hot sunny day! They often invite their friends...
Tips for the First Day of SchoolI'm a nerd and have my own handbook for tips for school. Well here are some tips for the kids if they are nervous. Dress comfortably. Be prepared. Get your stuff out the night before...
Grocery Shopping With KidsWhen grocery shopping with my younger children, I would give each of them 2 quarters to spend in the gumball machines at the end of our trip. While shopping, they would see all kinds of things that they didn't need, like a certain cereal just because of the toy inside or some over priced item in the toy row...
Saving Money on WorksheetsA great way to get more life out of worksheets is to use the clear plastic sheets made for overhead projectors on top of the worksheet
Sharing the ComputerSharing the Computer. Do you find that whenever you want to use the computer, it's always occupied? Well that was happening with my daughter and I, so I made up a time schedule. . .
Getting Toddlers to Try New FoodsI often have my grandson at my house. Being a toddler, he is a picky eater. I came up with this idea when we were reading a book called "Eating a Rainbow".
Staying Positive with Behavioral TechniquesI'm a preschool teacher and mom to a 3 year old. One of the behavior techniques I use in my classroom is phrasing things in a positive way.
Back To School Breakfast ScheduleWe use to struggle with what to have for breakfast. My children have come up with a breakfast schedule and they posted it on the fridge. They listed days of the week and the breakfast meal that will be served that morning.
Saving For School ExpensesSaving For School Expenses. Purchasing school supplies takes a huge bite out of our budget (and it's a free public education!) Each payday, I place $25 in an envelope to be used for school related expenses. . .
Teaching Laundry Skills To College Bound StudentsWhile parents are preparing to send their children off to college, they try to think of all the material items to take with them to supply their dorm rooms. One thing that some parents don't think of, is showing your child how to do his/her own laundry.
Plan Outfits With Fashion Show PhotosPlan Outfits With Fashion Show Photos. This is a tip if you have a 6 year Diva who, at the last minutes before you walk out the door, decides she hates all her clothes and has nothing to wear. . .
Buy Quality Backpacks For SchoolBuy Quality Backpacks For School. I highly suggest buying backpacks at L L Bean. The quality is really good and the price is not bad either. My kids get at least 2 years out of one of their backpacks. . .
Extra Expenses at the Beginning of SchoolI remember when my children were in school, there were always extra unexpected expenses in the first weeks of school.
Decorating Your School Locker with MagnetsMy son started middle school this year and he has his own locker. Of course, he wants to "decorate" his locker. I explained to him that stickers and other semi-permanent things would not be good.
Making Custom Composition NotebooksMaking Custom Composition Notebooks. I just decorated a basic composition book that I found 3 for $1 at a local drug store. Using a glue stick, I covered it with scrapbooking papers. . .
School SnacksBack to School Snack. A little story of when my daughter was younger. I would now and then make her some peanut butter crackers. No big deal. Before you know it she was coming home with all types of junk snacks. . .
The Benefits of Wearing Uniforms to SchoolWearing Uniforms to School. Here 'down under' we are in the middle of the school year so the tips will have to be kept for January. LOL. . .
Praise for MarshallsMy daughter is a senior in high school, a tech H.S. She has a co-op program this year. She'll be working every other week in an office. She's not one for frilly girl clothes. . .
Displaying Children's ArtworkUsing Children's Artwork. Children always bring home so much beautiful art work that sometime it is hard to find ways to display it.
Baby Formula On The GoBaby Formula On The Go. If you like the convenience of the individual packages of powdered baby formula but don't want to pay the price, measure out scoops of formula into empty M&M minis tubes. The smaller tube holds enough for a 4 ounce bottle,
Keep Snow Out Of Your BootsWith winter coming to MN, it's time to get prepared with warm clothing. I learned this when the kids were small: Cut the foot off a pair of old tube socks. Then slip the tube part over the top of their boots and no snow will get in when they are outdoors.
Kids Drinks In BottlesKids Drinks In Bottles. For households with young children always wanting a glass of drink fixed, try this: Get a plastic bottle with a pull open top that closes and opens.
Join Baby Formula Company ClubsJoin Baby Formula Company Clubs. I noticed that there are a lot of requests for coupons for baby formulas. Most baby formulas companies have clubs that you can join for free. They send bunches of formula coupons.
Decorate Your Child's ToothbrushInstead of buying an expensive character toothbrush for your child to brush their teeth, I find sticking character stickers on the handle of a plain, inexpensive toothbrush less costly and just as effective.
Chickenpox Booster VaccinationSo this is just a heads up to parents with kids over 5 to make sure they get the new immunization. If anyone has any tips for caring for kids with chickenpox, I'd love some input.
Cutie Caddie For Little Girl's ToiletriesMy 5 year old daughter has a great deal of "Things" that we use while she is getting ready for bed and getting ready for school. We were constantly running up and down stairs, in and out of the bathroom and everywhere to get her ready. No more!
Changing the Baby After His NapI always change the baby before he goes in for a nap. Instead of changing him when he wakes I wait 10 or 15 minutes. Babies don't tend to wet very much when they are sleeping, he is often fairly dry!
Lasagne Noodles For Toy CarsDry lasagne noodles work well as ramps for toy match cars! Also use glue them on cardboard for roads.
Bath Bib for Bathing BabiesKeep yourself dry while giving your baby a bath by creating a large bib from a towel. Just fasten one end of the towel around your neck using a large safety pin and let the rest drape in front of you.
Easter CD BasketsIt's that time again when we need to be creative about what goes into that Easter Basket so that we don't put our kids on chocolate overload. Personally, I like to put inexpensive toys like crayons and books in their baskets, but recently I was asked by my grandson William if I could get him some coloring pages to color when he had to spend some extended time here.
Quilts To Save Couch From Baby MessesTo save our new sofa and recliners in our family room when we had a new baby, I went to a discount store and purchased several quilts on sale for $10.
Marker Rules For ChildrenSeems like there have been a lot of posts lately about children using permanent markers, and how well I remember those days when my own kids, nieces and nephews were that age. Back then, I came up with a solution that would allow them to express their creativity with markers.
Positive Potty TrainingMy tip today is for all you mothers out there needing an inventive way to reward your child for doing the right thing. When your potty training, it gets really frustrating trying to catch your child when they need to use the bathroom.
Mommy Can I Have It?Children are great at breaking a budget, but it's important to set boundaries. What do you do when your child asks for something that is financially out of the question?
Get Pregnancy Tests At The Dollar StoreSave money on pregnancy tests, buy them at the dollar store! Yes, they are $1.00 at your local dollar store. They work just as well for $10.00 less!
Keep Kids Busy With Summer MoviesGet free movies to watch from local library. This is especially great for kids over the summer. Make one day a week a movie day.
Inexpensive Target PracticeTape some dark construction paper on tiled, waterproof, bathroom wall. Fill water guns and try to hit the center of the construction paper!
Potty Training With PenniesI have just potty-trained my 2 year old with a very simple idea. Each morning she gets 10 pennies to put in a jar. If she has an accident, I take a penny away.
Lights, Camera, Action! - A Children's StageDo you have a child that is longing for the bright lights of Hollywood? Do you have a budding playwright in the family too? Well, here is a way to build her or him their own stage so you can enjoy the fruits of their labors.
Baby Powder For Beach SandUse baby powder (cheapest works the same) for sandy hands and especially sandy feet at the beach. You know how hard it is to get all the sand free from your toes and feet, legs, your hands. It just seems to cling there, even though you have rinsed in the water and towel dried them.
Mark Puzzle Pieces For Easy SortingToddlers love to play with puzzles and of course they will always mix the pieces in the same box. I have a three year old boy that just started with the 24 pieces and he will put the pieces together and want someone to sort the puzzle.
Use Small Portions On A Large Plate For Picky EatersIf your child is a poor eater, put their child size portion on a big dinner plate. That way it looks like you're only asking them to eat a little bit.
Toddler Art GalleryWith a 2 year old son who is a prolific "colorer" and a fridge that is non-magnetic stainless, I had a dilemma on how to display my little artist's work.
Cook With Your ChildI am suggesting to allow the child in on the making of their OWN left-overs-in the muffin tins, and with some on toast squares, some with rice mixtures, some with noodles, some with potato "nests", and a few with potatoes/layered veggies.
How To Style A Toddler's HairIn order for anyone to style my granddaughter's hair, we must occupy her mind with an activity. She loves to play in the water so my oldest granddaughter, has filled the bathroom basin with water for Hannah to play in while she is getting her hair done...
Stock Up on School SuppliesWhen each of my grandchildren were born, I started a tub where I purchase school supplies for them every year. I wait until school starts and Walmart and the other stores discount everything and I stock up.
Buy Supplies Before And Clothing After School StartsJust before school starts, the stores put school supplies on sale at very cheap prices. The kids will usually need most of those sale items at some point. So I purchase the limited number. Sometimes even going back more than once.
Buy School Supplies from the ListI always wait until I have an exact list of needed items from the teachers themselves before I buy. In the upper grades, some teachers can be very specific about what they prefer; down to the color of the ink pen or size of the notebook.
Look For Free School SuppliesAnother way to save on school/home office supplies is to look for online freebie. I have gotten sample highlighters, photo and print paper, pens, and post-it notes!
Tips for Buying School SuppliesAs a teacher and mom, I am on both sides of the "school supply list" scavenger hunt. Here are my tips.
Ask For School Uniforms On FreecycleOne thing you could do to get uniforms, jackets and such is to put a post up on Freecycle or a Yahoo group. We have one here in Jefferson Parish, which is like a county. Maybe you can check to see if you have one in your town or area.
Make Book Covers from Leftover WallpaperUse leftover pieces of wallpaper or pages from a wallpaper book to make book covers. Many of these book covers are even tear-resistant.
Getting Kids Ready For Back To SchoolHere are some tips for getting kids ready for back to school. Start putting the kids to bed earlier every night so that by the time school starts they are used to a school time bedtime.
Oriental Trading Company For Birthday GoodiesSince schools do not allow homemade goodies for birthdays and holidays anymore, Oriental Trading Company has various items in their catalog that would be fun to hand out instead of candy or sweets.
Save Money on Kids ClothingKeep kids in nice clothing can be a major expense for parents because kids are always growing. Here are some tips from the ThriftyFun community to help you save on clothing for your kids.
Velcro on the Back of Puzzle PiecesMy daughter has TONS of puzzles and at the end of the day, it'd take me a half hour to find all of the pieces. So I attached small Velcro circles onto the back of every piece along with their matching space on the puzzle board.
Make Your Own Toy FoodI see toy food for sale all the time and think that not only is it a waste of money. It may not even be safe with all the recent recalls. Save pint-sized milk cartons, empty pizza boxes, empty mac n'cheese boxes, any food container.
Use a Notebook for Teacher CorrespondenceI'm not sure how many teachers are already doing this, but even if she/he asks for a folder to put their notes and worksheets in (for younger grades), use a cheap 70 page spiral notebook so you can exchange notes.
Multiplication Game With Egg CartonsUse your egg cartons before you throw them out! When they are empty, write a different number in each space; either 1-12 or 0-11. Then place 2 beans, coins or other small items in them and close the lid.
Keep Your Kids LaughingThe best back to school tip from a mom of three is to try to make your family life fun by telling jokes at dinner, and making learning fun by rewarding with tickling awards!
Get Formula Samples Before The Baby ComesWhen pregnant, subscribe to as many formula companies as possible. These companies send out samples hoping to bank on your purchase of their product later. If you breastfeed, they are good to keep around for emergencies.
Give Out One Coloring Page at a TimeAt my son's daycare, they noticed that when they gave the kids a whole coloring book, they would color a little bit on lots of different pages, and then when someone got the book out again, they would not want to color in it because the pages were already used.
Recycle Crib Sheets for a PlayhouseWhen my toddler graduated from a crib to a twin mattress, I gave my older two children the worn out crib sheets. Earlier I'd brought home big boxes for them which they used to create a home, cutting out windows and entries.
Squeaky Crib BarsUse spray cooking oil on crib slide bars to keep them from squeaking and waking up baby!
Hide Labeling on Kids BelongingsThe best plan is to always write kids names on the inside of their belongings. Displaying the name on the outside could be an invitation for trouble, should your child assume an unfamiliar person knows him/her just because this person calls him/her by name.
Caddy for Homework and ToolsTo control all the essentials of homework, I bought a box that holds hanging file folders (make it a cute one). I then put tabs for each of my children so I could hold spelling tests, sight words and other papers that we use year round.
Help Your Teenager Narrow the Career SearchPart-time jobs, job-shadowing, volunteering and internships all help teens decide whether or not a career they have in mind is the path they want to follow.
Warm Crib Sheets With A Heating PadUse a heating pad on "low" to warm your baby's crib before lying him/her down after you get him or her to sleep. But remember, be sure to check the temp with your hand before to make sure it's not too hot.
Keep Kids Amused With A Hole PunchInvest in several deco hole punches and keep some of your nicer junk mail that is a pretty color or nice texture. When the grandkids or neighbor kids come over, put them to work "helping".
System For Kids To Choose ChoresThis is a great way to organize your kids to do chores.
Deposit Allowance in a Real Bank AccountI have 4 young kids that each have a piggy bank for collecting coins and putting their allowance in. When the banks are full we take them to the bank and deposit them in their accounts, usually around twice a year.
Why Does My Lunch Smell Horrible?My dear, oh, so busy, daughter sent this to me this morning. She has made us grandparents to two of the cutest little boys in the world. Jonny is three and a half, and Joey (the subject of the email) is 14 months...
Numbering Puzzle Pieces for Easier SortingIf your children or grandchildren have several board puzzles, here is a great way to know which piece goes to which puzzle, when two or more are out at once. This works great in preschools also.
Pad Bedside Wall With QuiltsMy grandson's youth bed is up against the wall, and since he is an active sleeper, he kept crashing into the wall and waking himself up at night. To solve that problem, I hung one of his decorative quilts on the wall behind his bed.
Making a Toy Bag out of Receiving BlanketsWhen my son was a baby, he had lots of receiving blankets. As he grew older, of course, they weren't needed. I gave away several, then one day I needed a toy bag to take to Grandma's house.
Make A Pillow Out Of A Beloved ShirtBecause I have six kids, we tend to pass down a lot of clothes to the next sibling. My oldest son had a special shirt he simply did NOT want to let go of. Rather than pass it down to his brother, I agreed to let him keep it.
Enjoy a Peaceful Ride HomeAnyone who has to pick up their kids or grandkids from a childcare situation after work knows that the ride home can sometimes be filled with whining and complaining as the kids are tired and hungry.
Egg Carton BellsI just got back last night from a weekend of fun and games with my 5 year old granddaughter, Megan. We all know how little kids love to give presents to grown ups. She gave me some bells that she had made from a recycled paper egg carton. You just cut out the little cups and paint.
Free (and Sugar-Free) Giveaway For PreschoolersWhen my children's preschool had a special occasion that normally meant a lot of sugar (Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween, etc.), I would set a sugar-free example.
Clean Baby Bottles with Uncooked RiceTo clean baby bottles, add a little uncooked rice or some coffee grounds with a little warm water and soap. Put the top on and shake until clean.
Saving Money on Baby ClothesDon't be afraid of hand-me downs. If someone offers you hand-me downs, take them! Go through them and whatever you don't want or can't use, give away to someone who can. Tips for saving money on baby clothing as posted from the ThriftyFun community.
No Snow Boots?We went next door to build a snowman and play in the snow with our 2 yr. old grand daughter. They had no boots for her to wear. So we put plastic bags on her tennis shoes and tied them at the ankles with string.
Reusing Medicine DispensersHow many of you have extra medicine dispensers. The cup kind and the syringe kind? I have two young children so I have a lot. I have been letting them play in the tub with the extras and one day it hit me that I could use them to dispense shampoo and conditioner as well as meds.
Using Last Year's CalendarLast year's calendar makes a great chore chart or reward chart for young kids. For example, to motivate a child for potty training, let them put a sticker or draw a star in one of the boxes each time they use the toilet. When they have filled up a month's worth of boxes, they get a prize.
Bath Toy StorageWe keep a plastic bucket next to the bathtub for all the bath toys. This makes for easy clean-up and frees the tub area for adult showers and bubble baths - no nets of toys hanging above you or covered metal across the tub racks to fight with. It works and it's frugal.
Alternative to Commercial TV ViewingWhen my kids were little, I didn't want them to watch much television. But, their friends got to watch TV, and they wanted to watch, too.
Ways To Save On Baby WipesWhen my children were young money was tight so I would buy bulk baby wipes and take a few out and put them in a baggie to have handy for quick cleanups when out and about. This saved me money in not having to buy the travel size.
Teaching Toddlers To ReadI was amazed when I saw my midwife's daughter reading "The Lord of the Rings" at 5 years of age, so I asked her how she learned to read at such a young age. She said the trick is: You start teaching them to read by playing a GAME with them at about 16 - 18 months (or older). She said "Kids CAN'T read SMALL BLACK letters but CAN read LARGE RED letters".
Imaginative and Frugal ToysWhen my 4 children were small, we did not have much money and used our imaginations a lot. The one "toy" my daughter remembers is when we made a house for her Barbie out of a cardboard box.
Too Many Toys?A wise friend once told me when my children were young that the best solution to constantly picking up toys was to go through the toy box and pick out toys to pack away for later and narrow down the choices the child has to make.
Potty Training DanceMy granddaughter was VERY hard to potty train until I saw a "Nanny" type TV show that showed the mom, dad or sitter doing a special dance with the child every time they went potty.
Teaching Kids About FinancesWe have tried to prepare our daughters for the real world in terms of finances and here are some of the strategies we have employed.
Missing Socks PoemWhen my 4 children were young I wrote the following poem that I hope you will enjoy. I sent it to a family magazine and it was rejected (sob), but maybe it will put a smile on your face.
Pack Kids Clothing By Outfit For CampKids going to camp? --- Here's a great way to organize their clothes. I have a son with autism who has some difficulty picking out his own clothes, so I came up with this and the camp loves it!
Helping Little Ones Find Their Computer GamesMy kids have lots of games on the computer, but my youngest has tendency to forget where the games are located, and which game is which. So, I came up with an easy solution. I made a folder on my desktop with a picture he would recognize right away, inside the folder I put in all his games and made picture icons for them with clips from the game itself.
Plan Summer Activities With School Curriculum In MindEvery year before the last day of school, I obtain a copy of the coming year curriculum. I evaluate it and note any summer activities that will help my kids gain a healthy headstart.
Encourage Your Kids With Their Own CookbooksI have 2 boys ages 5 and 8 who like to work in the kitchen. I have found that if you let them select recipes, they are more apt to try new things.
Side Table for Small KidsIf your little one has a pint-sized chair he or she likes to sit in to watch his/her favorite shows, try placing a child's step stool next to the chair to use as a side table. It's just the right size for the chair and can be used for snacks, books, etc.
Use Glow Bracelets for Nighttime Power OutagesJust crack a glow bracelet open and hang it on your little one's door knob. This way, if the electricity goes out during the night, your child will still be able to find their way to their door and then will be able to use the glow bracelet as a little flashlight.
Store Parenting Essentials in a Separate BackpackI'm a mom of four young kids and I'm constantly packing a ton of stuff with me. When I started feeling like a pack mule in the grocery store, I decided I needed to do something different.
The Shaving Cream VolcanoFun recipes for kids, GREAT babysitting idea! Take the body wash and dump it in your bottle. Then take the shaving cream and fill up about 3/4. Fill ALMOST to the top with perfume. THEN SHAKE! Shake harder and harder for a couple of minutes then go outside (or to a sink) and pull off your cap!
Teaching Children the Value of a DollarIn a time when materialism is at a high, the task of teaching children the value of a dollar becomes difficult. Someone recently told me, "What you teach your children in the first ten years of their lives is what molds them into the people they become."
Support Your Daycare ProviderIn a feedback to another post, I read something that got me all riled up. The person said that many people are willing to pay more for lawn work than for child care or to have the inside of the house cleaned.
