Washcloth for TeethingTake a clean wash cloth wet it in the middle and put a dab of apple sauce on top of wet part. Then roll your cloth up and put it in the freezer.
Saving Money on Kids Coloring BooksI have always had several small children of approximately the same age to "entertain" for several hours during the day. It seems that everyone wants to color the same "page" in selected coloring books.
Save Packaging For Frugal Play FoodI have many times bought the kids those play food kits, and I always found they tired of the stuff quickly. Now I save empty boxes of food and keep switching the stuff around so they always have different play food.
Clutter JailUse a clutter jail to help kids pick up their stuff. If you pick something of theirs off the floor they then have to pick a card from a jar, and complete the task before they get their item returned. Here is some card ideas:
Keeping Scout Stuff ContainedMy son is a Life Scout in Boy Scouts. He is in his 9th year now, having started in first grade as a Tiger Cub. We have a plastic bin in his bedroom where all of his Scout "stuff" goes.
Colorful Ice Cubes for the BathtubFill ice cube trays with water and add a drop of food colouring into each space in the tray. Freeze them and let kids play with them in the tub.
Band Instruments At Pawn ShopsWhen my kids decided they wanted to be in band at school, I went to Pawn Shops and looked around to see what they had. I did not want to put a lot of money into an instrument in case they did not take it but one year.
Bath Tub PaintingI take shaving cream in a muffin tin and mix with food colouring and give the kids paint brushes for the tub. It's great if you have boys who hate to bathe. They can paint the walls and it doesn't stain the tub.
Time Management Tips for New MomsA new mom needs to rest when nursing their baby and do the freshing up of baby before feeding and then, when baby sleeps, you do not have to worry about the diaper or wash up.
How To Choose A Name For Your BabyDon't be cruel to you child and name them a name that is hard to spell or pronounce. Don't name your child after a famous living person. You never know when/if that person will do something to embarrass or shame anyone sharing that name.
Use Rubber Bands On Cups To Avoid SpillsIf you put two or three rubber bands on a child's cup you can prevent them from spilling drinks. The bands make it easier for them to hold it when the outside of the cup gets wet.
Family Baby NamesI can only share our experience with choosing a baby name. On my side of the family, my grandfather was a Wallace, my father had the middle name Wallace.
Family Names as Middle NamesMy husband is a teacher so he was VERY particular about just what baby names would do - traditional, easy to spell, difficult to mock, wasn't the name of a difficult student he'd had, etc.
Take Photos Of Special ItemsIf you have things that are special to you because they were made by someone important to you, like knitted items or kids school projects, snap a photo of it and file it in a special album.
Saving on Snacks for KidsFruit in season makes a great snack. If you cut oranges into "smiles" and place three in a (used, clean) snack bag it is a great treat for a 4 year old.
Tie Dirty Diapers In Plastic BagsWhen my wife and I had our first baby, we put a Diaper Genie on on baby shower want list. And we GOT it, but we found out with our second and third child that those bags from the grocery store did just as well.
Be Your Own PhotographerMy tip involves photography. Today with the help of digital cameras and computers/printers, everyone can be a photographer. One way that I have saved money in this area is I quit visiting photo places like Sears, Walmart, etc. and I started taking my own photos.
Help Child Put Shoes on Correct FeetYoung kids sometimes have trouble figuring out how to put their shoes on the right feet, as any parents know.
Good Parenting Starts With PlanningRandom personal thoughts on pregnancies and parenting. Long but worth a read if you plan on having a child. This is only meant for those who take raising a child VERY seriously. I hate the way most parents I see these days are.
Faux Make-up For PlaytimeWhen you buy real make up for young kids, it's messy. You can make faux make up by using nail polish in your old make up containers. Just clean your make up containers then pour nail polish in and let dry.
Bake Bread With Your GrandchildrenAs a grandparent, I want to teach my grandchildren the simple techniques of cooking. My husband has been on 2 mission trips with our church to Iceland. I have baked sour dough bread and sold it to defray the costs of the trip each year.
Magnetic Puzzles for TravelTo make a magnetic puzzle for traveling, use a cookie sheet and stick a magnet onto the back of all the puzzle pieces in the box.
Eating Out On a BudgetWhen the kids were below age 12, I looked for restaurants that had kids eat free signs. I tried different restaurants in the area. It was a fun way to get out of the kitchen and not have to fix a meal after a long day of work and still provide for my family.
Make Roads with Tape For Bored KidsUse yellow tape to make roads for kids' cars. We usually make big ones, the kids like adding more roads. It keeps them busy for awhile.
Use Mesh Bag For Barbie ClothesBarbie clothes are actually very easy to clean. When my daughter was little and had Barbies, I put the clothes in a mesh bag like what you'd put lingerie in.
"Let's Make Something Together" Craft BoxEver hear this from a couple of energetic grandkids, at eight in the morning, "What can we do now, Grandma?" My five grandchildren are all at the age where they want to be busy all the time. And they want me right in the middle of it.
Add Dollar Store Toys In Cereal BoxesMy kids want the expensive cereal because of the prizes in the box. I sneak a prize in from the Dollar store, one for each child so there is no arguing.
Kids' Individual Packs for SnackI recently was given a bag filled with the plastic baby food containers. The containers are the type that have a clear plastic snap on lid and are typically sold in a twin pack.
Give Old Camera To A ChildChildren's cameras are available, but you can save yourself the cash if you have an old camera that still works. Digital ones are especially fun because they can quickly see the results of their photography.
Document Everything Regarding Child SupportMy solution for problems with child support payments is that you must absolutely document EVERYTHING and keep that documentation until either the non-custodial parent dies and any children are over 18 or the end of time, whichever comes first.
Homemade Spelling AidUse blocks or Megablocks (Legos) for spelling and reading aids for young kids. I used white surgical tape to create a white surface on blocks, then wrote words on them with black marker.
Paper Towel Baby WipesI make my own wipes! Cut a roll of paper towels in half, add 2 cups hot water and 2 tablespoons each of your favorite baby wash and baby oil.
Frugal Kids Spa DayI have two girls, five and nine. My nine year old Dacoda, was always asking me if we could go to the spa. So I decided to surprise her with a home spa day.
Social Security For ChildrenYour child is eligible to draw social security if one of his or her parents draw. If it is less than the court ordered amount, the parent would have to pay the extra.
Use Birthdate To Determine TurnsIf you have more than one child, you know how frustrating it is to have the kids squabbling over whose turn it is to do whatever. If you are lucky enough to have them born on odd and even dates (mine were 28th and 27th), and only TWO kids, you can use this
Playing Card Math GameI use a deck of cards to teach my almost 5 year old granddaughter math. She matched the numbers, matched the shapes and number order when she was 3-4.
Great Way to Keep Toys Picked UpWhen my children were little, they had so many small toys. I hated the chore of getting the kids to pick them up everyday and most of the time, not all of them were. So, I decided to take care of it.
Homemade PedialyteWith flu season upon us here is a cheap recipe to use for kids. Mix one quart of water, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt. Add a bit of unsweetened Kool Aid, and you have homemade Pedialyte without the expense.
Trail MixThis is great for a quick snack for the kids.They like it a lot and keeps them satisfied until dinner.
Writing Thank You NotesOne of the first observations you might make is that saying thanks to someone in writing is usually referred to as sending a thank you note, not a thank you letter.
Avoiding Diaper Leaks on Car TripsWhen my children were in diapers, we traveled a lot. Sometimes you just cannot stop right away for diaper changes and sometimes the diapers would leak. Then you have a wet car seat, especially the cloth seats.
Potty-training Mess PreventionPotty-training a boy? Take a small stack of baby wipes and place them behind the toilet seat on top of the hinges. If the little guy misses (like in the night), the wipes make it a whole lot easier to keep the toilet clean. Replace often.
Keeping the Monsters Away with Vanilla SprayWhen my oldest son was little, he use to be scared to sleep in his room. He thought there were monsters under his bed, or in his closet.
Educate Yourself and OthersAs a mom of an autistic child and a grandma of two autistic children, I believe one solution is education. Educate yourself and educate others about autism.
Find Support Parents In Your AreaFind other parents in your area. There is both strength and solace in numbers. Share information! Be open to new ideas. I've been parenting my son for 9 years, 7 knowing he was 'different', 6 with the label autistic.
Schedule for Front Seat RidingMy 3 grandchildren used to argue as to who would sit in the front seat. I devised a schedule so that everyone will know when it is their turn to sit in the front seat of the car. This schedule changes after going to each destination.
Buy School Supplies In Bulk On SaleBuy supplies in bulk and/or when supplies are on sale. Share the expenses and supplies with your children's friends and parents.
Dress Up BoxFor kids who like to dress up you can fill up a box of dress up items from a thrift shop. Also add some accessories from the dollar store. You can also find Halloween reduced costumes in stores.
Spray Grocery Bag with Febreeze for Dirty DiapersWorking in a nursery caring for babies, there are times when a bag is needed for dirty diapers or soiled clothing. Instead of buying the deodorized bags, a plastic grocery bag or plastic vegetable bag can be used.
Check Thrift Stores For Baby ClothesI do volunteer work at a thrift shop. We get hundreds of used and new baby clothes, we sort them and put out only the best for sale. We price them from 50 cents and up, and the monies go to helping those less fortunate in the community.
Use Store Brands DiapersDon't be a label snob. Kirkland was the best for my now 11 year old. When my now 20 year old was diaper age, they were just coming out with the velcro "good" diapers.
Homemade Diaper Rash OintmentTo treat diaper rash without having to pay a lot for ointments that can be expensive, it's easy and inexpensive to make your own. Mix 1/2 cup petroleum jelly with 2 tablespoons cornstarch.
Family Fun Without Spending Much MoneySpending less on entertainment had become a way of life. Being a single mom, working with "hungry" football players, homeschooling; and all of that before the economy went crazy.
Bedtime Shopping GameIf you are having trouble getting your young children to bed without a fight, try this bedtime shopping game to solve nightly struggles. Half an hour before bedtime, set a timer for 30 minutes and bring out the toy shopping cart.
Reuse Pictures On Address Labels As StickersMany address labels have a small picture to the left of the address. By carefully cutting between the picture and address, we salvage strips of picture stickers that we give to our young grandchildren.
Take Your Own School PicturesIf the cost of school pictures has gotten too expensive, try this tip. Instead of having the picture taken at school, create your own school pictures. Hang a sheet or blanket on the wall as a backdrop.
Grammar Tiles For HomeschoolingI am home schooling this year. I like to combine a lot of things together to make subjects more fun. We are studying words and structure. We had a container of Jenga sticks that had not been used in years.
Dessert for Young Kids in RestaurantWhen we would go out to eat with our kids when they were quite young, most of the time, they would fuss and not finish their meals. So we decided to let them eat their meal at home before we went to a restaurant.
Starting Your Toddler On The Right FootMark your toddler's right shoe with a special mark like a star or heart. You will be able to teach right from left while you teach how to put shoes on the correct feet.
Make School Mornings a BreezeIn the mornings, when getting your kids off to school, it can be hectic! I do some simple things to make it easier and more efficient, and I thought maybe the tips I use would help others.
Keep Children Entertained When Eating OutTry this to keep your children from getting restless while you wait for a restaurant order of food to arrive. One parent should go inside and place the order for everyone in the family.
Taking the "H" (Hassle) out of Homework!My grandson begins 2nd grade this year. My daughter found a $2 plastic tackle type box at the local toy store. She filled it with pencils, crayons, pencil grips, scissors, stapler, tape, etc., everything you would need for homework supplies.
Safe Bathing for BabiesWhen my babies were able to sit up on their own (6 months), they enjoyed sitting in a laundry basket inside a regular tub. This kept their bath toys within reach and allowed them to hold onto the sides to keep their balance.
Waking Up the TroopsI have one child who does not like to get up in the morning, so I set two alarm clocks. The one by her bed is set fifteen minutes earlier than the one that is set across the room. By doing this, she has extra sleep time or time to lounge in bed before having to get up.
T-shirt for Soon-to-be Big Brother or SisterShort-circuit sibling rivalry! When you know a new baby is coming into a home with an older child, make a personalized t-shirt for the older one(s) using plain t-shirts and fabric paint.
Give Teens Respect to Get RespectI told my classes right up front that I taught eighth grade because I liked them. I went on to say they weren't children, but they hadn't had enough "life experience" yet to be fully adult. They seemed to find this concept of them respectful and they were more respectful of me.
Write Names On Class PictureEach year when your child's class picture is taken, make a copy and write the names of each classmate over their respective photos. This way, in years to come when your child looks back at the pictures, they won't be at a loss for the names of their childhood friends.
Cut Down Straws For ChildrenWhen my husband saw our grandchildren were having difficulty getting those long straws to their mouths when we ate out, he pulled out his small pocket knife and snipped the straw down to a length which they could manage.
Save Half, Spend HalfEncourage your child to save half of any money that they receive, whether it is from their allowance or a gift. Work with them on how they would like to save the money.
Shopping For School SuppliesHere are several tips for saving money on school supplies.
Baby Powder For Sandy KidsThis tip is great for this time of year, when people are going to the beach. Bring baby powder for the kids. When you are ready to go home, sprinkle it on feet or wherever sand is stuck to them.
Use Washcloths As BibsI own a Home Day Care and can not keep up with enough baby bibs. It works out for me to grab a wash cloth and wrap around child and clip in the back with a small chip clip.
Tickets for ChoresWhen my kids (and fosters) were young, I bought a roll of tickets (like those at a carnival). They are available at places like WalMart. I made lists of chores, age appropriate for each child.
Getting Kids to Help with ChoresI know people with multiple kids. Some of them don't think chores are for kids. One says it's all women's work (hehe), and getting them to help out is a chore in itself!
Attend Free Summer Community EventsThis weekend, we attended Celebrate Hillsboro, an annual summer event provided by the businesses and city of Hillsboro, Oregon.
Getting Kids to Keep Their Rooms CleanWhen my oldest daughter was in grade school I couldn't get her to keep her room cleaned. One day when she was in school I taped a notice on her bedroom door that said "Condemned by the Health Department".
Tax Free School Shopping WeekendHere's a list of the states participating in Tax Free Weekend 2011. If you have a budget for Christmas, this is a good time to buy a few Christmas gifts. Here are my suggestions for not overspending during these tax saving week-ends from my experience
Trade Used Back to School ItemsThis can be done in a community to help families provide new articles of clothing, shoes, backpacks, etc for children to have when school begins.
Getting Kids to Keep Their Rooms CleanDuring their high school years, our sons seemed to have a problem keeping their room clean and neat. My wife threatened to clean the room and throw out everything that wasn't put away properly - clothing, books, etc.
Helping Kids Clean Their RoomsWhen my boys were teenagers, I would give them a date when the room had to be cleaned up by. That gave them the option to do it within their own time frame. If it was not done by then, I would have the freedom to go into their rooms and find and read all the love notes.
Use Washable Baby Wipes and Diaper LinersAfter much debate and research, I decided to give washing store bought baby wipes a go. I have only washed "wee" wipes in a delicates bag with my cloth nappies still thrown in with the others.
Sunscreen Reapplication at Day CampsWhen my kids were little, I enrolled them in the local YMCA summer fun club. One day, they took a day trip to the beach. They forgot their sunscreen on the bus. The counselors told them that was too bad, they weren't going to go back and get it.
Scan Child's ArtworkBefore the invention of home scanners, it was tape or magnets on the fridge. Now, we can scan our children's art work.
Use the School Supplies You HaveInstead of going out to buy new coloring utensils for the school year, grab that big box of crayons from under the bed. You can find a crayon sharpener just laying about and sharpen some of the main colors needed.
Get Children To Read By ExampleYou as a parent/guardian are most important to the equation. Your time and interest will spark your child's.
Read What Is Interesting to YouWhen I was a tutor, I coaxed reluctant readers with reading material keyed to their interests. A teen girl might like a fan magazine or the entertainment section of the newspaper. A boy might like Sports Illustrated or the newspaper sports page.
Getting Children to Read for FunI think the easiest way to get children to enjoy reading is to start reading to them when they are very young, as soon as they can sit up and enjoy looking at pictures. Make 'story time" a part of the day's activities.
Bored Bag For Road TripsSometime before the trip, without letting your kids know, pack a small bag or sack with all kinds of "fun" things, whatever you can find that will keep them busy and that won't be really messy.
Games to Play With Kids While DrivingWe had several games the kids enjoyed playing when they were younger and we were traveling. Most included winning money!
Getting Beach Sand Off SkinGetting all of the sand off your skin after a day at the beach can be tough. If you sprinkle baby powder onto your skin, it will absorb any moisture on your skin, allowing the sand to be brushed off more easily.
Use Coffee Filter to Hold SnacksCoffee filters are much cheaper than paper cups or bowls, and they're environmentally friendly. They can be used for small snacks like dry cereal, goldfish crackers, and pretzels.
Check Children's Hair For Lice After Carnival RidesChildren's hair can easily transfer lice when they are sitting close together, on rides such as carnival rides, such as roller coasters. Going through the hair with a lice comb should take care of any potential problems.
Emergency Container for Carsick KidsThis is a helpful tip when children become ill either when traveling or at home. Save empty large soft margarine tubs. Take a plastic Ziploc type storage bag and insert in the margarine tab folding down the top of the bag all around the tub.
Getting a Toddler to Eat VeggiesBecause I am always anxious about getting veggies in my toddler, I devised a new way to get them in his mouth! I bought several popsicle trays at my local dollar store. I pureed fruit, yogurt, and veggies together and poured them in the trays.
Use Old Clothes for Camp and OutdoorsIf your child is getting ready to go to summer camp, don't buy them nice new things to wear, it's not going to come home that way! Pack their oldest socks and underwear for them to take, so that when it comes home, you just throw it in the trash.
Summer Camp at HomeA writer gave the idea of having your own summer camp for your children with you, the parent, as the camp director. It was just what my three daughters and I needed to add structure to our summer.
Natural Treatment for Dry HandsI apply white vinegar and glycerin blended liquid to both hands, even dry part of body, the result is much better and quicker. Not only both hands feel better moisturized, they are safe for kids.
Homemade Slip 'N SlideShe spread a tarp out on the lawn, squirted it all over with Dawn dish soap to make it slick, then sprayed it down with water to make it good and wet. The kids were having blast running and sliding on this soapy tarp.
Summer Crafts and Activities for Kids (and...If I do not make plans to keep my son busy this summer, he will be perfectly content to waste his days watching TV and playing with his DS. So I plan to set up a daily schedule for him.
Dollar Store For School SuppliesI have found that the dollar store is a great place to buy school supplies.
Donate Leftover School SuppliesDo your children come home the last day of school with overflowing backpacks from cleaning out their lockers, cubbies, desks, etc? I like to donate the extra supplies to a local shelter that helps families with children.
Removing Sour Milk Smell From Baby BottlesNew Mommies, this is for you!
Prepare for School the Night BeforeMy grandchildren live with me, and mornings were chaotic getting them ready for school. Now at night each child has to get their clothes ready for the next day, put their shoes by the door, and have their backpacks next to them.
Teach Children About Money With a Weekly AllowanceMum gave us weekly pocket money which was about double what we needed and used to tell us "Right, this is your money for the week. It's up to you how you spend it. Don't come asking for more before the week is up because you'll get nothing."
Keeping Child Occupied at Outdoor EventBack when my son was in band and my youngest child was very small, we spent a lot of time at the football field. Our daughter would get so bored and would be a real nuisance.
Lacing Project for PreschoolersI take care of a couple of preschoolers a few hours each week. Lately they are into "lacing". I made my own lacing boards. Store bought ones run from $2 to $12.
Shopping with ChildrenYears ago when rearing my children, I used a technique that saved money and my own sanity from shopping tantrums.
Removing Chewing Gum From HairTo get out chewing gum stuck or attached to hair, rub the chewing gum with oil or butter. Rinse or wash the hair normally.
