Unconventional Parenting Strategies for 2024: Simple Tricks That'll Make You Question Why You Haven't Used Them Before
Łittle Whippersnappers, here's our rundown of awesome DIYs and must-have products to help you conquer this whole parenting gig! Some of these may have been sent as samples, but they were all carefully hand-picked by our all-knowing editors. Just keep in mind, we might receive a smidge of those sweet, sweet sales commissions from the links here.
Master the art of parenting with these genius ideas:
1. Save those old, shattered crayons from the waste bin and turn them into your little one's personalized name art! With just a silicone alphabet mold, you can easily melt them down. Once they cool, your "artwork" will be ready for more colorful creations and boast a larger shape for those tiny hands to grip!
2. Let your kiddo's creative doodles run wild without the constant worry of broken crayons! Opt for sturdy, eco-friendly, all-natural beeswax crayons. Not only are these tough to snap in half, but their chubby shape makes for a more comfortable grip!
3. Tsunamis of nail polish can be a parenting nightmare! Stock up on sugar to instantly clean up spills. Just sprinkle it on top, and Bob's your uncle - that slippery mess will be a thing of the past!
4. Indoor electric s'mores makers - because who wants to deal with an open flame and gooey marshmallows melting in the rain? Enjoy the deliciousness of s'mores any time you please, and heck, have a few for yourself when the little ones are tucked into bed!
5. Taming those crazy, tangled manes has never been easier! Brew up your very own detangling spray using affordable household ingredients like apple cider vinegar and olive oil.
6. Curly-haired kiddos, rejoice! Say goodbye to frizzies and tangles with SoCozy's leave-in conditioning spray - detangles and defines those luscious curls like a charm!
7. Give new life to old socks and transform them into DIY knee pads for that crawling baby, saving their precious legs from those hard, harsh floors.
8. Protect your family from those treacherous coffee table corners with inconspicuous corner guards. These clear bumpers will go unnoticed, but trust us, you'll be ever so grateful when those toddlers waddle full-speed into them!
9. Make breakfast time a party with some food coloring! Add a dazzle of color to those waffles to make your kiddo's morning a, well, rainbow!
10. Make family game night more manageable with a DIY card wheel to keep any roving Uno cards neatly in one place!
11. Encourage good dental hygiene by creating a vinyl toothbrushing chart for their bathroom mirror. Simply check off their morning and nighttime brushing sessions to help 'em form lifelong habits!
12. Level up their toothbrushing routine with a TikTok-famous toothbrush holder-cum-dispenser. It'll take care of the toothpaste application and keep your countertops clean and fuss-free!
13. Set up a dedicated display area for your budding little artists by suspending their doodles using photo-hanging strings and clips!
14. Turn those old clipboards into vibrant works of art using spray paint and glitter! Hang them proudly around the house like museum displays!
15. Or cram more hung-up artwork on your fridge walls by using cheap, dollar-store steel pizza pans!
16. On thoseswamped days, whip up an easy pasta dinner by using just a jar of stored sauce and adding veggies or pesto! No one will even notice it didn't come from a fancy cookbook!
17. Save yourself some coin and make homemade Uncrustables using a sandwich sealer!
18. Maximize your toy storage by using magnetic steel pans on the outside of your fridge or other magnetic surfaces!
19. Hang a magnetic calendar in their room to keep them engaged with learning about time, weather, seasons, and more!
20. Streamline your baby clothes organization by rolling each garment to keep your drawers neat and tidy.
21. Make bath time more organized with a bath organizer that keeps all the rubber animals corralled and dry!
22. Conquer pesky vomit smells with this powerful, homemade solution. Those lingering, nasty bugs from aeons ago will be history!
23. Save your clothes (and cash) with this cult-favorite spot remover! Simply apply, let sit, and throw the clothes in the wash to remove food, grass, and other stains!
24. When fever strikes, soothe those poor, overheated heads with cooling, stick-on gel pads. They stay on firmly and come off easily, leaving no residue on the skin!
25. Stay on top of medicine doses with a simple label on the medicine bottle! One fewer thing to worry about during those crazy-busy days!
26. Create a makeshift car trash bin using a cereal dispenser and plastic bag liners - no more waste littering town!
27. Hang a waterproof trash can over the car headrest for easy litter disposal on the go - you'll be shocked at how quickly it fills up.
28. Instead of spending a fortune on sugary pouch drinks, invest in reusable food pouches for smoothies, juices, applesauce, and more!
29. Say goodbye to cluttered pantry spaces by hanging an over-the-door shoe organizer filled with transparent food-storage containers!
Here's to making parenting a little easier, one DIY at a time!
- After creating appealing name art with reused shattered crayons, consider displaying your child's artwork by attaching it to the wall using coloring strings and clips, similar to a museum exhibit (coloring, display, museum).
- Keep up with the latest market-apple-news trends by crafting TikTok-famous toothbrush holders-cum-dispensers, bringing a touch of buzzfeed fame to your bathroom countertops (TikTok, toothbrush holder, fame).
- Encourage a trendy, ecofriendly approach to kid's art supplies by stocking up on all-natural beeswax crayons, which can be reused and boast a larger, easy-grip shape (ecofriendly, beeswax crayons, reuse).
