42 Parents Reveal Weird Life Hacks They Rely On To Keep Their Kids Happy And Behaving

Her: I don't like broccoli


Me: it was grown in Arendelle


Her: this is actually good.

Whenever mine bumps his elbow, stubs a toe, etc. I’ll ask if he wants me to put a spare one on. When he says yes, I tell him to close his eyes, I gently squeeze his arm, leg, or whatever part I’m “replacing”, make a click noise, and gently squeeze and make another click noise when I put the “new one” on. 9/10 times, it immediately feels better. .

This is for newborns but using the 5 S’s (Swaying, swaddling, Shushing, sucking and side) help calm a fussy baby. Even to this day, if my youngest (now 6) starts to lose control, I rock her in my lap and say “shush shush shush”. I’m sure now it’s a conditioned response but who cares??

Also deep breathing in moments of big feelings. 1) it actually does help the kid. 2) it helps you as the parent. when you demonstrate you are also focus your energy and slowing your reaction to their big feelings.

DO NOT MATCH THEIR ENERGY!!! This one took me a long long time figure out. I mean I knew it but to actually go to a 0 when your kid is at 100 is hard!!

When you do match your kid’s energy - own it, after everyone has cooled off. “That was really hard huh? I had some big feelings too. How did you feel when mom was mad? Oh I’m so sorry I got mad. You know what - that’s kinda how I feel when you are yelling at me too”.

Remember they are small humans and have the same rights as any other Human. This should feed into every way you treat them.

From an early age always knock on their door before you enter their bedroom. Their bedroom is the one place in the world which is theirs. Never send them to their bedroom as punishment. Give them as much privacy as you can.

If you threaten a consequence then you MUST follow through so they know you mean what you say. Make sure you and your partner are consistant and back each other up - if you disagree then argue in private.

As they grow up treat them like a small adult.

Kid: "I don't want a ponytail!"

Me: "But it's picture day. And your hair gets in your face"

Kid: "No!"

Me: "OK...how about a 'kittycat'?" (knowing she doesn't know what that means)

Kid: "Yeah, I want what that is."

Proceeds to do a ponytail. Both happy.

Kids not eating well? Feed them the healthy snacks when you go places. I swear they are always hungry when they leave the house! If you have a cooler with only fruits and veggies, that’s what they’ll eat!

Not a parent, but I've heard that putting generic Disney/Spiderman/etc stickers on food containers is pretty effective at tricking young kids into thinking it's "branded" by that franchise. So you don't have to pay a mark up on Frozen brand yogurt or whatever.

OK, this is f****d up, but funny, and it worked.

When they were little, I told my kids that if they lied, a dot showed up on their forehead that only grown-ups could see.

To be fair, when kids were tiny, it was pretty easy to tell when they aren't telling the truth, so we got credibility early on.

As they got older, when my kids started spewing BS, they'd hold their hand over their forehead.

It worked WAY longer than I thought. Mostly because the older kids would use it against the younger ones.

Yes, when they got older, they figured it out.

I am paying for therapy.

Give your kids a safe outlet. Kids are a lot less likely to do bad. like for example draw on all the walls if they have a wall space to draw on (either chalkboard paint or even a large newprint sized paper pad on the wall) kid keeps getting into junk food? Fruit salad made with yogurt with a small dash of sprinkles on top. You gotta be two steps ahead and realize they're not doing these things to be naughty, just lesrning how to navigate the world. 


Also I can't stress enough, time out means NOTHING if all you do is sit them there. My rule was a few minutes, and they had to spend time *thinking about why they were there and what they could have done differently.* then we'd talk about it. .

Water is the great reset.

Kids being insane? Water. Plastic bowls and cups in the bath. Set up a monster truck car wash in the sink. Have them "water" the plants which ends up with them playing with the hose. Add a popsicle and its like they just zen out.

Don’t go back on your word as a parent. That includes things like time out and the word “no”. Don’t teach your kid that whining and moaning will let them out a minute early. Don’t teach them that crying will get them the toy they want at the store. Don’t let “sorry” replace a two minute break from playtime if they’ve already been warned that their behavior is unsafe/unacceptable. 95% of those “what is wrong with gen alpha” videos are a mixture of that and iPads. It’s not the kids fault that they act this way (assuming they are still very young) but the kids are the ones to suffer emotionally and (later) socially because they have no emotional regulation or impulse control and no other kids or adults want to be around them.

If the store is out of dinosaur nuggets, just tell your kids that you bought dinosaur egg nuggets.

To actually like your kids, not just love them. Take a real interest in their lives. Sound appreciative when they talk to you or approach you early on. It can get extremely hard early on in their lives because in their formative years they can talk a lot and sound incoherent at times, and as a parent, you can become impatient or lose interest, especially after a long day of work. In general, more listening and less constant advice and judgment. It can become counterintuitive at times because you feel like most of their early life problems have simple solutions. When they want your actual opinion, always state that it might be something you'd do in that situation versus this is what you 'should do'.

When i used to be scared of monsters and didnt want to sleep growing up my mom once told me that if monsters came they would have my parents as diner, then my brother as dessert and when they would come to my room they wouldnt be hungry anymore. Surprisingly it worked. Slept like a baby knowing that my whole family would be eaten alive but at least i was safe.

Transitions to other activities are by far easier by giving them 5 to 10 minute heads up. If you need to go somewhere tell them how much time until that point. Then give 5 to 10 minute warning before the next activity.

If they're under 4-5 buy them two of their favourite teddybear and put one away in case they lose one and throw a fit.

When a little kid is having a meltdown cos they "Want to do it by themselves" when they're not capable yet...
I'd respond "Sure, you can do it. Here, let me help you do it by yourself"
Worked 99% of the time.

Another one for very wriggly kids when you're trying to get them dressed....
Put their diaper/pullup on first, but leave it around their knees. It hobbles them so they can't escape. Makes it easy to dress the rest of them.

Karate or some form of martial arts if they have pent up aggression/energy and have hit you or others.

Gently but firmly rubbing your thumb between your babies eyebrow soothes them when they are crying.

Make screen passwords important phone numbers. Kids will learn them very quickly if it lets them unlock the iPad.