Helpful Tips To Make Life With Kids Easier

• Use the tablespoon from your measuring spoons for toddlers who are learning to feed themselves. It has a short handle and a deep scoop.
• For grandmothers who need a spoon to feed baby, try using one of the long handled spoons that you use for iced tea. The bowl of the spoon is a bit smaller than a normal spoon.
• If your child has trouble swallowing pills, try giving the child a pill in a teaspoon of applesauce instead of water. It is easier to swallow that way.

• When going with the kids on an outing where there is going to be a large crowd, dress your children in brightly colored shirts like red, yellow or orange. They are easier to find and they stand out in a crowd. Also, try dressing the whole family in matching, bright shirts or hats. That way, if someone finds your child, they might remember seeing you in your matching shirts and will know who to return them to.

  Everyone in my son’s family (even the girls) always wears matching Superman shirts. Believe me, they do stand out in a crowd. : )

• I know using wipes is the “in” thing (even homemade wipes) but I prefer to just throw a wet washrag in a baggie to take in the car when I head out someplace. If I am going to have a bottle of water with me, I just bring a dry washrag. The washrag can be used over and over so you won’t waste store bought wipes, napkins or paper towels (which are often used to make homemade wipes).

• When you’re on a road trip, give each child a map of where you are going and a marker. Then they can mark the way on the map as you go. This gives them an idea of “how much further” it is to your destination.

  If your kids can’t read, lay a piece of candy like a Life Saver on the dashboard or in a visible location to represent each hour it is going to take to get where you are going. Then each hour they get to eat a candy and you can explain that they won’t arrive until all the candy is gone.

      -Jill

photo by: paulhami