Parenting has always been a tough job. Everything is a hazard, things seem to get lost at the most inconvenient of times, and food can end up anywhere but your children’s tummies. And even if our moms and dads are willing to teach us a thing or two about parenting, you will always find yourself screaming for an instruction manual.
Good thing we have parents who are more than eager to lend a hand through these 70 simple parenting hacks!
1) The Big Lady Herself
This is a straight up Martha Stewart hack. Keep cords out of the way and cleaned up with a simple basket hung from the ceiling. If you’re handy, you can make a hole in the floor so that everything goes underneath!
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Martha Stewart
2) Repurpose Those Babies
Not the kids, but your socks! If you don’t have any, you can get them at any dollar store in fun colors. They are so much cheaper than baby tights or leggings and work just as well.
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Buzzfeed
3) Find Your Board
Whether it’s a cutting board, or a brand new pice of plywood, finding a board to use to turn your bottom drawer into a step is not difficult or expensive.
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Ana-White
4) They Can Do Anything
The best thing about silverware organizers is that they are actually designed to fit in any drawer. So using them to store and seperate is just perfect, especially since the plastic ones are so cheap.
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Families That Stick
5) Keeps the Sand Out
You know those mesh bags you use for laundry or stuffed animals? Turns out, they make the pefect beach toy keeper too. The sand doesn’t stay and the toys are all together.
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The Idea Room
6) The Everything Pouch
There are a lot of uses for shoe organizers. One of the most useful would be hanging it on the back of your seat in the car and storing your child’s things in it. On-the-go hacks never cease to pan out.
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Buzzfeed
7) Martha Stewart of Planning
You can get picture frames and dry erase markers at the dollar store and have yourself everything you need to plan your month. Put scrapbook paper in the picture frame for extra cute wipe off boards.
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Girl Loves Glam
8) You Know Whose is Whose
Kids are always looking for a certain cup to get a drink of water. With a few magnets, you can stick cups to your fridge for easy access. Even better if your fridge has a water dispenser.
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Adventures in Pinteresting 2012
9) Snow in July
You can get InstaSnow or fake snow at nearly any Dollar General. Add a few new animals and you have yourself a whole afternoon of playtime, especially for kids who never get to play in real snow.
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Carrots Are Orange
10) Time to Paint
Who even uses those old plastic tablecloths or paint dropcloths? Wait a second, every parent should! They are perfect for an easy cleanup after craft time, and kids love to play on them.
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Buzzfeed
11) Comfy Too
This is perfect for the kid with a lot of stuffed animals and little space for them. Turn them into a chair with a little bit of fabric or cheap sheets! They’ll love sitting comfortably while looking for their favorite pal.
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Thread Riding Hood
12) Clean Up the Gamer Mess
Gaming stuff is messy. There are cords everywhere, controllers lying around, and consoles all mixed up. Organizing it all is easy with a few cheap bins and shower caddies.
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Organizing Made Fun
13) Muffin for the Win
Muffin tins are so useful as a parent! One of the best things to do with them is to make them a craft organizer for craft time. They can even be stored in a drawer like this.
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Buzzfeed
14) Could Have Been a Lifesaver
Wish I would have known this when I was a kid. Parents, jot this one down. If you mix fabric softener with hot water to defrizz and detangle any doll’s hair.
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YouTube
15) Safe and Fierce
Kids love to playfight with swords, but do you really feel comfortable with this? You can with a PVC pipe and cheap pool noodles. Easy and fun!
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One Shetwoshe
16) They’ll Never Hurt You
With a bottle of Febreze or even an empty spray bottle from the dollar store, you can make your kid feel comfortable at night. Monsters hate this spray and won’t go anywhere near where you spritz.
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Happy Go Lucky
17) Box of Fun
Spent five to ten dollars at the dollar store and you have a whole box of fun or long trips or even to grandma’s house. Perfect for taking a break when it’s too cold for stretching your legs.
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Buzzfeed
18) And a Massage
While these may be available online, making them is just as easy. Grab a few fabric markers and your kids will love driving their cars all over your back. What a silly game!
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The Blue Basket
19) Christmas is Here
With Christmas approaching, you’re going to want to make sure your kids have that Christmas Countdown ready. One of the best ways is to hang a shoe organizer from the door and fill it with dollar store goodies.
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Buzzfeed
20) To-Go Please
You can buy these condiment containers for a 100 at a whack for just a dollar or two. They are perfect for storing pacifiers that you just can’t drop in your diaper bag.
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Cynditha
21) Finally a Better Way
Who doesn’t have a grocery bag in the car each trip so they can stuff it with all of their trash? This way looks much better and is more efficient too. Get yourself a cereal container and you have yourself a car trash.
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Buzzfeed
22) Any Prize
Having a prize box around is never a bad idea. Whenver your kid does something “nice” or “generous,” he gets a prize out of the box to unwrap. You just keep it filled with dollar store gifts!
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A Grand Life
23) No More Clogs
Kids always use too much toilet paper, they are notorious for it. So help them remember how much to use by marking the wall. That way, at least they know when they use too much.
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Amanda the Virtuous Wife
24) This is Necessary
Organizing your medicine is crucial when your kids start walking. Keeping the dangerous stuff away from the young ones and making it easy for the older kids is not something you’ll regret.
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Ask Anna Moseley
25) Never Forget
When you have a million other things on your mind, it’s not easy to remember if you have given your child her medicine or not. With nothing but a marker, you’ll never lose track again.
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Landee See Landee Do
26) Caddy Wins Again
Another shower caddy hack that will serve you well. Kids have trouble staying clean when eating in the car. This carrier makes it easy for them to eat mess-free and stress-free.
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Lookie What I Did
27) They’re for Toothbrushes
Straws seem to get all over the place and can never stay clean. Get toothbrush holders for them and you’ll never wonder of those disposable drinking tools are up to par.
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Chica and Jo
28) Mason Tricks
Mason jars never do us wrong. Attach them to the wall or under your cabinet for easy organization that looks absolutely adorable. Plus, the kids can’t reach them!
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Houzz
29) No Drip Trick
Kids can never eat popsicles fast enough for them not to drip. But with a pack of cupcake liners, that will no longer be a problem. Drip on, Bill and Ted.
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Juggling with Kids
30) For Learning to Count
When you want to teach your kids how to count money, make piggy banks out of small tupperware. Each one will carry a different coin! It makes a great prize for when the job is mastered.
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BHG
31) Job Tackled!
Tackle boxes and craft organizers make the perfect storage containers for just about anything kids use. In this case, their hair ties and barettes because we all know those seem to disappear.
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The Idea Room
32) Away at Night
During the day, the best way to keep things clean is to have a designated basket for each kid to put their stray toys. At night, they can grab them and put them all away before bed.
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Buzzfeed
33) Paint Away
You can get these cups for free at Starbucks or a few dollars at the dollar store. They make the perfect mess-free way to paint. This easel is at your service.
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Be Brave Keep Going
34) Never Break Another
Glitter ornaments have two problems. They are either glass or they shed glitter all over your house. Make your own with plastic Christmas balls and a little glitter.
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lb Cody
35) On-the-Go Artist
An old DVD case or one from the dollar store can give your little artist the pefect coloring case to release their inner Picasso. They can even decorate the outside too!
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Stacy-Vaughn
36) Better Than the Fridge
Not everyone likes a hundred magnets and scratches all over their fridge. For those parents, you can get a pizza pan and mount it to the wall for your kid to scratch to their heart’s content.
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Dollar Store Crafts
37) Glow Bath
There isn’t a little kid alive that wouldn’t love a bath full of glowsticks. You can pick them up at any dollar store and then get crackin’.
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Buzzfeed
38) Works for Allergies Too
Kids with allergies tend to wear bracelets. But what about other kids who don’t even know their last name? Get them one with your phone number on it!
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Kidspot
39) Winter Dream
A pack of plastic cups, some yarn, and a few round head fasteners will keep all of your scarves and gloves oragnized by the door. Each kiddo will even pick a favorite slot.
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Rosy Scription
40) Fool Them for a While
This warm glove may not fool your toddler for long, but it’ll be long enough to get a load of laundry in the wash. They’ll never know you stepped away.
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Kidspot
41) It’s a Soap Dish
Soap boxes make the perfect storage unites for little ones. They are cute and compant. Use them for cards, crayons, or tiny dinosaurs. They come in every color too!
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Shady Tree Diary
42) Or Any Doll
American Girl dolls are expensive. Most moms can’t afford them and when they do, they can’t afford the accessories. The dollar store is packed with accessories that your kid will love.
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Karen Mom of Three
43) Never Figure It Out
Again, toddlers never know what to do when they close themself in a room. But lucky for you, a simple rubber band can prevent this forever.
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Kidspot
44) Bath Time Disaster
Add a few tiny plastic baskets to a shower rod and all of the kids’ toys will be stored! Make sure they aren’t metal or else the rust will commence very early.
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Frugal Freebies
45) The More Places You’ll Go
Whenver that kid outgrows their crib, you’ll want to repurpose it. WHen you do, just a few canvas snaps and make an adorable bookshelf for their “big kid” room.
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Diy HSH
46) To Each Their Own
Metal pails are adorable! Use them to organize your craft area. The kids will love them and guests will praise them. If you’re lucky, each kid will have their own color.
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There Was a Crooked House
47) Ice, Ice Baby
Ice packs are hard to come by. They seem to get lost or are a little expensive at best. But if you can find cheap sponges, you have it make. Just get them wet and freeze them!
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The Kitchn
48) No Shelves, No Problem
These crates are about as cheap as you can get. You can get them in any color to match your kids’ room and they will look like they were meant to be.
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Home Talk
49) The Sock Drawer
While this works for the sock drawer, it also works for any baby clothes. Just get a canvas organizer and stick it in your drawer. Makes the perfect nursery.
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My So Called Home
50) Gourmet Spices
All it takes is a pill box to make your kids think that you live in a fancy restaurant. Print out labels and use them for spices, toddler paints, and more.
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Dollar Store Crafts
51) What Bright Colors
Keeping toddler dishes organized isn’t easy. You end up with seven cups in one drawer and five lids in another. With a few toy organizers, you can have a special drawer looking absolutely perfect.
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Delightful Order
52) It’s That Time of Year
All you need is a solar path light to make an adorable little North Pole setting. You can get a holiday themed one or just paint your own. It’s all up to the designer.
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Dollar Store Crafts
53) Basket and a Cup
Okay, so cords seem to always wreak havoc in a clean home. You don’t know what goes to what or why it’s in the middle of the floor. With a few restaurant cups, you can label each one for whenever they are needed.
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Imperfect Homemaking
54) Do It Ahead of Time
I think you’ll learn as a parent that the more you do ahead of time, the better. In this case, use door hangers to help your kids plan what they are going to wear to school each day.
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The Home Teacher
55) Yahtzee Anyone?
These tiny storage containers are great for storing many things, like dice. But they also make it easy for little kids with little hands to roll their dice without trouble.
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Cardigans and Curriculum
56) Outdoor Storage
Just because things are outdoors, doesn’t mean they need to be messy. With laundry baskets and signs, you can keep outdoor activies structured too!
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Buzzfeed
57) So Handy
A magnetic strip can really come in handy when keeping things away from kids. Who knew that so many of the things that you keep away from children were also metal?
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Sprwmn
58) No More Slamming
Kids slam doors. We tell them not to, but in the rush, they do it anyway. And toddlers? Oh, they lock themselves in other rooms. This simple hack will prevent both and all you need is a noodle.
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Red Delicious Life
59) Homeschool Saver
Homeschooling is not easy, so finding small ways to make it easier is always amazing. In this case, keep supplies and books seperated with wire dish racks! Utensil cups make the perfect pencil holder.
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Day By Day HSing
60) Handy Salad Spinner
Let’s face it, you still haven’t used that salad spinner that you got as a wedding gift. Well, now you can. Grab some cheap paper plates and safe paint and let the kids make beautiful creations.
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Diy Candy
61) Dispenser of Ribbon
A simple shower caddy can make sure you have whatever ribbon that you need with ease. This is pefect for kids who love to craft but aren’t so great at keeping things together.
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Minimoz
62) Start Them Young
Generally, babies can’t hold their bottle themselves correctly until they are 6 to 9 months old. But if you get one of those O-balls, you can have them doing it all by themselves before then.
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Parent Hacks
63) Easy Peasy
In need of rags that you don’t mind tossing? Cut up t-shirts and put them in this dispenser. All you need is a cheap trash can with the corner cut out and even the kids can use it.
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Instructables
64) No More Teeth Marks
For babies that chew on their cribs. simply cut a pool noodle and slip it over the edge. Wrap it in fabric and tie it down with ribbon!
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Buzzfeed
65) Magical
All you need is a highlighter to make your kid’s night. Just make sure the markers are non-toxic and that you have a blacklight on hand. You can get a blacklight bulb for fairly cheap.
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Growing Jeweled Rose
66) Not Just for Twine
You may not always keep twine on hand but there are plenty of uses for a sugar shaker. I mean, you can use it for any sort of string, or even…dental floss. Take that, plaque!
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Whisker Graphics
67) Just Battery
There’s nothing that we lose more than batteries. It seems like we just bought AAAs and now your son needs some for his Xbox controller. Never let that happen again! Just get a tackle box or craft organizer!
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BHG
68) Not a Popsicle
While popsicles are better than coloring, we can agree that these popsicle molds make the perfect crayon organizer for group coloring time. Never lose the reds again.
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Teach Junkie
69) Smelling Good
All you need is a little fabric softener or in-wash scent booster and you can keep your clothes fresh all the time. They even work for stinky gym shoes and socks.
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My Crazy Blessed Life
70) Dollar Toolbelt
While the Dollar General toolbelts may not impress Daddy, if you wrap one around a mop bucket, not only will your craft supplies be organized, but also easy to transport.
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DIY N Crafts
71) Pretty Mason Work
We all love mason jars due to their many uses. In this case, you can organize all of your kids’ craft stuff and small toys with their own creations. Just make sure you keep them someplace safe since they are glass.
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Modge Podge Rocks
72) Just One
It takes one carabiner to keep all of your pony tail holders in check. It also works for bags, jewelry, and other things that kids just can’t seem to keep track of.
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Hiits Jilly
73) Even Looks Pretty
Let’s face it, most of the time, kid art is not something you’d hang on the wall if you didn’t have kids. But with a frame, food coloring, and a little glue, you can have stained glass!
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Buzzfeed
Nothing screams parenting delights than cheap, simple, and effective! Share this to your friends and family, especially those who got their hands full with their young’ns!
