An Ignoble Experiment: [Parent Hacks] 2 new posts in Parent Hacks

2008/09/09

[Parent Hacks] 2 new posts in Parent Hacks

Hello, ignoble.experiment@arconati.us, and thank you for subscribing to Parent Hacks. Got a hack you'd like to share? Send it to hacks@parenthacks.com, along with your name and Web address (if you'd like us to link to you).

Salvage the wire toys from toy packaging for use around the house

Nancy's common sense hack may reduce your frustration level while you're trying to unbox a new toy for your kid:

I hate how toys come locked into their boxes with plastic and twisties and cardboard and tape, so that it takes forever to even get them out (and of course, the kid is usually salivating with impatience as we struggle!) What's more, the packaging is so wasteful. We recycle the cardboard if possible, but the rest is often just trash.

I've taken to saving those long wire strips that secure some toys to use as twist ties for garbage, stray potato chip bags, etc. They're super long and often need to be cut down to be useful, but sometimes that length comes in handy. Might even be a good idea to use it as a kind of snarky ribbon on a baby shower gift, like it might say: Welcome to the world you are now entering!

In our house, the kids play with the wire ties while we're busy cursing over the box. Anyone else have a good use for toy packaging detritus?

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On Parent Hacks at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/parenthacks/~3/386932978/salvage-the-wir.html

No-spill tea parties: fill the teapot with rice

Okay, "no-spill" may be a bit misleading, but sweeping up rice is a lot easier than mopping up liquid. Even better, give the kid a whisk broom and dustpan post-tea, and cleanup becomes part of the fun! From Janie:

Here an alternative to the hack of turning your child's tea set into a bath toy. I too was sick of the mess and constant refilling and clean up of water in the tea set. My aunt recommended putting dry rice into the tea pot for my daughter to pour. If you put a kitchen towel underneath and have the child sit at the kitchen table, the clean up is minimal. My daughter will sit and pour her 'rice tea' for a good half hour.

Another option: have your child host tea parties inside a blow-up kiddie pool!

Related: Under-bed storage box as sandbox (it is related! Check out Tisha's "rice-as-sandbox-alternative" comment!)