Parenting: It’s beautiful, chaotic and often exhausting. You need endless amounts of love, patience, and (let’s be honest) some sneaky tricks up your sleeve to come out the other side—not to mention a great sense of humour.
Mega meltdowns? Bath and bedtime struggles? Parents are often in search of creative solutions to survive the chaos.
Fortunately, we’ve done the research for you, taken from many Reddit threads we’ve found online. And, if you’re anything like us, you just love a good parenting hack. From telling little fibs to save our sanity to using reverse psychology to get our kids to cooperate, these tactics can be super helpful. But are they ethically correct?
How far would you go to maintain peace, quiet and sanity in your household?
Let’s find out.
Parenting Hacks: Clever Or Crossing The Line?
Let’s dive into a (long) list of parenting hacks commonly seen across Reddit and other online platforms. Are they ingenious ideas, or do they border on poor judgment?
The white lies we tell
Parenting can feel like a constant battleground, and sometimes, a little creativity in bending the truth may seem like the only way to get our kids to listen. But are these white lies harmless ploys for survival, or do they sow the seeds for mistrust in the future?
Let’s take a look at three examples:
- The “purple tongue” trick: Most parents have told their youngsters that their tongue turns 50 shades of violet when they lie. It’s pure genius, and the initial shock on their faces is priceless.
However, the inevitable discovery that their tongue does not look like Barney the Dinosaur can shatter a young child’s trust in their parents. Plus, it could potentially prevent them from admitting their mistakes or [talking about their feelings] in general due to the fear of deception. - The myth of the ice cream truck: Telling kids the ice cream truck plays music when it’s OUT of ice cream is a classic move to save money and our mental health.
That is until it eventually backfires when your nine-year-old plucks up the courage to approach the ice cream man themself, only to be met with a confused expression and a shrug. - The “toy monster” tactic: Telling children that the “toy monster” eats toys that aren’t put away is another favourite of parents. While this is great to get them to clean up after themselves, it breaks the trust and potentially leads them to believe monsters are, in fact, real.
- The “toy museum”: In a bid to curb outbursts, one parent admitted to telling her daughter that the grocery store’s toy aisle is a toy museum. The toys in the “museum” are not for sale, and you’re only allowed to look at them while Mummy is shopping. Her daughter is almost four years old, and this trick still works! Brilliant.
While these fibs are clever, they raise an important question: How can we expect our kids to be honest when we’ve lied point-blank?
What are your thoughts? A clever ploy or a ticking trust bomb?
Outsmarting tantrums and chaos
It’s safe to say that parenting involves navigating a sea of emotions. Some days are smooth sailing; others are like being struck by a tsunami.
Fortunately, these smart hacks have been used to calm the metaphorical storm—sometimes with surprising results.
- Noise-cancelling headphones: When your baby’s cries become unbearable, slipping on noise-cancelling earmuffs isn’t ignoring the problem; it’s staying calm enough to address it. This can help keep your cool, as calm parents are better parents.
- Drinking water to stop crying: One Reddit commenter swore that by offering crying kids a sip of water, it reset their mood instantly. While some may call it a distraction, it’s hard to argue with a quiet, hydrated child.
- Be the distraction: Another mum discovered an unexpected way to stop toddler tantrums. While reheating food in the microwave, her toddler erupted in a full-blown wail. However, the mum’s swift, frantic moves completely mesmerised them, bringing the tantrum to a halt. This just shows how dashing about in a silly way can distract kids, turning tantrums into triumphs when you least expect it.
- Plan ahead: Kids thrive in routines, whether it’s snack or nap time. Arranging playdates or nipping out for groceries when your child is hungry or tired is a one-way ticket to Blowout Avenue. If you want to sidestep the chaos, plan errands and activities around your child’s schedule. Carrying extra snacks in your bag is a bonus.
- Monster protection: If bedtime turns chaotic because your child is frightened of monsters under their bed (possibly due to that earlier “toy monster” fib), this hack might help. Take an old spray bottle, strip off the labels, fill it with water and label it “Monster Spray”. A few squirts in the dark at bedtime can work wonders, helping everybody get a good night’s rest.
- Give options (binary choices): Trick kids into thinking they are in control of the situation. To avoid arguments, one mum gave her child the option of choosing whether they would like to brush their teeth before or after their bath. You guessed it: The mum got her way either way.
- Try reverse psychology: Ever told your kid you would be so angry if they didn’t do XYZ? Ramp it up by pulling a silly angry face. Try it. Kids think it’s hilarious and are none the wiser about the manipulation!
- Use magic: There may come a time when your child doesn’t have any clean pyjamas in their wardrobe, and you suggest they wear a T-shirt to bed. But they resist. One parent found that scrunching up the item and blowing on it magically turned daytime clothes into nighttime attire, which their kids gladly wore. Have you tried this to avoid [family conflicts]?
- Be selfish: When battling to get little ones to eat, why not make something for yourself instead and insist it is “your food”? It’s amazing how quickly they want part of the action.
Sneaky bedtime tricks
Sleep battles are as old as parenting itself, but these hacks aim to make bedtime smoother for both you and your children.
- Changing the clock: Some parents have admitted to adjusting the time to make kids think bedtime is earlier than it is. It’s quite clever, really. But it also raises the question: Are you creating peace or just delaying the inevitable rebellion?
- Lights running low: One parent shared that they told their kids they could tell if they were tired by looking at their eyes. Green meant they were full of energy; yellow showed their batteries were running low, and red meant it was time to sleep. This trick worked for a good few years, and they even caught their children checking their eyeballs in the mirror. Priceless!
- Pre-bed obstacle course: If your little one jiggles about in their crib when it’s time to sleep, why not try getting them to do a mini obstacle course before bedtime? It doesn’t have to be elaborate; a quick dash to the other side of the room or a walk around a few toys may suffice. It’s an easy way to get those wiggles out and tire them out before bed.
- Have a routine: Setting a healthy bedtime routine may seem like an obvious “hack,” but you’d be surprised by how many families don’t have one. Children should start winding down 1-2 hours before bedtime, which includes limiting screen time, having a wash, brushing their teeth and packing school bags for the next day. Instilling these routines early on can prevent bedtime meltdowns (and nervous breakdowns for you!).
- Embrace the zen: One hack to get kids to sleep is to play meditation music, especially in the 528 Hertz (Hz) range. This promotes deep relaxation, helping them fall asleep faster. SleepyPaws is also a good storytelling option to try! However, remove the electronic devices once your kid is asleep.
- No-go-zone: While sleepy apps are great, they should be used in moderation. There shouldn’t be any electronics (mobile phones, tablets, TVs) in the bedroom, as the blue light emitted from them can interfere with the body’s natural melatonin (the sleep hormone) production. A simple hack to avoid this includes having an “electronics basket” outside their rooms, which you can remove and place elsewhere after lights out. You can also set screen time limits for older children.
- Play the “Quiet Game”: Kids love a bit of competition, especially between siblings and parents. Playing the “Who can stay quiet the longest?” game not only gives parents some peace and quiet but makes it fun for the kids, too!
Hacks that spark controversy
Okay, so let’s talk about the parenting “hacks” that really make us scratch our heads. You know, the ones that walk a fine line between creative genius and questionable judgment. Here are a few:
- “Spicy” snacks: This one’s classic, where parents tell their kids that chocolate or ice cream (or any other sacred treat) is “spicy”, hoping to deter them. It might work initially, but imagine them innocently announcing that Mum or Dad eats too much spicy food in the middle of a jam-packed restaurant.
- Tooth Fairy Antics: One parent claimed that the Tooth Fairy only accepts clean teeth—a brilliant way to encourage brushing. While harmless on the surface, it begs the question: Are we over-relying on mythical figures to instil habits?
- Ghostbusters: An aunt confessed that when her nephew refused to help with vacuuming, she told him it was a way to “suck up ghosts” and keep the house from being haunted. While it is definitely creative, we’re not sure that petrifying children to do chores is the best approach…
- Don’t panic: One seemingly unethical parenting hack that may spark controversy is not reacting when kids hurt themselves. We’re talking about minor bumps, not a broken limb. When they see us panic, they’re more inclined to panic. But, if they see we are cool, calm and collected, they’ll generally follow suit. What are your thoughts?
- Hiawatha cries: Some parents have said they cover and uncover their child’s mouth when they cry—kind of imitating Disney’s Little Hiawatha. The resulting sound is said to make kids burst with laughter. Is this a good way to diffuse a situation, or are we undermining their cries for our own enjoyment?
- Fight it out: One foster parent admitted that they allow the “difficult teenage boys” they foster to “glove up [with them] and go to the backyard” to fight it out. While this seems unethical, they reasoned it’s the only way these kids know how to release built-up anger from previous traumas.
The Conversation Continues
These parenting strategies, while often clever, may sometimes raise ethical concerns. While a little lie may seem harmless, like telling kids the Tooth Fairy only visits those who regularly brush their teeth, are they really helping strengthen the parent-child bond or risk undermining trust when they find out the truth?
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Don’t get us wrong—no parent is perfect. Sometimes, these parenting hacks come at the exact time we need them, saving our sanity and making life a tad easier without the drama.
Who wants to constantly fight at bedtime when we can rather give our kids a few binary options or play the “quiet game”? Sign us up!
We’d love to hear your feedback, insights and suggestions. Drop a comment below so we can keep the conversation going. Remember, it takes a village to raise a child, and we’re in this together!
We’d love to hear what you think…
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