Tricks of the Trade

Last week I was chatting with a couple of first-time Moms on the playground. They each have one child under 18 months old, so relatively speaking, I was the "veteran" Mom. As we were discussing various ways to handle some of the challenges they were facing, I realized that most of the things that worked for me were tips I had picked up from other Moms. Since the majority of my readership is Moms, I thought it would be great to share some of our favorite "Tricks of the Trade" with each other.

There are bloggers who do similar things. Shannon's "Works for Me Wednesday" is legendary. I was thinking I'd love to host something a little lower key, related specifically to preschool parenting tricks. If the participation is good, we'll try this again.

So, without further adieu, here are 4 of my current favorites:
1-Since the children started walking without a stroller (and I am not coordinated enough for a triple leash), I have been using the word "Freeze" rather than "Stop" to keep them from running away. It has one meaning in their mind. It is direct. The kids think of it as a game. It works! (I learned this from my friend, Melinda, when her oldest son was a toddler.)

2-I am a big fan of low tech and low mess games. I am also a proponent of playing outdoors more than indoors and using creativity whenever possible. Last Spring, my mother-in-law brought paint brushes on one of her visits. Although I really do appreciate the arts, I am not a fan of 3 toddlers with paint running through my home. Imagine my delight when she suggested that they were for outside and there would be no paint: The children were going to paint on the driveway with plain water. I was skeptical, but the children were thrilled and entertained for quite a while. This weekend, I attempted it again, certain that after a year of arts & crafts at Mothers Morning Out they would insist on real paint. They did not. Instead, they "painted" for over an hour!

R "painting" the front porch. Look at that concentration!

When K traded her brush in for a sponge, I couldn't help but hum "It's a Hard Knock Life." They really were having fun...I promise. ;-)

3- Unloading the children from the car in busy parking lots is a real challenge with 3 little ones. I have 2 car seats in the "way back" and 1 in the middle, so I have to get the children out in stages. I have a strict "hands on the car" rule. I park on a curb whenever possible and find an object that is in very close proximity, but away from the road/parking lot (i.e., a fire hydrant, a low fence, a tree) and require that both hands stay on the object until we are all ready to hold hands and proceed together. If we are unable to park on a curb, we use the side of the car next to the door I am unloading from. Each child, once unloaded has to place both hands on the side of the car. *This "both hands rule" works well in stores where the children could break things as well. I have them put both hands on top of their heads. I do try to limit these visits to only times when it is absolutely necessary, but when it must be done, this works like a charm.*

4- Here's an old post about a Blessing Chart we use to make positive re-enforcement a little meatier. Even at almost 3, I do not give tangible gifts after a certain number of magnets. I probably will one day and am not opposed to doing so, it is just not necessary yet. Seeing the magnet alone is an amazing motivator.

I KNOW you have lots of practical tips and creative strategies you have developed or adopted from other Moms...let's hear them!