Being a parent can be great fun. It's also 24/7 and can be tiring and sometimes stressful! Let’s face it, coping with challenging behaviour can get you down. But help is at hand – we’ve got tips from parents across Scotland to help keep the kids happy.
From dealing with strops at the shops, to top tips for reducing screen time a wee bit, ways to keep them busy while you get on with things to to ideas for those "I'm bored" days, we hope you find something to make your life a little easier.
Need more time?
Feel like you never have enough time to get anything done? Here are hints and tips from other parents to keep the kids busy while you get on with things. You can find more tips for keeping toddlers and older children happy here.
Tip #1: Tick, tick tick off that checklist
Tip #1: Tick, tick tick off that checklist
Tip #2: Bunny hops
Tip #2: Bunny hops
Tip #3: Jungle adventure
Tip #3: Jungle adventure
Tip #4: World records
Tip #4: World records
Want to avoid a strop at the shops?
It's happened to all of us – the dreaded "supermarket strop". Here are some fun supermarket games you can play to keep them happy as you go around the aisles. You can find more shopping games here.
Tip #1: Carrots and custard
Tip #1: Carrots and custard
Tip #2: Bargain hunt
Tip #2: Bargain hunt
Tip #3: Supermarket challenge
Tip #3: Supermarket challenge
Want to unstick them from their screens?
There’s nothing wrong with your kids spending time on their screens. Chatting to their friends online, playing games, watching videos and reading are all great ways for them to socialise, relax and learn things too! But just as they need a balanced diet of food, they also need to play in different ways too – indoors, outdoors, with friends and with you. Sometimes they need to burn off energy while playing, at other times they’ll benefit from some peace and quiet.
So if you’re keen to get them off their screens for a bit and into the real-world, here are some tips to help. You can find more tips for unsticking them from their screens here.
Tip #1: Swap the iPad for a play bag
Tip #1: Swap the iPad for a play bag
Tip #2: Toy talk
Tip #2: Toy talk
Tip #3: Poster play
Tip #3: Poster play
Tip #4: Portrait gallery
Tip #4: Portrait gallery
Need time fillers before tea?
You're not alone if you drop off a happy kid to school - and a very tired and grumpy one returns home to you! Here are a few tips to keep you both happy before dinner.