Toddler Hacks

If you have ever had a toddler I am sure we can all agree on one thing, monkey see monkey do. That is the life of my 1.5 year old and I am going to embrace his curiosity full force! Why not make your life just a little bit easier if it was an option for you?

No we are not talking child labor. I'm simply stating that there are many things that your toddler wants to help you out with, why? Because you are mom and you are what's up in their eyes. So lets all embrace this copycat stage that they are in for the very short while it lasts before they turn into teenagers who will gag when this game turns into a boring chore.

1. Take Cleanup to Another Level
My toddler is not the only one that makes a mess. In between all of lives moments I find myself spilling cheerios and cups of milk everywhere. The beauty of this stage? My son is often the first one on the scene ready to take on the mess. It takes all of a few seconds for me to grab a rag or the dust pan (in which he often makes the mess worse..) and return back where we make cleaning up a fun game. He want's nothing more than to help me clean it all up, little does he know that this tiny act of toddlerism makes my day that much better.

2. Vacuums are Rad
My child is obsessive over the vacuum. So much so that putting it away turns into a level 5 tantrum that I have to thank god that no one is around to witness. Someone so brilliant (who must've had children..) decided, why not make children's vacuums that actually work? You heard me. Next on my sons shopping list is a working children's vacuum! Now clearly it won't be near the quality of your expensive Dyson but it makes my son one happy little boy all while helping out ever so slightly!

3. Folding Clothes
Yeah.. not this one. They don't help, I am sorry to inform you. Best to keep them away from your folded piles of laundry until they move out.

4. Dirty Clothes
While they won't be any help in folding the piles of laundry you are lost in they will help you gather up any of the dirty clothes your husband left on the floor and slam dunk them into the hamper! My husband has a tendency to come home and walk right out of his work clothes and they wind up somewhere between the front door and our bedroom, it is now my son's favorite thing to follow behind him and put them in the hamper. Now.. this is no excuse for hubbs to keep leaving clothes on the floor.

5. Have a Pet?
About a month ago I found my son in our kitchen after he had been quiet for too long and to my surprise he was going back and forth from the dogs food bin to the bowl and filling it a few pieces at a time. He watches us feed the dog every night and out of curiosity he wanted to try it himself. Now each night (under supervision) Carter will help us feed the dog while I tend to a few other things in the kitchen and I know our dog isn't complaining about it!

6. Youngest Child Aid
Whether you use cloth or disposables, there is always a place where the dirty diapers are meant to be and your toddler is aware of this. If you have a little one chances are that your older child(ren) are itching to help in any way you will let them, and chances are they will run that used nappy to the pail while you wrestle those tiny legs into another diaper!

Toddlers are creatures of habit, they live every day of their young lives observing what is going on around them and soaking in more information than we are able to comprehend. They learn by action so why not involve them in your simple day-to-day and make life a little easier while you're at it? Chances are they are itching to help in the first place!

Embrace the stages my friends!

- T