Real-life reviews from parents.
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Sturdy stair guards at the top and bottom of the staircase are a must once baby starts moving around!

I discovered that a heavyweight hairband looped around both door handles was just as effective (if not more!) at keeping my cabinet doors shut than those cabinet latches made specifically for baby proofing. Plus, they were way easier (and less annoying) for me to take on and off, making it more likely that I'd always keep it on. This only works on certain handles, though, like pull bars and knobs.

I am not a fan of the plastic plug in outlet protectors. Thankfully, most of our outlets were not accessible to our young kids (who also never showed any interest in them), but the plugs were pretty easy to remove and then posed a choking hazard once they were loose. I much preferred the outlet covers that go over the entire outlet, as it was still easy for adults to use the outlet while keeping the opening covered from curious little hands.

Corner guards have been pretty essential with all of my kids, especially once they begin moving around on their own. Unfortunately, I haven't found any that will stick super well (though some are better than others!), and have always had to reinforce with duct tape. Not pretty, but effective!

What did the shark say when it ate the clown fish? Tastes funny.

Why does a duck have feathers? To cover his butt quack

What did the triangle say to the circle? You're pointless.

Why should you never give Elsa a balloon? Because she’ll Let it Go.

If there are six apples and you take away four, how many apples do you have? Four.

The more you take away from me, the bigger I get. What am I? A hole.

What starts with E, ends with E, and has only 1 letter in it? Envelope.

Michael’s father has three sons. Two are named Snap and Crackle. What’s the third son called? Michael

How to do laundry!

How to grocery shop and make simple meals with the stove and oven - eggs, pancakes, sandwiches, pizza, chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, cutting/peeling fruits and vegetables

How to change a tire and jump start a car.

How to schedule a doctor’s appointment.

Pura vida bracelets are popular with the girls at our middle school, and they make a great gift because you can't really have too many.

My middle schooler has loved receiving upgraded school supplies from friends. A really nice pencil holder with lots of compartments, fun post-it tabs, mildliners, colorful pens and mechanical pencils, etc.

Most of my daughter's friends like to get Sephora products. The most popular brands seem to be Summer Fridays, LANEIGE, and Sol de Janeiro, and they all make products that don't feel too grown-up.

Gift cards to Starbucks or boba places.

Consistency is a key factor !

Involve them however you can, so they have some choice in the process. For us, it is often picking the story we read, or the number of books we read (within reason), as well as which kid goes first to brush teeth or take their bath.

Give yourself plenty of time for the routine! I think starting an hour before we actually want the kids to be asleep has worked best for our family.

In the days leading up to Thanksgiving we break out our poster paints and paint a big tree, minus the leaves, on big sheets of paper. We also cut out large leaves using colorful construction paper and put the tree up in a prominent area with a big pile of paper leaves nearby. Throughout Thanksgiving, we each write down things that we’re grateful for on a leaf to add to the tree (and invite any guests to do the same) - it’s such a fun and visual way to see and recall the many things we have to be thankful for!

With a white tablecloth or runner on your table, have everyone present for the Thanksgiving dinner write something they are thankful for in Sharpie or fabric marker and sign their name. Carefully launder the tablecloth, and you can bring it out again each year to repeat as an annual Thanksgiving activity and enjoy looking back on past years!

Breaking the wishbone is such a simple Thanksgiving tradition, but I did it growing up and my kids like it too. Pop the wishbone in the still-warm oven, and it should be dried out enough for a good "snap" by the end of the meal.

For preschoolers and toddlers, have a mini pumpkin "egg" hunt! Buy a dozen of those adorable mini pumpkins and hide them throughout your home for a fun thing to do on Thanksgiving. Kids can also take turns hiding them for each other. Later, use the pumpkins as dinner table décor!

Deli turkey is a good protein food that we usually have in the fridge. My kids will just roll up a piece and eat it for a snack.

Yogurt. My little kids are picky about what they’ll eat at school for lunch, and won’t eat most foods with protein, leaving them hungry. Thankfully, I recently realized they'll eat yogurt, which has helped a lot.

Hard boiled eggs. We will hard boil maybe 6-8 on Sunday for my teen to eat throughout the week. Stinks up the fridge, but worth it! (And actually, when I store them in a container with a lid it’s not so bad.)

Post-workout, my teen likes to make himself a glass of chocolate milk.