Simple Parenting Hacks To Minimize Mess and Ditch Destruction!

Guys, my kids are seriously the masters of disaster some days. My carpets, walls, dishes… The list of things my boys have accidentally damaged or dirtied is seemingly endless. I certainly can’t speak for everyone else’s kids, but certain parts of my home (and life!) are showing wear and tear thanks to my little bundles of joy. Read on to see a list of what my cherubs have threatened to destroy, and the easy parenting hacks I’ve put in place to counter the mess!

Thank you to Premier Surfaces for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

simple PARENTING HACKS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR KIDS DESTROY…

Your Sleep

Listen, I’m just gonna say it. I’m a better mom (and person) when I’ve slept well. Kids complicate that. Luckily, we found our perfect solution! Our boys have to start the night in their own beds. If they wake during the night and need to be near us, they quietly come to our room. My husband and I leave a pillow and sleeping bag next to the bed for them. Our kiddo drifts right back to sleep, and the hubs and I aren’t disturbed. Our oldest outgrew it on his own, and I know the youngest will too.

Your walls & Furniture

My boys are budding artists, but creativity comes at a cost. I’ve found it helpful to stock up on low mess art supplies. It helps keep my walls, furniture, and children’s imagination in tact. Great options include Crayola Color Wonder products, Melissa & Doug Water Wow sets, and Aqua Doodles.

Your Carpet

I swear, my boys are THE messiest eaters I have ever seen. We needed a sure-fire way to save my dining room carpet from #thelittleone’s sloppy spills and accidental drops. The best solution we’ve found is to put a simple plastic washing machine tray under his high chair. It collects anything that falls, and seriously protects my carpet from messy foods like yogurt or soup!

Your Counters

Both of my boys are enthusiastic helpers in the kitchen. They love any chance to help stir, chop, or create a meal with my husband and I. I’ll be totally honest and admit that neither my husband nor I are terribly skilled in the kitchen. We all try, but we’ve definitely had our share of mishaps! When you consider the hazards your counters are put up against on a regular basis- heat, sharp objects, abrasive foods, etc- it’s no wonder that your counters can show wear quickly. (With or without kids!) Quality countertops are definitely a worthwhile investment, if you’re looking for counters that can stand up to your kid’s ‘help’ in the kitchen!

Photo: Premier Services

I’m lucky to have an amazing countertop company near me. Premier Surfaces Buffalo NY is a wealth of information about quality countertop options. Quartz, natural stone, marble, granite, metals- they have so many great choices available to suit both your personal style and your home needs. (I’ve definitely got my eye on stainless steel when we’re ready for an upgrade!) Be sure to take a peek at their online galleries for home inspiration, and consider visiting the showroom to really see the quality for yourself!

Photo: Premier Services

Your Tabletops

If there’s one mess I hate, it’s food spills. (Reference the carpet complaint above for more on my messy eaters!) We keep a small bin of clean up necessities right in the dining room. It’s filled with after-meal must-haves, like paper towels, surface spray, etc. It’s simple and quick to grab the supplies and clean up immediately, making sure there are no icky dried food spots to surprise us at future meals!

Their Hearing

#thebigone loves his Kindle time (although we do set some limits). #thelittleone loves anything big brother is into, so of course, Kindle time is his favorite as well. The boys each have a pair of headphones to use, so we’re not constantly overloaded with dueling soundtracks. Of course, as a mom, I worry about them jacking the volume up WAY too high and damaging their ears when they’re young. I’m careful to always choose kid-friendly headphones with built-in volume control. That peace of mind is so worth it to me!

Their Desks

Both of my boys have their own desks in their rooms. They love sitting down and working with coloring sheets, journal pages, etc. However, like a lot of creative kids they occasionally color outside the lines- and outside of their papers too! Since he’s only 2, #thelittleone is especially guilty of this! To keep their desk tops in decent condition, I put a layer of press-and-seal food wrap over the top of their desks. When the wrap has tons of marks all over it, it’s easy to peel up the dirty layer. Then it’s inexpensive and quick to replace it with a clean layer. Totally beats scrubbing desk tops repeatedly!

Your Plastic Food Storage

Even before I had kids, I struggled with keeping track of all the lids and bases for plastic food storage. (Seriously, why are there always so many without matches?!) After kids, it’s a whole new challenge- especially when we’re packing lunches and on-the-go snacks. The simplest solution we found was to eliminate the containers entirely when packing school lunches. All-in-one lunch boxes, like our favorites from Planet Box are they perfect solution. No more lost lids or bowls, and WAY fewer dishes to do!

Ok, I wanna know… Do you have any solutions to keep your little ones from causing chaos at home? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!