Our Little Treasure - Treasure Tips
Here you will find Treasure Tips for your enjoyment relating to home, health, family or your child, as sent
in my Our Little Treasure's readers.
If you would like to send us your Treasure Tip and share some helpful secrets with other Treasure readers,
email us today!
Treasure Tip #1
I always keep a small bottle of bubble mixture in my bag for times when my little girl is starting to become
cranky - the distraction of trying to catch the bubbles always works to settle her down.
Alison, Mother of Amelia (age 2 ½)
Treasure Tip #2
A great way to cut down the costs of craft materials is to save gift wrapping, ribbons and greeting cards throughout the
year for children to use.
Margaret, mother of Andrew (age 3), and Josh (age 11 months)
Treasure Tip #3
My child is a really fussy eater. I hide the vegetables in her dinner by blitzing them into the tomato sauce. It becomes a
healthy and delicious Bolognaise Sauce and she doesn't even know the vegetables are there!
Sally,
mother of Alexis (age 4)
Treasure Tip #4
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so don't neglect
your health! Regular screening, self examination and check ups are the key to early detection. So encourage
the women in your life to stay healthy! Click here for more information and ways to support the
National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Kirsty and Susan - Our Little Treasure Founders
Treasure Tip #5
For 5 minutes peace and quiet from a busy day, get out a tube of hand cream!
Place a small amount in the palm of your child's hand and encourage them to rub it in. Talk about rubbing the cream into their
palms, their fingers, their elbows (you do the same too!). Get more cream if you need it! At the end of this session, you will both be
relaxed and ready to keep going with your day! Massage is a great way to relax so try to find a little time each day to encourage your child to 'wind down'.
Leah, mother of Cohan (age 18 months)
Treasure Tip #6
Keep all of your old empty plastic soft drink bottles, milk containers and
screw-top plastic jars. Rinse them out and allow them to dry properly first, then fill them with pasta or rice to
make home-made musical instruments for your kids to use. These are great to have if you don't have kids of your
own, but want something interesting for little visitors to play with.
Alison, aunty of James Matthew (age 4 years)
Treasure Tip #7
To help with toilet training and the aim of little boys, place a ping pong
ball inside the bowl of the toilet. Your little man will have a great time trying to 'hit' the ping pong
ball, and you will be thrilled with the lack of mess!
Marie, mother of Scotty (age 4 ½ years)
Treasure Tip #8
For a healthy snack on a hot day, freeze fresh fruit pureed with Greek-Style
Natural yogurt in ice block moulds. You get a great tasting ice block with no added sugar. Your kids will
love them! Good for an adult treat too!
Sally, mother of Amy-Louise (age 3 years)
Treasure Tip #9
Once your child turns two, start them on a 'job roster'. Make it something
simple like helping you take the recycling out, or folding the washing. Write your child's job on the fridge or notice
board and at the end of each completed 'job week' give them a special treat such as going to the park or dinner of their choice.
It will teach your child responsibility and sets a great example for a helpful and considerate child for the future
Michelle, Family Day Carer.
Treasure Tip #10
Never grocery shop on an empty stomach!!
Cathy, Mum to Michael (age 4).
Treasure Tip #11
Baby-wipes can remove just about any stain in the world from red
wine to custard. Dab lightly until the stain disappears.
Michelle, Grandmother to Alice (age 1 year).
Treasure Tip #12
Take small boxes of sultanas with you for shopping outings. They are a great way to
distract little people when shopping becomes all too much.
Sam, Mother to Mikaela (age 4 years) and Matt (age 1 ½ years).
Treasure Tip #13
Never throw out broken jewellery, missing earrings or old ribbon. Save it all and make lovely decorative displays on your Christmas
wrapping for presents and gifts
Amanda, Mother of Aisha (age 2 ½).
Treasure Tip #14
Save time during the week by cooking a large batch of vegetables for your your kids. Mash them, then
divide it into portions using snap-lock freezer bags. Place them in the freezer to use through the week.
My kids won't eat vegetables whole, but will eat them mashed, so this way I know they are getting the nutrients they need, and I don't have to fuss about making a new veggie
batch each night when I am struggling to get dinner done.
Caroline, Mother of Tim (age 3 ½) and Bronson (age 15 months)
Treasure Tip #15
Start a compost heap in the garden with your kids. You end up with a great garden fertiliser and you
help save the environment at the same time. Plus you have the added benefit from extra time with the kids. We purchased some worms to use and my
children have been busy daily caring for their new 'farm'. It is a great cost saving exercise and definitely cheaper than pets!
Jennifer, Mother of Taylor (age
4 ½), Matthew (age 2) and Daniel (age 3 months)
Treasure Tip #16
When making pancakes or pikelets, place the mixture into a jug for easy pouring. That way you will
eliminate the waste and the mess at the same time!
Angela - Preschool Teacher
Treasure Tip #17
To keep little people from going through the kitchen cupboards, allocate one cupboard to them (I use
the plastic-ware cupboard). That way your child will happily play along side you in the kitchen, without consistently trying to unpack everything in
sight.
Amy, Abbey's Mum (age 16 months)
Treasure Tip #18
Do something little to help someone else every day. The smallest gesture can make the biggest amount of
difference to the life of another person, so give willingly and freely.
*Thank you to the lovely lady who put my trolley away for me at the shops yesterday while I was juggling
my baby. Your actions touched me more than I could possibly express. You gave a most wonderful gift.
Kirsty Newbury, Trinity's Mum (age 13 months)
Treasure Tip #19
Keep your left-over pretty glass jars and beautiful wine bottles to use as little
vases around the house. It will create an interesting talking point for you and your child, while also
providing you with a little natural beauty inside. Place some sticks with coloured water for a different effect.
Megan, Child Care Worker.
Treasure Tip #20
Two important things that my Mum taught me when I was growing up and I am trying now
to teach my own children. Firstly never loose a smile as you grow. It costs nothing and
means so much at times. Secondly always use your manners, even if others around you
are rude. People will always see you as friendly and approachable if you remember these two things. This is worth considering as you grow older, laugh lines add character while frown lines age.
Jo, Mum of 3yr old girl & 21 month boy.
Treasure Tip #21
Left over 2lt plastic milk containers make the best pots for seedlings. Simply cut
them in half and keep the bottom section, make a few small holes, then fill it with potting mix and plant
your seeds.
Tamara, mum to Emily (4 years) and Lucie (2 ½ years)
Treasure Tip #22
Convincing children to brush their teeth can sometimes be a chore. Keep a toothbrush and toothpaste handy
at bath time to encourage your child to brush their teeth, gums and tongue each day. It is a great no mess starting point!
Edward, dad to Alex (4 years) and Lucia (18 months)
Treasure Tip #23
Need a little 'time out'? Ask a friend who also has a child to help you out. This arrangement works by
sharing the care and taking it in turns look after one another’s children. A few of the mums in our street take advantage of it and we always
get time to ourselves during the week, evening if it is just a hour coffee!
Katrina, mum to Lexi (3 years)
Treasure Tip #24
Always remember to apply your hand cream after putting the cat out of the house!
Anonymous
Treasure Tip #25
When you find yourself facing a failed attempt at serving your child something they like for dinner, try
presenting it in a few different ways before giving up completely (for example - corn on the cob, off the cob in nibblets, or mixed through a
pasta sauce, etc). Sometimes a different appearance can make food a little more interesting, enough for kids to give it a try!
Michelle, Mum to Erin (3½ years)
Treasure Tip #26
Keep a small bottle of sunscreen in your handbag - that way you will never be caught short without it when
you are out and about.
Ally, Mum to Michael (4 years) and Ella (2½ years)
Treasure Tip #27
To keep water bottles cooler, together and to stop them dampening things in your bag place them in a
drawstring bag made from a cheap towelling face washer or hand towel (depending on the size you are after). They work brilliantly. Also, it makes
the water bottle easier to retrieve from a large bag full of stuff.
Also an excellent cuddle pillow for a baby or very young child can be easily made by sewing two cheap, soft (to touch) face washers together and filling
with new, clean fill. I have made these for presents. They look good and cost very little to make.
Joanna, mum with daughter 4 & son 2.
Treasure Tip #28
Allocate time in the day to sit down with your child. Give them quality, undivided attention. Draw with them,
paint with them, get down on the floor and play dolls or cars with them. I have even gone as far as to jump on the trampoline with them, they
love it ! It only needs to be for a short period but they will remember this for years to come. You are always going to have housework to
do....so stop and enjoy them!
Kylie, mummy to Princess Chloe (3 ½
yrs) and Charlotte (2yrs)
Treasure Tip #29
When my son decided he didn’t want to wear a nappy to bed any more, a friend shared a fantastic tip…
“double make” the bed. Put down a mattress protector, then a fitted sheet, then another mattress protector, followed by another fitted sheet.
That way, if your child wets the bed, you just take off one layer and the bed is already made. It saves changing sheets in the middle of the
night when you are half asleep.
Dani, mum to Ronin aged 3
Treasure Tip #30
Make up snacks each morning and
put them in a small divided container with a lid. Keep it in the fridge
for your toddler to help themselves when they are hungry and you are
busy. It's also handy to put in your bag when going out.
The Ainsworth Family
Treasure Tip #31
When I had my first child, my mother promised not to interfere, but insisted I take this one piece of advice:
“You are the one who has to live with the consequences of your parenting. Listen to all the advice you can get, but in the end, what you do is up to you.”
Sometimes what is “right” for everyone else, is very “wrong” for you.
Samantha, mother of Danika (9), Gareth (6), Ishbel (3) and Ferris (8 months)
Treasure Tip #32
Instead of letting my toddler have glue, I sometimes give her a piece of clear contact paper
and let her stick things on that, she sticks on ribbon, leaves, ice block sticks, paper, foil, cotton wool, all sorts. It's easy to clean up and not mukky like glue can be.
Jasmine, Mum of Lacey (2 years)
Treasure Tip #33
To prevent Little Artists drawing on the walls and furniture, let them pick one or two crayons, take these and carve a notch in them, then tie string around them and tie to their easels, blackboards or art tables. Give just enough length so they can draw freely without being able to wrap the string around themselves.
I also use some tape round the string to keep the crayons more secure.
Jasmine, Mum of Lacey (2 years)
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