You know those life-changing mum hacks that you now swear by and wished you had discovered months (or years) ago? We’ve got more for you to add to your list! Here are our personal mum hacks to help make your motherhood journey easier- all tried and tested by the team behind makchic:
makchic COO, Lu Sean’s Tips:
Get the kids out the door smoothly
A hack that helped me to get my kids out the door were to incorporate visual reminders. This can be used even before they start reading. I took photos of their morning routine – waking up, eating breakfast, brushing their teeth, toileting, getting dressed, grabbing their bags and going out the door – and stuck these photos in their rooms, to remind them about what needs to be done.
As your kids get older, you can reduce the photo to just one – of them packed and ready to go out to school! Having said that, kids have a tendency of forgetting. One day, my son forgot to wear his shoes before getting in the car, and I had to lend him my slippers to wear. So, tip #2 for parents: always be prepared for emergencies.
Have your cake, and decorate it too!
When it comes to birthday parties, bespoke cakes are very special. However, if you’re on a budget, you could consider buying an off-the-shelf cake, and decorating it yourself.
Previously, I printed out Roblox “Adopt Me” characters, stuck them on a card, and taped them onto satay sticks as cake toppers. You can also use new or existing toys that are easy to clean, such as LEGO, as decorations. And bonus: the birthday kid gets a toy to play with, after the cake is consumed!
makchic CEO, Liyana’s Tip:
Connect before you correct
This is one of my favourite parenting approaches that I find useful not only with my kids, but also with adults!
The tenet of this concept is pretty self-explanatory – to acknowledge feelings, and to make your kids feel valued and understood before correcting undesirable behaviour, or getting them to do something they might not be keen on.
For example, when my kid is watching TV and it’s time for her to take a shower, I would sit with her for a few minutes, ask her what she’s watching, have a short conversation about the programme, and tell her she’s got another 5 more minutes before it’s time to switch off. On a good day, she would actually want to continue the conversation with me, forget about the TV, and walk with me to the shower. On a not-so-good day, she would whine – but at least there would be less resistance, and we’d avoid getting into a shouting match.
I obviously don’t practice this 100% of the time – sometimes, I admittedly don’t have the time or patience for it! But we do what we can, whenever we can.
makchic Social Media Editor, Nora’s Tip:
Hacks for Thrifty Mamas
Always check out the reduced-to-clear racks in supermarkets
Not everything in the discount racks will go bad within the next few days. The racks in Village Grocer especially, feature items that still have a month or two left before their date of expiry.
Always want to try some fancy biscuits, or sauces that come with hefty price tags? This way, you can! I also get imported chocolates and candies for the kids at a discount as a treat – and let’s face it, those won’t take long to finish in your pantry. Don’t forget to check the vegan section of the freezer too. I do avoid dairy products such as milk, because those items are more volatile.
The reduced-to-clear section is also a great way to find some overripe bananas for your banana bread, or to inspire new cooking ideas for the family.
makchic Managing Editor, Kimberly’s Tip:
Little Laundry Hacks for the Whole Family
Folding laundry is my favourite task (said no one, ever!) – but here’s something that might help. Instead of mixing everything together, sort clothes immediately by family member while collecting them from the laundry rack. This creates separate piles right from the start, making folding and putting away clothes feel much less daunting.
Better yet, make this a family affair. Assign each family member a labelled basket, and split up the work to make laundry feel less like a chore. It makes it easier for everyone else in the family to help put their own clothes away.
Laundry also feels much more pleasant when your clothes come out soft and beautifully scented! Fabric softeners have become a welcome part of my routine, helping to keep things fresh, fragrant, and gentle on fabrics for my whole family.
makchic Pro Tip: Make laundry a far more enjoyable experience with options like Daia® Fabric Softener. Crafted with world-class fine perfume scents, it delivers long-lasting fragrance, helps with malodour prevention; while caring for colours and fibres so clothes stay soft, vibrant and less wrinkled wash after wash.
Because sometimes, the little things — like fresh, soft laundry that’s easy to manage — really do make a difference in a busy mum’s day.
makchic Contributor, Elaine’s Tips:
Mealtime Hacks
1. Prepare an after-school ‘help yourself’ tray
I’ve had my fair share of spending the entire day prepping snacks, and resisting the urge to just dump a box of chocolates on the table, for peckish kids. Having a pre-filled, limited (my kids quickly learned that mama wasn’t going to refill this, every half-hour!) ‘help yourself’ tray in the fridge with nuts, fruits and healthy options was a lifesaver.
2. Store bibs on a command hook behind the high chair
When we have a baby, or a fast-moving toddler, everything needs to be within arm’s reach. Hang bibs on command hooks stuck to the high chair, for easy grab-and-use during meal times.
Playtime Hacks
Have a roll of tape packed together with your bubble wands
Bring along some masking tape whenever you’re out for bubble play, and simply tape the bubble solution tube to the leg of a chair or table. No more messy solution spills – and you won’t need to end up being the one holding on to the container all day.
makchic Partnership Lead, Christina’s Tip:
The 5-Minute Family Briefing
On busy days or weekends, start with a quick family briefing together with the kids that includes a rundown of the day’s schedule, where we’re going and what’s for mealtime. This gives them a big idea of what to expect the rest of the day and attempts to reduce the number of times you hear “can I have screen time now”. If there’s time, the plan would be scribbled on a piece of paper and one lucky child will get to carry it around for the day, reminding us what’s coming up next.
Bonus mum points: Make this an age-appropriate engagement activity where kids can trace, draw or colour in your plan or even write their own schedules.
makchic Senior Advisor, Najmin’s Tip:
Road Tripping with the Kids!
Most parents dread going on a road trip with their kids. But, my family loves them! We prefer the easy drive on the East Coast highway to visit extended family in Terengganu, and enjoy impromptu day trips to neighbouring states. We leave early to beat the traffic, keep kids well-stocked with their favourite snacks, and entertained with books, music, and games.
Whenever my daughters are struggling – be it with friends, school or anything in between – we’d just hop into the family car, set off on our drive to nowhere, and talk things out during the drive. This does not happen in every car ride, but we do have some of our best discussions in the car.
If a car ride is not a thing your child enjoys, choose something else that you do enjoy together. It could be during a walk around the neighbourhood, or while you prepare a meal for dinner. The best discussions happen when the both of you are feeling relaxed and calm.
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