Could that title be any more boring?? :)
I’ve found that one of the biggest struggles with having two kids so close together (Rembot’s 2 years old, Baby Shark is 9 months old) is loading and unloading them in and out of a car. For example, a trip to the gym usually goes like this:
- Pull up, I get out, take Rembot out of her carseat and order her to stand next to me while I pull Baby Shark out of her carseat. I need two hands to take Baby Shark out of her carseat, so I’m constantly nervous that Rembot might wander off into the parking lot. There’s a lot of..
“Honey, hold onto Mommy’s pants. No, no, stand still. Put one hand on the car. No, put it on our car; you’ll set the alarm off on that Lexus…” And on rare occasions I do the First Name Middle Name Hold It Right There yell.
And I hate yelling, but no one wants to see their kids run into the road and get hurt. Amiright? Yup.
So I crafted up this little gem to make the in-and-out-of-car scenarios a little less harrowing for me. And I also don’t want to be the crazy mom in the parking lot.
You’ll need:
- a magnet sheet
- Outdoor Mod Podge
- a brush to spread the podge
- cardstock
- scissors
- stickers
I cut the magnet sheet I had in half and cut cardstock to fit. I spread Outdoor Mod Podge very thinly on both surfaces before sandwiching them together. I smoothed down the cardstock to avoid any bubbling or puckering.
I spread more Outdoor Mod Podge on top of the cardstock, and then decorated with stickers. Your best bet is to go with stickers that aren’t puffy or dimensional – I imagine those may come off more easily in a storm.
After decorating the magnet, I spread about a million more coats of the Outdoor Mod Podge on it, and let dry.
HORSEpigCHICKENweeeee!
p-p-p-penguins!
I made two, but I’ll make more so I can switch them out and hold her interest.
Now instead of begging Rembot to stay close, I simply say “Put your hand on the horsey.” It works! She stays put for the solid forty-five seconds it takes me to strap Baby Shark into her carseat (or take her out). Rembot names all the animals, and tells me the sounds they make.
I’ll definitely make more (they were so easy!) and switch them out.
Warning. Your car will look a little stupid. I can only imagine what people may think if they see Jack driving the car by himself and there’s a magnet with fluffy kittens all over them. Oh well. :)
"Mommy, animallllllsssss!"
If you make them, I’d love to see them!
I think it’s brilliant Roo. Maybe someone will see it on your car and want to market the idea, and sell it in baby stores…
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That is genius! I am going to make some for the grands!
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Previous two commenters already used the words I was going to use to describe this idea: Brilliant and Genius!! Great idea.
Go grab a patent so you can be a rich nice girl.
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Roo, that is genius! Thanks for sharing this idea. Not that I have any kiddos to use it with, but maybe someday. :)
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Hi Roo! Great idea! However… I’m going to throw out of word of caution and just say to be sure to check underneath the magnet every once in a while. If the magnet is not made for outdoor/car use, it can actually eat away the finish on your car. My husband had this happen when he thought he was being genius by putting a bumper sticker on a radiator cover magnet and then putting the magnet on his F150 instead (so he wouldn’t damage his truck with a sticker). Well, the magnet basically melted the paint of his truck and when he took the magnet off, it pulled all the paint off too! SO now he has a big paintless rectangle on his beautiful truck. Not a happy man!! Another option for you is to keep the magnet inside your car and only put it on the outside during the loading or unloading process.
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I love it. Safe, cute, and a language activity for the little ones. I agree, it’s genius.
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That is a really great idea.
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you are such a smarty pants!! love this idea!
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Great idea!! I’ll have to make up some for my nieces. At my kids’ age I’m trying to get them to actually move rather than stay in one place all the time. haha.
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Such a good idea!
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GENIUS! You never cease to amaze me :o)
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Such a cool idea!
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That is such a great idea! So simple, and yet (just like you said), it’s enough to keep them busy until you’re reading to go. Thank you so much for sharing! :)
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Awesome idea!
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Loooooooove your ideas – totally going to bite off you!!
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genius, pure and simple :)
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you should place the warning at the beginning.
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Excellent idea!!
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What a great idea!! My little guy is too young for this yet, but I’m tucking your idea away for later! I just started a link party on Wednesdays and would love for you to share this!
wakinglucia.blogspot.com
Ciao,
Lucia
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What a wonderful idea! I will pass this idea onto my kids and I will use it with my grandchildren. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Shantel @
http://www.itsapricelesslife.blogspot.com
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This is great! I featured you today on Today’s Top 20!! I’d love if you stopped by!
Amanda
todaystoptwenty.blogspot.com
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Great idea!! *You* should market this is the baby stores….
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what a cute craft!
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Awesome…you’re so crafty!!! I don’t think mine would come out quite that cute, lol. If any of your readers are NOT as talented as you (like myself, lol) then I actually sell a similar mom-invented Parking Pal Magnet at my boutique! Check it out! These magnets are a great help! http://www.busymomboutique.com/Parking-Pals_c_26.html
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Roo Reply:
May 4th, 2011 at 1:14 am
I might have to buy one! Someone swiped the farm animals magnet and penguins just aren’t in season. :D
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Linsay Reply:
May 4th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
Well my dear, if you ever do decide to buy one, make sure you become a fan on facebook because then you get 5% off :-) hehehe. http://www.facebook.com/TheBusyMomBoutique
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I bought a Parking Pal magnet on a great coupon deal, unfortunately kidlet loves taking it off the car and running around and putting it on someplace else. I have to take it off when we are in the store or the car is parked in the apartment lot for fear of theft. What started out great, has become still a challenge because she likes the thing too much that she wants to take it off. In the summer it’s too hot to keep the hand on too.
Yours with the card stock, does it insulate the metal of the car from heat much?
It is such a great idea,, I hate to give up on it as a training tool.Switching them out may be part of the solution.
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i LOVE this! i wish i would have thought of it when i was a nanny! i had the same problem, only with more children. luckily they did touch the car pretty well, but that would have made it sooooooooooo much better, and more fun!
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