Best Parenting Products of 2024: 12 Tools to Make Your Life Easier
While it is our absolute joy to bring you a list of our favorite products, we may receive a small commission if you purchase products through some of the links on this page (don’t worry, this doesn’t affect the price you pay). But please know that even though we are constantly asked to review products, we only recommend products we absolutely LOVE, so you can trust that this list contains only our shout-it-from-the-rooftops favorites!
I’m going to be honest, this isn’t your average parenting product review post. While you can scour the Internet to find the elusive spill-proof sippy cup that actually works or spend hours finding the best deal on educational video games for your teens, I’m here to tell you about products that will enhance your parenting skills and help bring peace into your home.
These are products I find myself recommending over and over again to parents during coaching calls or in our private members-only Facebook group. These tools help make your routines run more smoothly, improve cooperation from your kiddos, and, most importantly, make YOUR life easier!
At Positive Parenting Solutions, we’ve made it our mission to equip parents with the tools they need to raise empowered, capable, and resilient kids. We want every parent to feel confident in their abilities and walk away knowing they’re rocking this whole parenting thing. (Want a glimpse of these parenting tools and strategies? Try our FREE PARENTING CLASS today!)
And while we have helped transform thousands of families, this does not diminish the fact that there are many great resources on the market to assist parents in their positive parenting journey.
All of these products are “Amy approved” and come with my biggest stamp of approval.
Here’s my Top 12 List of Positive Parenting Products:
1. Time Timer
Ages: All Ages
Cost: $-$$
What is it: A visual timer to help children and adults use their time effectively.
Why I love it: I see it all the time – parents who understand the need to give their child an advanced warning before a transition. In a well-intentioned effort, they pull out their phone and set a timer.
They tell their children, “When the timer goes off, we are finished playing.”
5 minutes later, the alarm sounds. The child throws a fit. The parent is left frustrated, and defeated – having felt like they were “doing the right thing” only to have their child respond so negatively.
THIS is why parents need the Time Timer. The Time Timer is the perfect visual clock to help even your littlest ones understand the concept of time. It comes in different time increments – 5, 20, 60, and 120 – and is the ideal accompaniment to your morning routine, family contributions (chores), playtime, and much more.
By giving children the opportunity to visualize time, you reinforce your expectations in a more effective way than setting a hidden alarm on your phone. And most importantly, you help your child feel a sense of control over the situation.
Plus! You no longer have to be the timekeeper!
2. Go Zen
Ages: 4-17
Cost: $$
What is it: An online resource for children with anxiety, OCD, stress, and much more.
Why I love it: GoZen is an incredibly effective tool to help relieve anxiety in your children. GoZen offers several animated learning courses that help children combat anxiety, build resilience, manage OCD, ward off panic attacks, and much more!
The animated videos are kid-friendly and informative for both parents and children alike. By going through the modules together, families will equip themselves with the tools necessary to support children who are riddled with worry and anxiety.
3. MEL Science
Ages: 4+
Cost: $-$$$
What is it: Monthly boxed kits that promote STEM-based learning.
Why I love it: Kids love receiving packages, and these monthly boxes are full of fun, educational surprises.
Each contains a science-based activity that’s ideal for your child’s age and interest. Because science shouldn’t be based on rote learning–it should be hands-on!
4. Grow Maple
Ages: For parents
Cost: FREE
What is it: An app/website that facilitates family organization and scheduling.
Why I love it: Plans are so complicated these days…so, families need better tools for communication and staying up-to-date.
Grow Maple was founded by necessity–by a dad who realized he didn’t know ANY of the inner workings of his family’s life: who his kids’ doctors were, what size clothes they wore, their detailed extracurricular schedules…you name it.
He created this website/app to essentially share the workload with his wife–with more fluidity and less stress–and has now made his system available to all of us, for free! All you need to do is download the app on a smartphone (or access on a web browser), and sign up!
5. Door Monkey
Ages: 1-4
Cost: $
What is it: A versatile childproofing door lock.
Why I love it: The Door Monkey was designed by moms, for moms, making it a well-trusted little device. This childproofing gadget helps to keep kids out of unsafe rooms while protecting their little fingers.
It is also a great bedtime tool because it keeps the door slightly cracked without allowing your child to leave the room. This way, your child can still see you or the light in the hallway but is reminded they need to stay safely in their room at bedtime.
6. Gabb Wireless
Ages: Teens
Cost: $-$$$
What is it: Gabb’s phones (and smartwatches) lack apps, social media, and internet access.
Why I love it: Smartphones are wonderful, but they can be risky.
Gabb’s phones are limited to texting and calling (and music), but they still look like smartphones. It’s a major benefit for kids that care a lot about keeping up with their friends–both in terms of calls/texts and appearances.
We all, understandably, need to keep tabs on our kids. They need to tell us where they are and call us the minute they need us–and vice versa! But, we also need to protect them from the likes of cyberbullying and sexting. Gabb Wireless has us covered.
7. Troomi
Ages: Teens
Cost: $-$$$
What is it: Another kid-friendly phone that allows parents full control.
Why I love it: Troomi gives kids the gift of a phone and parents the gift of monitoring that phone activity. Additional kid-friendly apps can only be downloaded with your approval, and social media is still off-limits!
Troomi’s advantage is that it allows you to adjust your child’s phone as needed: either as they gain responsibility or fail to make good choices.
8. Mindful Buddiez
Ages: 3-11
Cost: $
What is it: Three sweet stuffed animals that offer actual words of encouragement.
Why I love it: The earlier kids can learn to manage stress, sleep well, and believe in themselves, the better!
It sounds like a tall order, but Mindful Buddiez was designed to help kids learn these exact skills! Omi the Elephant, Janu the Koala, and Luna the Sleep Sheep help kids calm big emotions, count down from ten, and practice regular mindfulness. And that’s just the start!
9. Big Life Journals
Ages: 4+
Cost: $-$$
What is it: Fun, interactive journals that help kids build self-knowledge and self-confidence.
Why I love it: Doctors and psychologists alike recommend journaling, and why? Because it’s healthy and therapeutic!
From young ones learning to write to older, sullen teens, the process of journaling is a productive, if emotional, journey. These age-specific journals guide kids towards positive thinking and help them tackle life’s challenges with confidence.
10. ForSmallHands.com
Ages: All Ages
Cost: $-$$$
What is it: A Montessori-inspired store with kid-sized household tools.
Why I love it: Oh. My. Stars. Why is it that an adult-size Nike shoe is simply something to run in, but the moment I see a Nike shoe in an infant size, I can’t stop swooning? Or an 11-year-old dog is just a dog, but a 6-week-old puppy makes my heart explode.
There is something incredibly endearing about child-size EVERYTHING, which is why ForSmallHands.com leaves me feeling ALL THE FEELS. Not only is their stuff adorable, but my friends, it is unbelievably practical. By equipping your child with tools made specifically for their little hands and bodies, you now empower them to be more helpful around the house and develop important life skills – early!
At Positive Parenting Solutions, we are always looking for ways to help children become more independent and self-sufficient. By using appropriately sized tools, kids can become more proficient in all sorts of household tasks – chopping veggies, gardening, cleaning the bathroom, etc. It’s a win-win for everyone!
11. Table Topics Family Edition
Ages: All Ages
Cost: $
What is it: Conversation starter cards specifically for families.
Why I love it: These handy cards provide the perfect opportunity for family bonding. Whether you’re at the dinner table or in the car on a family road trip, each one of these 135 cards features a question specifically designed to engage your kids in conversation.
Questions range from silly to thought-provoking, but all of them allow you to learn something new about your child in a creative and fun way. Use Table Topics Family Edition as a part of your weekly Family Meeting, for Mind, Body, and Soul Time® connection, or whenever you feel you need a little extra conversation with your kids.
12. Hatch Rest Sound Machine
Ages: Babies and Toddlers
Cost:$$
What is it: Sound machine/night light/sleep trainer/alarm clock
Why I love it: This little machine serves so many functions–from white noise soothing for babies to sleep training for toddlers–the Hatch Rest does so much to help with the most frustrating child sleep issues.
In addition to all the basic functions of a night light and sound machine, the Hatch Rest is perfect for parents looking to Take Time for Training by teaching their children when and when not to get out of bed. You can establish boundaries by personally programming the Hatch to change colors depending on what time it is. You can even make up a fun little rhyme…“If your light is red, stay in bed. If your light is blue, the day is ready for you!“
The Hatch is Wifi enabled and connects directly to your smartphone. You’ll have so much fun tailoring this tool to your child’s bedtime needs.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, friends – 12 products to bring more peace into your home.
If you struggle with getting your kids to listen without nagging, yelling, or losing control, I’d love to have you join me for a FREE ONLINE CLASS at Positive Parenting Solutions. I promise it’ll be the most productive hour you spend all week!
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