Dadvice Weekly #8 / You Tell Us: Messy Kids Follow-up

Dadvice Weekly - #8

You Tell Us: Messy Kids - What Works for You

Last week we asked how you get kids to clean up after themselves, and we received some great responses!

Here’s what you shared:

• Start with a single pile. Several parents recommended raking or sweeping toys into one big pile in the center of the room. It helps kids focus on a single target and keeps them from wandering around “looking” for what to pick up next.

• Attach a reward. One said their kids can’t move on to the next activity until the pile is cleared, whether that’s screen time, snack time, or leaving for the park. This turns cleanup into a natural checkpoint in the day.

• Make it a game. Timers and “beat the clock” races were popular strategies. One reader plays a special cleanup playlist so the kids know what’s expected as soon as the music starts.

• Acceptance is key. One parent with children out of the home challenged me to shift my perspective. She reminded me that homes with young families are supposed to be messy. Mess is the evidence of a good childhood. Some days the pile can wait, and that’s okay. Picking your battles and leaving space for chaos is part of the season we’re in.

• Scale expectations with age. Older kids had success with small rewards or allowance tied to keeping shared spaces tidy, while younger ones still needed help turning clean-up into a playful activity.

It seems like there isn’t really a one-size-fits-all method that works. It’s a combination of what works for you, your kid, and your family unit. What feels for one family might feel totally normal for another. The real win is finding a rhythm that keeps your home functional and leaves room for joy, play, and a little bit of mess. -KC

Thanks to everyone who shared their wisdom! We love hearing what works in your homes. If you missed last week’s question but have a great tip, it’s not too late to reply! We may feature a few more in a future issue.

Strider Bikes

Learning to ride a bike means learning three things at once: pedaling, steering, and balancing. Strider bikes make that process easier by teaching kids to balance and steer first without pedals in the way. Our kids generally start on theirs around age two, and by the time they’re big enough to pedal, putting it all together is a breeze.

Our four-year-old hopped on a pedal bike and took off almost instantly thanks to the confidence he built on his Strider. These bikes are light, easy for little legs to push along, and give kids the feel of leaning, steering, and coasting early on. They’re easy to find at consignment sales and on Marketplace. -KC

Crouton: Recipe Manager App

I recently had a conversation with a coworker and it came up that I have been writing Dadvice. I began to explain to him what Dadvice is and then asked him if he was writing the newsletter, what’s something he would share?

He gave me a really good answer. There is a free app in the App Store called Crouton. I haven’t fact checked him but he said its won a lot of awards and is one of the top apps in the App Store. Basically it is a one stop shop to transcribe recipes into step by step instructions. You can paste a video link into the app and it will give you the step by step instructions in written form. Its also pretty cool where if it says to start a timer for 5 minutes you can actually set the timer directly in the app and it pre-sets to the length of time the recipe had detailed.

I’ve been experimenting with it for about a month. My favorite thing about it is the simplicity of knowing where to find a recipe that I love with its folder feature. I have several notes on my phone with recipes but this has searchability and the app has a single purpose. I would recommend giving it a shot if you enjoy cooking and grilling like I do.

Mountable Toothbrush Holder

Bathroom storage feels like it’s been shrinking since the ‘90s. Remember medicine cabinets? What the heck happened to them? Ours are long gone, drawer space is at a premium, and we’ve got kids and guests to manage. This mountable toothbrush holder has been a godsend. It keeps toothbrushes organized, cups off the counter, frees up drawer space, and makes the bathroom look tidier. Installation was quick (we mounted ours on the mirror), and it’s easy to clean when it needs a refresh. –KC

VENA iPhone Case

Ever since having an iPhone I’ve only had 2 types of cases. The first case I had was an OtterBox because I was so scared that I would break my screen. About 5 years ago though I got this case.

I love this case so much and have told at least 3 Dadvice readers to get it. My favorite thing about it is that it has helped me to not need a wallet. It has a slot to hold 3 cards so I always have my license and 2 credit cards. I haven’t carried in a wallet in years. The other thing I like about it is that it is very durable and helps protect my phones screen. Its less bulky than an OtterBox, yet I still haven’t broken the glass of my iPhone screen. So much that it has “military grade drop protection.” I’m not sure the process tor getting that label, but I’m going to trust the process and continue to not worry about breaking my screen.

Just for Dad: Andrew Huberman & Cal Newport Jr. Conversation

One of my favorite authors of all time is Cal Newport. I’ve read 3 books that he has written (Slow Productivity, Deep Work, and So Good They Can’t Ignore You) and he has been a foundational writer for how I approach work and workflow methodology. I would say he’s a thought leader in productivity, time optimization, and how to operate efficiently in 2025 amidst all the distractions that surround us.

I was about to mow the grass and I wanted to listen to something of substance. I searched Spotify to see if there were additional audiobooks that sparked my interest from Newport, but I came across this conversation he had with Andrew Huberman.

As I was listening to it, it struck me as a great rec for the Dadvice community. Its a long conversation, but they hit on a lot of topics that I think our community would enjoy. They discuss the topics I’ve previously mentioned such as how to reduce task switching, how to learn in the most efficient way, why social media is bringing down productivity, and thoughts on how the iPhone is an incredible tool but also can be a shackle to us accomplishing our goals.

But the topics they discussed that I found original and thought provoking were around remote work and why it is challenging. Another topic they touched on is if kids should have a smart phone, social media, and the impacts of unregulated Internet usage. Its pretty dense at times but I really enjoyed the conversation and hope you do too. -SW

---

Dadvice Weekly is written by two friends in their thirties trying to be thoughtful, present dads without losing our minds. It’s our small way of sharing gear, routines, and ideas with other dads who are in the thick of it too.

We publish once a week. No fluff, just useful stuff to help you lead your home with a little more purpose and fun.

If that sounds good, stick around and subscribe. We’re glad you’re here.