The top parenting ‘hacks’, according to a new study

Knowing how to stop a supermarket tantrum, understanding what emojis mean and memorising the names of TV characters are among the top "hacks" every parent should take time to master, according to a new poll.

The survey of 2,000 mothers, father and carers, uncovered parents' top childcare tips and found that knowing the secret to getting children to eat their five-a-day is an essential piece of parenting advice.

How to make the perfect pancake, how to remove chewing gum from hair and being able to tell when a child should go from a car seat to a booster seat were also agreed on as vital pieces of information.

Tips on how to effectively control screen time and gain more than a basic understanding of what different emojis mean also made the list.

The poll also highlighted the secrets to successful family meal times, including how to get children to eat their vegetables.

‘When it comes to parenting, we know first-hand that it can sometimes feel like you’re caught in the cross-fire of everyday challenges – from tantrums and fussy eating, to gum-in-hair and other parental pleasures," said Skye Lucas-Banks from Bassetts Vitamins which commissioned the study.

"When it comes to parenting, we know first-hand that it can sometimes feel like you’re caught in the cross-fire of everyday challenges – from tantrums and fussy eating, to gum-in-hair and other parental pleasures. So, when we find a tip, hack or approach that works, it’s second nature to pass it on.

''Our social and personal networks show we’re certainly not alone and it’s reassuring to know that someone else has found a great way to either get their kids to eat their veg or remember which shape to cut sandwiches into on a Thursday.”

One fifth of respondents had picked up tips while talking at the school gate with other mums and dads, or during a parents’ evening.

How to set up parental controls on devices and knowing different social media acronyms, such as LOL and GTG, featured high on modern parenting agendas. By contrast more traditional tips insisted on good manners and letting children fail to help them learn. More than thirty per cent trusted the teachings of their own parents, according to the study.

One third of respondents said they would go to their mother over their father for parenting-related questions and nine in 10 agreed the older generation had passed on useful parenting advice. And three in 10 said one of the most useful recommendations they took on was "to be a parent and not a friend".

Two-fifths found they were learning on the job, picking up tips and tricks from everyday parenting.

One quarter will play games like "eating races" with their children three in 10 hide vegetables in other foods they like. And 28 per cent will reward their children with dessert for eating their vegetables.

However the study found that despite using these tricks, parents find their children will only finish an average of eight out of 21 meals a week with absolutely no leftovers.

As a result, six in 10 parents wish they could get more healthy and nutritious food in their children's diets.

SWNS