Ah, the joys of parenting. Everyone says that these are the days of your life you’ll back upon with joy, but there’s no denying that being a parent can be a tough gig at times. If you’re a mommy or daddy who wouldn’t mind having an easier job raising your kids, look no further than these clever parenting hacks that will help you live a cleaner, more organized, and less stressful life.

Avoid Accidents Around the House

As a parent, you already know the worst noise in the world: the wail of a child who’s hurt herself. While an accident is usually a case of being more surprised than actually being hurt, it’s always best to be safe than sorry. That’s why it’s worth taking a look at your home from a child’s point of view to see what can be child-proofed.

Besides the obvious precautions–blocking the electrical outlets, anchoring heavy furniture to keep it from tipping–there are some not-so-obvious steps you can take to make your home a little safer for your little ones. In the bathroom, to lessen the hidden risks of slippery shower mats, lay velcro strips on the ground and glue some to the back of your rug to keep them in place. Everywhere else in your house, soften sharp edges with foam pool noodles; simply cut down the length of a pool noodle and stick it on the edge of any potentially dangerous furniture. These simple little hacks should prevent any particularly nasty spills.

Gamify Your Family’s Chores

By a certain age, it’s typical that your kids take a greater responsibility in helping out with chores around the house. But just because it’s expected of them, that doesn’t mean they’ll want to do them. If you’re having trouble rounding the troops up for their weekly duties, consider adding a little fun–and competition–into the mix.

For one, you can make their chores competitive by turning them into a game. For example, offer an incentive to whomever can clean their room the fastest. While this might not inspire quality work, it will help get the job done. You can also incentivize your kids by doling out points for completed tasks and rewarding them for hitting goals or being the top scorer for that week.

Inspire Creativity on the Cheap

Childhood is the time to let imagination bloom, and your tykes aren’t going to be doing much of that if they’re glued to the TV screens. Thankfully, it doesn’t take much to plants the seeds of creativity – all it takes is a little bit of ingenuity on your end.

We all know that for kids, sometimes the cardboard box is more interesting than what came inside it. You don’t even need to buy anything to get a box; simply go around to your supermarkets and appliance stores and ask if they have any to spare. A big cardboard box can be a castle, a time machine, a spaceship, or a DIY puppet stage. And when the kids tire of that, cut the box into panels and use the material as canvases they can draw and paint on. That’s a lot of activities for the price of nearly free.

While you know how best to raise your kids, it doesn’t hurt to have a little help. These tips should make your parenting a little easier, but they won’t be the end-all be-all of clever tips. Keep track of what works and what doesn’t work for your family. Just like anything else, practice makes perfect, and you never know what little trick will do wonders for your kids.