Crunch-time solutions rescue busy moms

Dinnertime
Winner’s cups
The SleekStor Collapsible Cup Set is colorful and kid-friendly. Your child can measure out macaroni for dinner or just scoop Cheerios back and forth. Ages 2 and up.
(Chef’n, $17; chefn.com)

Zootopia
You’ve never seen a pigraffe before? Wait till your child gets hold of Creature Mix. Each of the three animals inside (a giraffe, a pig, and a gorilla) has interchangeable parts for creating really wild things. Ages 4 and up.
(MGA Entertainment, $13; amazon.com)

Oh, little play mat
After your child makes a picture, slide it under the Piggy Platter Placemat so he can admire his artwork over (well, under!) supper. The mat’s rounded rims contain spills, and it’s dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. Ages 1 to 5.
(Smarty Parents, $25; perryandpenny.com)

Clay station
These ingenious Clay Club Kits provide everything your kid needs to whip up something cool in 30 minutes or less — take your pick of a half dozen projects, like Tic Tac Toe and Jazzy Jewelry. Ages 6 and up.
(Sculpey, $5.50; at Target stores)

Cool tools
Give your pots and pans a break — and give your child his own set. The Cook Time Box has lots of sturdy plastic utensils and food for a fabulous ”feast” before the real one. Ages 3 and up.
(Awesome Kids, $26; awesomekids.com)

’Toon-up
TV was made for times like these. Pop in Walt Disney’s "It’s a Small World of Fun! Vol. 1," a DVD of vintage cartoons from around the globe. Each is short, so it’s easy to hit ”pause” when dinner’s ready. Ages 2 and up.
($15; amazon.com)

Grab bag
When all else fails, just pull out this Soft Basket With Handles, which you’ve filled with goodies like old cell phones and wallets, a calculator, a remote control, and more. All ages.
(Stacks and Stacks, $13; stacksandstacks.com)

Hey, hey, it’s the monkeys
MagnaPets Plush Chimps really stick together, or on the fridge, courtesy of magnets hidden in their fuzzy little hands and feet. Ages 2 and up.
(Mary Meyer, $4.50 each; marymeyer.com)

Bathtime
Shower space saver
The Frog Pod has a detachable scooper so you can gather, drain, and store wet toys with one sweep.
(Boon, $30; booninc.com)

Snug as a bug
Tempt her out of the tub with this cute and supersoft hoodie towel, which makes drying off fun and fast. Also available in a ladybug, a cow, a butterfly, and others.
(Kidorable, $33; kidorable.com)

Trim down the toys
The six colorful nubs on the Rub a Dub Star Crayon mean lots of creativity from one small toy.(Alex, $5; alextoys.com)

All-in-one suds
Soothing Naturals Hair and Body Wash will get your kids squeaky clean, with one less bottle.
(Johnson & Johnson, $4; at drugstores nationwide)

Cute little multi-tasker
This crab doubles as a washcloth and a bath buddy, making scrub-down anything but dull.
(Munchkin, $5; munchkininc.com)

Break out the bubbly
The ColorFall SudsWorks will turn your tub into a rainbow-hued wonderland of bubbles and waterfalls. The colors won’t rub off on your child or the tub, and he’ll be having such a blast that the only other entertainment you’ll need is a magazine for yourself.
(Crayola, $13; crayolastore.com)

Reclaim your floor
When your child drops a trail of T-shirts and socks on the way to the tub, just dump it all in this portable hanging hamper (and then teach him to do it!). Once the hamper’s full, it’s easy to unhook and take to the laundry room.
(Organize-It, $11; organize-itonline.com)

A tub-time essential
Stick this starfish to the inside of the tub and it’ll beep when the water reaches it. That way, you can turn on the tap, walk away, and not worry that the tub’s going to overflow. A built-in thermometer makes sure the water’s just the right temperature.
(Wizard Sales, $15; showerpets.com)

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