Does this sound familiar? You’re trying to save money, but suddenly it’s 6pm, the kids are getting hungry, and no one’s even thought about what’s for dinner. So, the options are either braving Day Three of those reheated pasta leftovers, or trying to find a good, quick place to eat where they won’t roll their eyes at your, um, enthusiastic brood.

Luckily, Kids Eat For has come to the rescue. It’s a new site and mobile app (iPhone/Android) that finds all the restaurants near you that offer “kids eat free” deals. Plus, Kids Eat For includes reviews from Yelp for each restaurant, so you’ll know exactly what you’re in for. All major metropolitan areas are covered, and they even have exclusive deals – yes, that means you get to whisper secret passwords to get the deal.

But wait, you need more than just cheap food. Don’t forget about that seemingly super slo-mo time spent keeping the kids entertained until the food actually arrives. When crayons just won’t cut it, try Family Matters, an iPhone/Touch app that’s designed to spark imagination and conversation. Using a mix of games, challenges, and open-ended questions (“What would be another good name for this restaurant?”), Family Matters makes the time fly by. Need anymore incentive? For December, 50% of the proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

There you have it: a recipe for a fun, cheap, and delicious dinner. And you won’t even have to do the dishes.

Are you one of those dads who laughs whenever you see a limited-edition $800 bamboo play fort, because you know an empty box would be a lot more fun? Then head over to ParentHacks.com, a site with “parenting tips from the real experts: actual parents.”

Started in 2005, Parent Hacks is packed with tips and tricks designed to save parents’ time, energy, and money. Divided into categories like attitude, fun, and sleep, even the most non-DIY dads will be inspired to try out these clever ideas. There’s “hacks” for getting your kids to eat better, use the potty, take medicine, and just about every other issue that’ll come your way.

Some of the very best hacks let you transform the stuff you’ve already got into fun and inventive games. Two wet to go outside? Turn your recycling into an indoor bowling alley! Have some old forgotten plants? They’d make perfect spooky Halloween decorations. Activities like this are a great way to spark your child’s imagination, while also introducing them to the idea of a re-using objects.

In fact, there’s enough veteran parenting solutions here that you might just want to keep Parent Hacks as your own little secret. Then, while your partner is staring at you in awe and disbelief as you save the day, just smile and chalk it up to your natural Dad instincts.

Based on a very simple premise, Stomp Rockets are among the very few toys that are a hit with just about everyone. Any 3-year old can figure it out: put your rocket (actually a soft foam tube) on the air hose, stomp on the pad, and watch it blast off into the sky. Then, do it again for the next three hours. On those Saturday mornings when your kids need to burn off some energy, Stomp Rockets come in very handy.

The creators of Stomp Rockets, D&L Company, claim that they’ll go as high as 100 feet, but it takes far less to inspire total delight in your kids. Sure, you could even use the rockets to inspire a conversation about gravity and physics, but it’s more likely that you’ll find yourself seeing how high you can launch the rockets while screaming “awesome!”

A small warning though: if you take Stomp Rockets to the park, your child is going to have to be OK with taking turns (or else they’ll need to learn very quickly). Once you start using them in a public place, you’ll soon have a small swarm of kids around you, anxious to get stomping.