This week on Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we’re talking about indoor play. Because as the weather is getting cooler, our kids still need to stay active and keep the fun going. Yet…there’s only so much we can handle, if we’re going to be honest.

So we invited, author, TODAY Show contributor and play guru (best title expert)  Meredith Sinclair to help answer our questions, offer real life tips, and make some great recommendations for staying organized, making old toys seem news, balancing screentime with off-screentime, and more.

Because hey, we can only make the “vroom” sound when playing race cars for so long.

Listen right here, right now!

Don’t forget to subscribe Spawned with Kristen + Liz on iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcasting app! 

Related links from this week’s episode

Well Played by Meredith Sinclair helps you bring more fun into your family life!

Read our review of Meredith’s book, Well Played: The Ultimate Guide to Awakening Your Family’s Playful Spirit, and grab a copy. It’s wonderful! And not just because we’re in it. (Ahem, pages 201-2.)

Check out our picks for the best family board games for travel

Great list of the best board games for older kids

Our favorite family board games fors six or more players – perfect for holiday visits.

Meredith’s recos include:

-The Antsy Pants build and play line for kids 5-12
LEGO Friends (here’s our POV on them, which might surprise you)
Playmobil sets
Handmade Charlotte craft kits at Michael’s
-Lakeshore Learning’s Silkscreen Studio and Magnetic Creation Station
-Hasbro’s retro board games including Retro Pay Day and The Game of Life Classic Edition

And you can find Meredith at her site, Meredith Plays, on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook…and everywhere.

This Week’s Sponsor: Learn with Homer

How to get kids excited about reading: Homer is an amazing, affordable subscription backed by tons of educational research | sponsor

Homer is the awesome learn to read app for kids that we have recommended for years on Cool Mom Tech, because it’s such an effective way to help kids 2 to 8 learn to read by tapping into their own interests to motivate them.

They’ve built custom reading pathways around your own child’s interests, with personalized lessons and activities to get them even more excited to read every day. A recent study conducted by the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education concluded that just 15 minutes a day with Homer can increase early reading scores by 74%. So it’s not only fun, it’s incredibly effective.

Special offer for Spawned listeners:
Sign up for Homer right now through this link and get one month free! 

Cool Picks of the Week

American Giant sweatpants: A step up from yoga pants, a little more stylish than sweats

Meredith: She’s a big fan of American Giant sweatpants, or as she calls them, dedicated “play pants.” We can see why!

Yeti Rambler Travel mug actually keeps coffee piping hot!

Kristen: She’s obsessed with the Yeti Rambler Travel mug, and that’s not an understatement. It actually keeps coffee piping hot.

Black Girl Nerds: great website for geeks of any gender or color

Liz: She highly recommends Jamie Broadnax’s Black Girl Nerds, a must-read website of popular culture for geeks of any color or gender. Also don’t miss their live tweets of geeky-popular shows from Game of Thrones to Star Trek Discovery.

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Top Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash.