Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Parents are stressed. Kids are anxious. Dr. Chris Willard shares why mindfulness is “psychological first aid” for all of us.
Here we are entering the stressful back-to-school season, just in time for the US Surgeon General's advisory about parents and mental health, on top of the knowledge that kids have been struggling for a while too. So what can we do about it all? This week on Spawned,...
Brad Montague on seeking out “joy rebels” and making hope a habit
"Joy rebels." Doesn't that sound like a wonderful thing to teach our kids to be? If you think so too, you're going to love my conversation with NY Times best-selling author and illustrator, director, dad, and all-around excellent human, Brad Montague. It's such a...
How women can reclaim aging as something worth celebrating: Insights and tips from Karen Walrond
News flash: We all age! Every day! And yet the world can be tough on us for doing just that. So how do we move forward with joy and learn to celebrate all our phases of life as women? And might we be inadvertently contributing to ageism in our society without even...
More coolness from recent weeks…
12 creative ways to display kids’ artwork, from DIYs to clutter-saving services
One parenting conundrum that seems timeless: the search for creative ways to display kids' artwork. From the preschool doodles and finger paint portraits to the kindergarten collages, to the papier maché sculptures that would look just perfect...where, exactly? I get...
5 ways summer camp can help your kids grow emotionally: From a mom who’s seen it first-hand.
I am what you'd call a camp evangelist, especially after seeing all the ways summer camp has helped my kids grow. And I've had a long time to be able to see that growth -- our youngest is about to finish her ninth (!) year at the same camp, while her stepsister is now...
7 cool, reusable snack containers for kids that beat plastic bags
We've got a gaggle of snackers in our homes, so cool snack containers for kids are an absolute must. They're a far more eco-friendly choice over plastic bags, which as we all know by now, not only saves waste but plenty of money over the long run. Plus, we've found...
Bet you didn’t even know you could recycle some of these things you use every day.
If you're looking for a free recycling program for your Febreze cans, your teen's EOS lip balm containers, your kids' drink pouches, or even your teeth aligners, you're in luck. I just found the ultimate list of brands that have recycling programs for hard-to-recycle...
Revamp your spring decor with these 8 shops you may not have considered
Are you excited about updating your home decor for spring? You're in luck because we have a list of 8 shops that you might not have considered for beautiful, affordable, lovely things. Whenever people think about refreshing their furniture, or home decor, or adding...
How to set up the perfect playroom for kids when you don’t have a lot of space: 8 expert tips
We love the idea of setting up a playroom for kids so that our children have their own space. But not all of us have an entire room to spare for play. Still, that doesn't mean you need to sacrifice half your living room or give up your dining room table. There are so...
7 Unexpectedly awesome Valentine’s Day gifts you’ll both love
Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating love—whether that means cozy nights in, fun new adventures, or just finding little ways to make each other smile. A great gift doesn’t have to be over-the-top to be meaningful. It just has to be something you’ll actually enjoy...
7 wonderful children’s books about African-American pioneers your children may not know — yet
It's safe to say that during Black History Month in particular, our children are learning all about our nation's great civil rights leaders, like Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks and Frederick Douglass. But, as you may recall from the film Hidden Figures, it...
Unlock the world with a new language: here’s how to start today
Learning a new language might sound like climbing Everest—exciting, but overwhelming. But picture this: ordering a café au lait in Paris like a local, finally chatting with your abuelita in her native Spanish, or casually streaming your favorite K-drama with no...
10 anti-Valentine’s gifts for people who hate Valentine’s Day (you know who you are!)
Each year, we love putting together Valentine's Day gift ideas, but I admittedly have had a love/hate relationship with Valentine's Day throughout my life. Love the opportunity to tell people in my life I love them, hate the pressure. Love helping my kids spread their...
Tons of creative last-minute Valentine’s Day gifts that won’t seem last minute at all
You’re almost out of time, lover. Good news: We’ve rounded up creative last-minute Valentine’s Day gifts that will remind your honey how much you love them every day. Even if you also have to love them enough to pay a ton for quick shipping or to run out and find a...
New year, new opportunities: Self-improvement ideas that feel doable
The start of a new year is a perfect excuse to refresh yourself. Whether you’ve got big goals or are just looking for small ways to improve your daily routine, this guide is filled with realistic, low-pressure ideas for new year self-improvement. From getting...
Behold! The innovative baby monitor that was named a top 2024 invention by Time Magazine
This is a sponsored message on behalf of the Harbor Baby Monitor When Time Magazine names the new Harbor Baby Monitor to their Best Inventions of 2024 list, you know it's something worth checking out. Especially if you're a new parent or grandparent, or looking for a...
Sweet, easy Valentine’s Day crafts young kids can make their BFFs.
This year we're making sure that friend love doesn't get neglected on Valentine's Day, and so I've rounded up 8 awesome crafts that celebrate your kids' BFFs in the most adorable ways. Because while I can barely tell you the names of my middle school boyfriends (and...
45 brilliant last-minute holiday gift ideas you can ship, make, pick up, or IOU. You’ve got this! | Holiday Gift Guide
For all you out there needing last-minute holiday gifts -- Christmas gifts, Hanukkah gifts, holiday gifts, or, ahem, New Year's gifts -- we've got you! Check out this thoughtful list of last-minute gifts that don't feel last-minute at all. We've got subscriptions,...
These fun apps and games help you save, earn, and win money to help stretch your budget
Managing money doesn’t usually top the list of fun things to do, but we’ve found some tools that might just change that. With clever apps and games, saving, earning, and budgeting can feel less like a chore and more like an adventure. Whether you’re looking to save...
18 last-minute DIY holiday gifts for friends. And family, who you like enough to call friends. | Holiday Gifts
We love looking for easy last-minute DIY holiday gifts each year that show our friends we care, but not all of us are gifted crafters who can knit a pair of mittens while watching a Christmas movie, or eke out the time for a complex 40-step DIY tutorial while trying...
Stuck on a holiday gift idea? Here are 12 cool gift boxes for anyone on your list, up to 50% off!
If you're stressing about finding the perfect holiday gift for someone on your list, we get it. One terrific idea you may not have considered: Cratejoy. We've been recommending them for years, because they offer a massive selection of thoughtful holiday gift boxes and...
Help your child learn to make make better choices in 30 days with the Goodtimer. (Now on sale!)
This is a sponsored message on behalf of Goodtimer Doctors and parenting experts know that positive reinforcement is the best way to help kids develop good habits for life. That's the brilliance behind Goodtimer, a family game that makes learning good behavior fun for...
Boost your holiday baking game with King Arthur Baking Company
There’s something magical about baking during the holidays—filling the kitchen with warmth, the scent of freshly baked cookies, and the joy of creating something special for family and friends. That’s why King Arthur Baking Company has become a favorite for us when it...
25 cool gifts for teens this holiday — that kinda make you look cool too | Holiday Gift Guide
If you’re looking for the best gifts for teens right now, have we got you covered with our 2024 holiday gift guide.! We started by browsing our own Ultimate Kids Gift Guide, offering hundreds of the best birthday or holiday gifts for kids all sorted by age — including...