Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Parenting middle schoolers during a pandemic with author Judith Warner | Spawned Ep 200
Parenting through a pandemic is no easy feat, as we're all learning for the first time. But parenting middle schoolers seems extra challenging. But thanks to the insights of our guest Judith Warner, author of several best selling books and the new And Then They...
Virgie Tovar talks about body positivity and self love, and why it’s so important right now | Spawned Ep 199
If you're like us, then you've probably seen a whole lot of weight-related pandemic memes and posts on social media. Whether it's the kind of worn out "Gaining the COVID-19" joke to talking about "letting ourselves go," ours pretty amazing how much weight and body...
Humor, struggles, and clown sex with Tova Leigh | Spawned Ep 198
Tova Leigh is the exact person we needed to talk to this week. At least if these days, your dream social life would include time with a few friends for some real talk, real laughs, some needed venting, and a random reference to clown sex. No wonder this episode was...
More coolness from recent weeks…
Here’s why we’ll be doing April Fool’s Day pranks with our kids tomorrow. Shhh, don’t tell them!
If you've lost track of days like we have, then you might not know that it's April Fool's Day tomorrow. Which used to mean all sorts of crazy Internet pranks (us included - like this one, and this one... just to link a couple), and ones we'd to do our kids. But given...
Bingewatch Nation! Why you should give yourself permission, and what to watch these days. And nights. | Spawned 195
We are safe-distance podcasting today! We have wine! And we are punchy! With all the time we have (no, we don't entirely have a lot of time) we are watching ALL THE SERIES and laughing through this conversation today about our binge watching recos -- what to watch as...
6 sweet “I miss you” gift ideas to help stay connected you with friends and family
Huddle up, friends, because I'm about to give away a bunch of my secret gift ideas that I send to folks when I want to tell them how much I'm missing them. And when you're under a shelter-in-place order thanks to this Coronavirus crisis, that's a whole lot of people....
18 fantastic Easter gift ideas for kids, from Etsy shops that could really use the support right now.
We know that this year's Easter gifts are going to take on a lot more meaning for our kids this year. At the same time, Easter gifts sold by small businesses can really make the difference in another family's life, too. Which makes it an extra wonderful idea to peruse...
This free printable Women’s History Month coloring page should cover your at-home history lesson and art class in one
When I saw this amazing free printable Women's History Month coloring page from Here Wee Read, I geeked out and immediately messaged Liz. It's such an amazing resource for those of us hoping to teach our kids more about important and diverse women who have come before...
5 stylish, comfy robes because do we really need to get dressed?
I was never really a robe person until this whole Coronavirus quarantine went down, and now I barely take it off. I wear mine the second I wake up, and then when 5pm hits, it's back on again. Full disclosure: There may have been days these last two weeks where I had...
5 deschooling tips for new homeschooling parents, and how it will keep you from feeling like a total failure.
I know a lot of parents have jumped right into homeschooling their kids (or, schooling-from-home might be more accurate) so that they won't get too far behind in their studies. But with news that Virginia has canceled school for the rest of the academic year due to...
All the best free classes and memberships online right now: Get fit, learn a language, read a book, have family movie night…
We've all been seeing our social feeds fill up with amazing "OMG THIS IS FREE RIGHT NOW!" posts from friends, and it's hard to keep track of it all! Between the online story time for kids, the Club Quarantine virtual dance parties, the museum tours, and the weekly...
Helping teens who are struggling with social distancing, isolation and loss | Spawned Episode 194
We know that the shelter-in-place orders and social distancing due to the Coronavirus pandemic has been difficult for all of us in one way or another, teens, in particular, are taking an extremely hard hit. We're seeing with our own teens, and we've been hearing from...
Yippee is the safe, ad-free streaming service you don’t have to watch over your kids’ shoulders | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from Yippee Let's be honest, we're all spending a lot more time in front of screens these days, and that goes for our kids too. Which is fine. We just all want to make sure they're safe when they're scrolling the web or finding...
5 of our favorite sweatpants and leggings. Because right now, we’re not wearing anything else.
Props to you if you're stuck at home like us these days and are putting on more than leggings or sweatpants. If you've been catching our #StyleOver40 on Instagram, then you know that for us, that is not the case. We are currently living in our favorite sweatpants and...
Creating a homeschool schedule: 8 different ideas to help you figure out what will work best for you.
Hi! Total homeschooling newbie here, and now here I am, trying to create a homeschool schedule -- or some semblance of one -- to help keep us sane. Um, it's not easy. For background, I am the parent who thought I could wing it with newborn nap schedules and feeding...
7 gym alternatives to help keep you sane and fit during the quarantine.
My local YMCA is shut down for the foreseeable future, which means I've been on the hunt for handy gym alternatives I can try at home. While a simple walk (or run) outside works perfectly fine, if you're missing the extra zing you got at your gym or fitness center,...
10 simple writing exercises for kids that don’t even feel like schoolwork
As we all scramble to grapple with the new normal of our kids home from school, I'm thankful for the teachers in my life who have been doing this job for years. I can always count on them for great ideas, like these 10 writing exercises, from a friend and former...
Stream these 15 terrific, kid-friendly educational documentaries that aren’t necessarily made for kids.
As a homeschooling mom, I know how educational documentaries for kids can help fill the days, balance entertainment with education, and even give us longer breaks when we need it. I even included it in my tips for parents who are now homeschooling. So I've put...
Bluey: Hooray for a funny, charming kids’ show that won’t make you insane!
This is paid content from BBC Studios It's so wonderful to find a charming, modern, imagination-building kids' tv show that adults can appreciate too, and Bluey is all that and more. Critics have even called it "a show kids can watch on repeat without driving parents...
Easy ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the kids, without leaving the house
With so much uncertainty around us right now, I understand that many of us may be feeling pretty determined to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the kids as normally as possible. . .especially since we now have SO MUCH TIME TOGETHER with them. And, luckily, there is no...
The best homeschooling resources right now for newbies: ELA, science, math, and social studies home learning.
With all the school closures right now, we know so many of you are looking for the best homeschooling resources. (Like, a lot of you!) We hear you! So first, I suggest you read my post on a homeschooling mom's tips for teaching your kids at home during school...
A homeschool mom’s tips on homeschooling your kids during school closures. You can do this!
So, school's been cancelled for the indefinite future and you're about to become a homeschooling parent, maybe for the first time. Now that you're stuck at home with the kids for the next two, four...ten weeks, what in the world are you going to do? Depending on how...
The most reassuring, helpful, and detailed expert tips for talking to kids about Coronavirus and managing their concerns | Spawned Special Episode 193
As the COVID-19/Coronavirus outbreak has increased, and life as we know it seems to be changing by the second beyond our control, parents are really struggling. A lot. I knew right away we needed to have a conversation with Dr. Ken Ginsburg, pediatrician and...
Here’s how your budding young scientist could win $25,000!
If your kids are like ours, they've always got some pretty creative solutions to everything from getting out of eating vegetables to extending their bedtime just a little bit longer. (Why do they need so much water at 8pm?). Well, thanks to our sponsor Discovery...