The latest from Spawned: Our award-winning parenting podcast
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
It’s okay to say vagina: Tips for raising sexually healthy kids and making it less awkward…for both of you. | Spawned ep 182
On this week's Spawned parenting podcast, we're focusing on about raising sexually healthy kids. i.e. How to have the sex talk, what to say, and how it's changed over the years. I don't use the term "brilliant" lightly, but that's how I feel about these ideas from our...
How to create more positive thinking to manifest success this year: 7 great tips | Spawned ep 182
While we know that positive thinking doesn't cure every problem in life, we do know that positive thinking has proven, science-based effects that impact your life for the better. It helps with lowering stress, keeping you healthier, and providing better coping skills...
Expert answers to your top questions about parenting teens | Spawned Episode 181
Like you, we've got lots of questions when it comes to parenting teens, which is why it was such a pleasure chatting with Dr. Ken Ginsburg, someone who knows an awful lot about parenting them. Along with being a parent himself, Dr. Ginsburg has years of experience...
More coolness from recent weeks…
How to play Crokinole: The best game you’ve never played
After someone I follow on Instagram mentioned that her family had a blast playing the game Crokinole, I decided to Google it, having never heard of it myself. What kind of board game buff am I? Not a good one, apparently. Well, as I've learned over the last couple of...
Introducing Cool Mom Fit, a different kind of fitness community
A few weeks ago, I decided I really needed to start working out again. As a 40-something-year old mom of four kids, I know how important fitness is to my health and wellness. But, I'm also a busy working 40-something-year old mom of four kids, and most of the fitness...
Mattel launches the first gender-neutral dolls for kids and everything about this is beautiful.
When I read the news last night that Mattel is launching Creatable World, the first gender neutral doll and accessories to put kids in charge of their own play experience I teared up. In part because of the tag line, "All Welcome." In part because I know how...
London with teens: 12 things to see and do with your older kids
This summer, I spent 4 glorious days in London with my teens (and tweens). I was so excited to share one of my favorite cities with my kids. But traveling as an adult to London is way different than bringing kids, which is why I did a ton of research and a whole lot...
Presenting our ultimate baby shower gift guide, newly updated for 2019-20!
You have asked (and asked and asked!) and finally...we are so happy to present our all new, totally fresh, Ultimate Baby Shower Gift Guide! If we do say so ourselves, we think you'll find it to be one of the most carefully curated, wonderful list of baby shower gift...
Can we please stop freaking out about kids and social media? : How to raise responsible digital kids | Spawned Ep 170
After seeing so many discussions in our Out Tech Your Kids Facebook community filled with parents who seem panicked -- or at least very concerned -- about kids and texting and social media, we thought it would be helpful to devote this week's episode to that very...
5 wonderful new books for kids celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. You’ll love reading along too!
Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 – October 15 each year, and our favorite way to honor the occasion is by sharing some of our very favorite children’s books honoring Hispanic heritage. So this year. I've picked five brand new books that celebrate this...
Decluttering solutions: Hang these 8 things to free up floor space!
As a small-space apartment dweller, I'm always thinking about ways to declutter. Not that I always achieve it, but I try! A lot of the trick, as I've learned, is about getting stuff off the floor that we just assume goes...on the floor. So we all know about hooks for...
You are a f*cking awesome mom with author Leslie Bruce
Here's an obvious statement: motherhood is hard. It's so hard, in fact, that it can often feel like you're not doing a great job. It's actually why I started my blog Motherhood Uncensored, and why author Leslie Bruce wrote her newest book, You Are a F*cking Awesome...
Brain Pickings introduces Art Pickings, featuring the most incredible artwork for children’s rooms and beyond.
Those of you who are also fans of Maria Popova's Brain Pickings may know that it's one of our own favorite sites too. We include their list of favorite children's books on our own annual lists of the best children's books lists of the year. (How's that for meta). For...
Ever wish that Sleeping Beauty did more than sleep? Check out this new twist on an old fairy tale.
Remember that part in Sleeping Beauty, where the evil fairy puts a sleeping curse on the princess via paper cut, and the kingdom is threatened to become completely devoid of all books as her parents try to make sure she'll never get a paper cut again. No? Well, it's...
Atomic Habits: Cool Mom Picks Book Club Selection #9
I'm super excited to share the next Cool Mom Picks Virtual Book Club selection that many awesome people in my life have raved about. And sure, it's not technically a parenting book, but who cares? If we're making positive changes in our lives (and learning how to...
Coding with Kids: The live, online classes that get kids of all ages excited about coding | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from Coding With Kids If you're trying to balance fun and educational after school activities for your kids this year, Coding With Kids has you covered with both at once. Because, coding! For five years, Coding for Kids has taught children...
Amy Ignatow’s The Cutest Thing Ever is totes adorbs.
Once in a while, a new picture book come along that we want for our early readers right away. And sometimes one comes along that we kind of want for ourselves too. And for all the toddlers in our lives. And for our cool tweens too. Well, that's what's so wonderful...
15 things to pack for your next trip to Disney World that make the difference between enjoyment and survival.
My family recently returned from our fourth trip to Disney World (thanks to a very generous grandmother), and I've finally figured out those BTDT pro-tips for a successful Disney vacation. For me, it starts with packing the right items. And, knowing what to leave at...
The science behind Johnson’s product fragrances: Everything you’ve wanted to know | Sponsored Message
Before we agreed to partner with Johnson's on this series, we did our own research about their growth and evolution in terms of ingredients, practice, and transparency. As parents ourselves, we are incredibly conscientious about the brands we work with and we felt...
We found the perfect athletic tank for girls, and two other fab new essentials from Yellowberry.
When you've got middle and high school aged girls who may be feeling awkward or uncomfortable in their changing bodies, getting into athletic clothes for gym or dance or after school activities that give them a little more confidence is a major major win. And just...
1 in 4 kids have an undetected vision problem. Here’s how to save on their eye care now. | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from VSP Individual Vision Plans A lot of family members offer practical gifts that help support our kids in big ways, like school tuition, summer camp, after school activities, and college savings plan donations. And here's one more that...
Hot trend alert: 9 platform sneakers we love for fall!
While some trends we leave all to the kids, platform sneakers is one that I love and okay, so do my girls. It's a way to get a little style into your comfortable footwear (or vice versa) and, if you're not Kristen (ha), to get a little more height! If you're like me,...
Reading Eggs has helped millions of kids worldwide learn to read. Try it for 4 weeks free. | Sponsored message
This is a sponsored message from Reading Eggs If there's one desire all parents have in common, we want to make sure our kids are doing well in school, learning the skills they need for success, and working to the best of their ability. And there's arguably no more...
How to get your hands on the new Barbie x Star Wars dolls before they cost a schmillion Galactic Credits
The limited edition, totally collectible, geektastic collaboration between Barbie x Star Wars is coming soon, so start saving those Creds. Shipping exclusively from Amazon around November 18, you'll find 3 Barbie figures, including Barbie R2-D2, Barbie Leia, and...