Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Tips for travel with tweens and teens: More fun, fewer eyerolls | Spawned ep 152
We are big advocates of travel with tweens and teens as you know. And now that we have older kids of our own -- and have a new travel contributor focusing on teen travel -- we thought we'd cover some great tips for parents who travel with older kids, on this...
Spring cleaning help: How to deal with digital clutter | Spawned Episode 151
Spring is here, which if you're like us, means spring cleaning. But in the 21st century, that also means dealing with digital clutter. Think those photos on your phone, or those files on your computer. And we won't even talk about our email inboxes. But that's all...
How mothers are shaping the future of the country – and you can too | Spawned ep 150
Mothers are changing the world! Not just for other mothers -- but for everyone. We think you'll be just fascinated by the wisdom of today's guest, Sara Berliner, whose organization Vote Like a Mother literally started with a sign. We instantly fell in love with Sara's...
More coolness from recent weeks…
Completely mind-shifting tips for treasuring the teen years instead of “surviving” them | Spawned Ep 145
Did you know that when you Google "how to talk to my teen" the number one word that comes up with it is "survive?" Have you ever thought about how that language is impacting your kids as they grow into teens? What if, as a society, we were able to reframe our mindset...
The big college fraud scandal: One thing we need to fix that we’re not talking about enough
Surely by now you've heard the news about the $25 million Operation Varsity Blues bust, in which dozens of wealthy parents and coaches have been arrested for scamming the private university entrance system in the most egregious ways. If not...welcome to the internet!...
The parental leave pledge that’s long overdue: How to help make it happen
We all write so much about work-life-parenting balance... and what a tough balance it is. If it even exists. So I was thrilled to find out about the Pledge Parental Leave initiative that's coming to an employer near you. Well, hopefully. Pledge Parental Leave is a...
6 new biographies of great American women you don’t want to miss this Women’s History Month
Okay, ladies, let's get in formation -- because it's time to celebrate Women's History Month. While there are lots of things we can do, one is to read up on those incredible women, who have paved the way for so many of us. So we've put together 6 new books featuring...
Parents: Toss your kids’ cheap Claire’s cosmetics. It’s got asbestos in it.
According to a new FDA report, Claire's brand cosmetic products have tested positive for tremolite asbestos. That means those eye shadows, compact powders, or contour palette that your kids may own need to be tossed, stat. Especially because this is the kind of stuff...
The US Negro Nurses of WWII | Women’s History Month Stories to share with your kids.
I believe if Women's History Month gives you an opportunity to learn even even one single new story about important women in history who you didn't know before -- and then share that story with your kids -- then that would be fantastic. So I decided to put together a...
The coolest Funko Pop figures coming in 2019, including the one that made me cry
We have quite the growing collection of Funko Pop figurines, and last week at Toy Fair, there was one that actually made me tear up: A beautiful patina Stan Lee Funko Pop. Maybe because it feels less like a fun figurine and more like he's being preserved forever as a...
How do you know if you owe nanny taxes? This company can help, big time | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from GTM Tax time is stressful enough for families, let alone trying to figure out the deal with nanny taxes you might owe for your regular childcare. In a nutshell: if you pay your nanny or caregiver more than $2100 each year -- that's...
The one thing all kids should be learning in school that they’re not.
We talk so much about the need for STEM education. Kids need computer skills, engineering skills, science of all kinds. We mourn the disappearance of cursive from the curriculum. We discuss which books our kids should be reading, and whether new math is genius -- or a...
What the heck is a Spinal CSF Leak? with author Andi Buchanan | Spawned Episode 144
So, imagine this: You've had the flu but you're feeling much better, so you leave your house to go grab some food, but suddenly start coughing. You think nothing of it until you suddenly get the worst headache you've ever had in your life, one that will take over nine...
March Madness Bracket Printable: 90’s Movies Edition!
It's March Madness time, and here's to all of you basketball-loving fans and your brackets and illegal but highly enjoyable betting pools! For those of you however who'd like the fun of a bracket competition without the basketball, we've put together your very own...
8 of the cutest St. Patricks Day rainbow crafts for preschoolers and little kids. Pot of gold not included.
I've been busy rounding up the cutest rainbow crafts for St. Patrick's Day for preschoolers and our little kids, since the holiday is coming up fast! And I'm finding that these sweet and simple crafts for kids are helping to brighten our home, too, since it's still a...
These 2 high-tech smart sleepers for babies are naptime saviors
Let's talk about smart sleepers, those high-tech baby beds that are designed to help babies -- and parents -- get more sleep. As we know,,a good night's sleep for the baby is important for the entire family, and during those early months, I'd have given an arm and a...
These personalized children’s books are offering a new gender-neutral option, and it’s fantastic
I'm already a fan of Kabook personalized children's books, because they allow you to insert your own child into the story -- name, characteristics, favorite stuffed animal, even a photo. What better way to get kids excited about reading than seeing themselves...
8 of the best book subscription boxes for kids of all ages, in honor of National Reading Month
One way to get kids excited about reading? Sign up for one of the awesome book subscription boxes that deliver hand-curated titles to your doorstep each month. The options for book subscriptions for kids have grown exponentially over the last few years and it's...
The soccer balls that let kids show off their skills and their style
It's amazing how few companies are making sports equipment targeted to girls -- unless it's pink or purple or covered in glitter. So I loved discovering KAOS Soccer, a company that blends serious soccer credit with edgy modern design. Not that there's anything wrong...
My favorite new women’s t-shirt is from Soma. Yes, the bra place!
I was perusing my local Soma last week to pick up a few new bras when I spotted a women's t-shirt that looked pretty awesome. And well, it turns out that I was indeed correct. Related: The best white t-shirts for women Their Essential Short Sleeve Tee, which I...
The AMA (aka Ask Me Anything) Spawned Episode: Random things about Kristen and Liz
Curious about Kristen's pet peeves? Or the last time Liz was in the ER? (Trust us, this story is incredible!) Well, you're in for a treat because on this week's episode of Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we use a random question generator to fuel our very own...
7 DIY face mask recipes for every skin care woe that ails you
While I'm not personally a huge makeup buff, I do enjoy a good skincare product to clean and brighten my skin...and hopefully reduce some fine lines. And when it comes to face masks, they're just plain fun. In fact, it's become one of my favorite spontaneous ways to...
Shopping at Etsy now helps saves the environment in a big way.
We've been huge supporters of the incredible makers over at Etsy for years. In fact, they started right around when we did, which was a great overlap with our mission to support indie makers, and particularly, women-run companies. Our readers know we've featured their...
The awesome Spiderverse t-shirt that reminds us anyone, even Hello Kitty, can wear the mask.
Last week I discovered this fantastic Into the Spiderverse t-shirt on Woot! by comic illustrator Adam Koford (A.K.A. ApeLad), I figured it would be blow up. But now that Into the Spiderverse won the 2019 Oscar for Best Animated Feature last night (and deservedly so!)...