The latest from Spawned: Our award-winning parenting podcast
The ultimate guide to parenting teens, with Dr. Ken Ginsburg | Spawned Episode 295
Every single time I've interviewed Dr. Ken Ginsburg, my life has changed for the better. And well, the life of my kids, too. So, you can guess how excited I was to sit down with him and chat about his newest book about parenting teens: Congrats, You're Having a Teen....
The hard talks we need to have with our kids (and how to have them) | Spawned Episode 294
As parents, we know that there are going to be difficult conversations that we need to have — about sex, violence, relationships, substances — but it can be hard to know how to actually talk about them. That's where author Michelle Icard can help. Her book, Fourteen...
Developing healthy eating habits and positive food relationships with our tweens and teens | Spawned Episode 281
We're back with Season 6 of Spawned with Kristen and Liz, launching our new season with an incredibly helpful episode about developing healthy eating habits and positive food relationships with tweens and teens. But, our guest, Nicole Cruz, a registered dietician...
The world needs funny women! A chat with award-winning humorist Wendi Aarons | Spawned Ep 280
Let's be honest, the world sucks a whole lot these days. So I thought this would be a good week for a light, fun episode of Spawned just to take your mind off the world -- something my guest Wendi Aarons happens to be very good at. Which is why I invited her back! The...
How our relationship with our mobile phones has changed (and changed us), with Emmy-winning journalist Shawna Ryan | Spawned Episode 279
Since I got my first smartphone back in 2006, my relationship with my phone has certainly changed my life. It's also changed how I function as a person in this world, for better and for worse. Turns out, I'm not the only one, which is why I was so excited to chat with...
More coolness from recent weeks…
8 ideas for homemade Father’s Day cards from the kids. Keep tissues nearby. | Father’s Day Gift Guide
Homemade Father's Day cards are so perfect, whether they're from kids old enough to manage their own craft supplies, or you know, "from the baby." In fact we all feel like a homemade card should be part of any Father's Day gift you're giving him, and we have found...
25 very cool Father’s Day gifts under $20 | Father’s Day Gift Guide 2023
In our 2023 Father's Day Gift Guide, we're excited to share a fantastic selection of our favorite Father's Day gifts under $20. Because we know that you don't have to spend a ton to get some amazing Father's Day gifts. We've truly scoured the corners of the web to...
5 teacher thank-you note tips for a message to remember.
We've reached the end of the school year (hooray!), but before our kids run out of those school doors for summer, let's encourage them to write a short-but-sweet teacher thank you note. After all, a personal note from their students is the #1 pick from teachers who...
16+ great high school graduation gift ideas that kids will actually want. Besides cash.
With high school graduation time here, I've been getting so many questions from friends about appropriate high school graduation gift ideas that kids will actually want. So I've been asking around, and the answer is most often, "cash." Followed by "gift cards."...
Dozens of ideas for last-minute Mother’s Day gifts she’ll love: Buy, bake, text, DIY, IOU
If you haven't secured the perfect Mother's Day gift yet, rest easy. Okay, not that easy, because it's literally just a few days away. But if you hustle, we can still help you out with these awesome last-minute gifts that don't feel improvised at all. Even if they...
10 creative ways to give cash or a gift card for graduation, along with your congratulations.
We're already seeing a lot of searches on our site for ways to celebrate the graduates in our lives, whether that is by throwing a party with special, graduation-themed food, or by using one of the many newer graduation ideas that we still love from the spring of 2020...
Luvvie Ajayi Jones on raising “good troublemakers” | Spawned Ep 296
Sometimes kids get in trouble, not because they're doing bad, but because they want to do good, though they just haven't quite figured out all the boundaries yet. It's such a good reminder for parents. It also happens to be the premise of the wonderful new picture...
The ultimate guide to parenting teens, with Dr. Ken Ginsburg | Spawned Episode 295
Every single time I've interviewed Dr. Ken Ginsburg, my life has changed for the better. And well, the life of my kids, too. So, you can guess how excited I was to sit down with him and chat about his newest book about parenting teens: Congrats, You're Having a Teen....
This genius subscription service ensures you never run out of replacement air or water filters again.
We're big fans of those simple joys, like knowing you have spare batteries, a working pen, or a fresh new water filter replacement right when you need it. But unlike batteries, which you can just grab pretty much anywhere, it can be a hassle tracking down the right...
5 wonderful new books about spring for kids! YES, it’s finally here!
It's spring! Or as this homeschool mom thinks of it, spring book season! So many of us are relieved to have made it through this winter and reap the rewards of longer days, warmer weather, outdoor grilling, maybe some backyard camping, and of course, flowers that...
DIY Passover craft for kids: The cutest printable 10 plagues finger puppets.
Our Seder includes a new tradition, the reading of the Hamilton Haggadah. But to keep the little ones happy, we happily share this: an awesome set of free printable Passover 10 plague finger puppets at Tori Avey's blog. Oh, like you already have a Cute Cartoony Person...
100+ creative Easter egg decorating ideas: Your ultimate egg decorating resource!
For more than a decade now, so many of our writers have searched the web to compile the most creative Easter egg decorating ideas, from simple to wow, from traditional to modern, from designs for toddlers to designs for teens -- and everything in between. And so, all...
The hard talks we need to have with our kids (and how to have them) | Spawned Episode 294
As parents, we know that there are going to be difficult conversations that we need to have — about sex, violence, relationships, substances — but it can be hard to know how to actually talk about them. That's where author Michelle Icard can help. Her book, Fourteen...
Social media, sexuality and school shootings: Tips for 10 hard talks every parent will have with their kids
I've entered the parenting stage that involves a lot more talking about the important issues in my kids' lives -- and in the world around them. Which is why we're sharing these tips for hard talks to have with your kids. There's something really special about this...
Raising kids to be good collaborators in 4 simple lessons | Life Skills Series
In our three-part Life Skills Series, we've shared tips to help you raise critical thinkers and to raise problem-solvers. Now, I'm excited to share ideas around collaborating and working together. Because what the world needs now (besides love, sweet love) is more...
Raising smart problem solvers: 4 tips to help parents teach kids | Life Skills Series
In the first post of our Life Skills Series, we shared tips to help you raise critical thinkers. And next up, we're talking about how to teach your kids problem-solving skills. As adults, we know how important they are in our everyday lives, but it's hard to think...
Raising critical thinkers: 6 expert tips for parents | Life Skills Series
If one thing has become abundantly clear over the past few years, our kids are growing up seeing all kinds of problems we face in the world, and they're increasingly asking us what they can do, or how they can be part of the solution. That's pretty awesome. And what's...
The worst parenting advice we got: 10 tips you definitely want to ignore as a new parent
Raise your hand if you've ever gotten terrible parenting advice! Wait, all of you who have kids? Ha, yes. Of course all of us have. It's like a rite of passage for new parents. But the good thing is, with some perspective and guidance, you can help separate the good...
24 cool, creative Easter basket ideas for kids all under $20. (We love them all!)
We love finding cool, creative Easter basket ideas for kids that are still affordable. I mean, yes, there are always jellybeans and Peeps, but maybe consider some of these cool Easter basket ideas under $20 as ideas that can be a little more special -- after all,...
What’s the story of the real St. Patrick’s Day? History Channel to the rescue.
If you're one of those parents who can answer any question without saying let's go check the internet! like I do, then more power to you. As for me, I was researching the story of the real St. Patrick's Day to help explain it to my kids, and came across the wonderful...
14 seriously cute Easter gifts for babies to keep them from eating the fake grass
Looking for cute Easter gifts for a baby's first (or second) Easter is always so fun. So much cuteness! So much pastel! So many rabbits! And the best part is, you can save all the good chocolate for yourself. We skipped the fussy baby bow ties and itchy crinoline...