Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
5 popular diet trends right now: Safe or stupid? | Spawned ep 92
This week on Spawned with Kristen and Liz we're tackling diets. More specifically, some of the hot diet trends right now (or, ahem, culinary lifestyle choices or whatever they're being called that's not "diet") to discuss the pros, the cons, the differences, and...
Can you tell which of these crazy beauty trends are real? | Spawned ep 91
Skin purifying vaga-cials? Eyebrow merkins? Scalp Botox? Nose hair extensions? Ready to laugh, friends? This week on Spawned with Kristen and Liz, we combed the internet for the wackiest, wildest, most bizarre beauty trends -- and then we made a few up too. Take a...
Getting kids to do homework without even having to ask. | Spawned ep 90
Wouldn't we all love our kids to be those self-starters who sit down dutifully each day after school to tackle homework, proofread, make corrections, and hey, maybe do some extra-credit -- all without being asked? Well, yeah. But we're realists And not every kid is...
More coolness from recent weeks…
A creative way to change up your Easter egg hunt this year. And no mess! | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from Spin Master Hatchimals CollEGGtibles With Easter almost here, parents are looking for ways to make the holiday more special for kids. One creative idea: Put a twist on your traditional Easter egg hunt by hiding an assortment of...
8 cool, modern coin banks for kids who have outgrown piggies
The kids in my life aren't into the whole piggy bank aesthetic anymore. Like, at all. But I think they'd love one of these cool, modern coin bank alternatives to the original to help them save their pennies, dimes, and coveted quarters. It's a great way to get even...
Can you get in trouble if you participate in the National School Walkout? Kids and their right to protest
Today at 10AM, for 17 minutes, tens of thousands of schoolkids across the country will participate in the National School Walkout, a peaceful protest to honor the 17 lives lost in Parkland, Florida on February 14. A lot of parents are asking whether a child can get in...
These Harry Potter bookmarks make reading more magical.
We discovered Re-marks at Toy Fair 2018, a company offering great USA-made jigsaw puzzles, coloring books, and bookmark, all with eco-friendly materials. But it was their Harry Potter book collection of Quotemarks that had us under their spell. Related: 13 great...
Spring 2018 fashion trends: The good, the bad, and the OMGWTF
We're lightening up the mood this week on the Spawned podcast, as we take a look at this year's hottest spring/summer fashion trends and...well, we laugh. And gasp. And covet -- just a bit. Take a listen this very fun episode of Spawned, and get our takes on some of...
Handwriting help for kids of all ages: 11 fun and effective handwriting resources because that note says WHAT?
I desperately need handwriting help for kids in my home, and so I've been working so hard to find resources, printables, and other tricks to help make handwriting practice more fun (hopefully? maybe?) for them. My requirements: They have to get them excited to improve...
A smart Daylight Saving tip that could save your family’s life | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from Duracell It's that time of year when Daylight Saving comes to an end and we all spring forward. And while you're taking the time to change the clocks around your home, here's one more thing you can do that could help save your family's...
Where to find the stunning new A Wrinkle in Time board game. Wow.
Are your kids as obsessed with Madeline L'Engle and Meg and Charles Wallace and tesseracts (and Oprah!) as ours are right now? If so, you may want to pre-order A Wrinkle in Time: A Daring Adventure game. Liz spotted USAopoly's beautiful new board game at Toy Fair 2018...
6 things kids should know to be financially smart. Maybe even smarter than parents.
We have shared so much over the years about financial tips for kids, whether it's getting them a bank account when they're born, or talking to them about savings and charity. But this past week, I had the joy of attending a FutureSmart event for tweens and young teens...
Here are all the real life sheroes you’ll find in the Barbie Role Models collection
Barbie has been busy lately. She's gotten a new variety of body shapes (with dad-bod and man-bun Ken by her side), she's taken on our heroines from A Wrinkle in Time and Wonder Woman, she's figured out that yes, women can code. Today, however, in honor of...
How these chalkboard t-shirts are encouraging kids’ creativity – and their activism.
When I discovered the Chalk of the Town t-shirts at Toy Fair 2018, I was so excited! The basics: chalkboard shapes like talk bubbles or hearts on a tee, that kids can write on with chalk markers, wash...then start all over again. Right away, I exclaimed that my kids...
Do Etee reusable food wraps really work? | Damn you, Social Media Ads
Am I the only mom who's constantly running out of sandwich bags and plastic wrap? Probably not. By packing lunches and storing leftovers for 6 people in my family, I cannot keep them on hand. So when Liz suggested I purchase a set of Etee reusable food wraps after...
My favorite sandals might have just become more favorite-r.
For years, I have raved about TKEES sandals, and for good reason. More fashionable than rubber flip flops but just as comfy, they've become my summer shoe staple. And they hold up so well, even while taking a pounding on NYC streets, that I can justify owning a whole...
Wordie alert: 17 of the best new words added to the dictionary this month. Starting with “wordie.”
Fellow word nerds, gather round, as we take a moment for one of our top pastimes, checking out the new words added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary this month. (Other favorite pastimes, by the way, include doing the Sunday Times Crossword, and practicing yoga...
The crazy awesome sidewalk chalk that suddenly has us coveting sidewalk chalk
I thought sidewalk chalk was one of those classic children's toys that's kind of beyond reinvention. Au contraire, says Tweemade, the sidewalk chalk company that's busting the mold with unicorn, donut, letters and numbers, and sushi-shaped chalk. Yep, put away your...
Free A Wrinkle In Time coloring pages + activity sheets let kids make their own magic.
Disney has just released a lovely series of free A Wrinkle In Time coloring pages, perfect for those kids who are counting the days until A Wrinkle In Time hits theaters -- or counting the days until they can see it a second or third time, as the case may be soon....
The new Tokidoki + Sanrio Ju-Ju-Be backpacks and diaper bags are an explosion of pop culture awesomeness.
As a new mom, I rejected backpack style diaper bags for more fashionable (and, occasionally less comfortable and user-friendly) options. Yes, I did think the heavy leather tote with no shoulder strap was a good idea...for a minute. But, while I traveled from Asia to...
LEGO gets more eco-friendly with a plastic made from…what??
As someone who is raising my kids on LEGO sets, but also a lot of talk about disposable plastic toys, I am so happy to see the news that LEGO is introducing sustainable, plant-based pieces starting this year, as part of their commitment to incorporate sustainable...
This new kids’ clothing is as awesome as the artists on it.
As much as we love kids' clothing with cutie-pie prints and patterns (seriously, rainbows and unicorns — love), we're blown away when prints and patterns get a little deeper. Glorious case in point: the Artists in History print in Kira Kids' new spring collection. The...
Holi hai! This must-read book about Holi for kids is full of joy
Today marks the beginning of Holi, the Indian festival of color, love and springtime. You know, the one with the bright, colorful powder that's tossed in celebration of good triumphing over evil, fertility and love. (Concepts we can totally get behind!) Every spring,...
11 clever Oscar party ideas that deserve awards of their own
Whether you've watched every Academy Award nominated film this year, or your list begins and ends with Coco (no judgment, parents!), Oscar parties are always a fun excuse to get everyone together for Hollywood-themed food, drinks, decorations, activities, and puns. So...