Spawned Parenting Podcast: Latest Episodes
The latest from Spawned, our award-winning parenting podcast
Turning kids into readers: 3 simple tips from LeVar Burton to help your kids get excited about books
As avid readers ourselves, it's probably no surprise we try to get our kids excited about reading every chance we get. But, some kids are harder than others (funny how that works), and finding creative ways to motivate less eager readers can be tough. And that's where...
The Gift of Failure: 3 tips from Jessica Lahey to help you raise more self-reliant kids
With the prevalence of helicopter parenting these days, it's no surprise we're seeing kids becoming much more dependent than independent -- and let's face it, we're seeing more really tired parents. But it can be challenging for parents who are used to doing so much...
Sex after pregnancy: 5 tips from Rosie Pope to help you get back in the saddle again
Sex after pregnancy isn't exactly the hottest topic ever, because when you've just had a baby, well, it's probably the last thing on your mind. But, it's definitely important for a relationship, and one that a lot of parents have a lot of questions about. So, on this...
More coolness from recent weeks…
How you can do your back-to-school shopping affordably, while helping kids in need.
We love when big brands put energy toward doing good, especially when it positively impacts the lives of children. That's why we're so pleased to be teaming up with JCPenney, to help spread the word about their wonderful new Pair Up program and just in time for...
7 fun, not-so-prickly cactus crafts for kids that will endure in any climate.
This summer we're borrowing a page from the Southwest with gorgeous, totally fun cactus crafts for kids. If you ask me, it's one of the most DIY-able plant inspirations out there and kids seem to love them. So I've rounded up 7 of the coolest cactus crafts for kids to...
Oh just a Blink-182 drum and a Chance the Rapper dirt bike for auction to support St. Jude’s
Usually, the amazing feeling you get when you donate to a cause you care about is enough reason to do it. But if that cause you care about just happens to be hosting an auction featuring items like signed instruments and band memorabilia, well — don't mind if we do!...
A simple way to help refugee children feel a little more confident on their first day of school in the U.S.
I can't imagine adjusting to a new school and a new country at the same time, but that's a challenge many refugee children will be facing this back-to-school season. Which is why I loved learning that the Tiyya Foundation is organizing a Backpacks for Refugees...
New on Netflix for families in August: Top picks from cute kids’ cartoons to kitschy 80s classics to Sing! (Whoo!)
If your family is like mine, summer nights are more often Netflix and chill (like, actually chilling, not a euphemism) than theater and $7 snacks. So, I thought I'd look ahead to the next month and round up what's new on Netflix for families in August so we can map...
6 literary totes to help you with your book nerd cred.
As a new mom to a 4-month-old boy, I look at my rare lounge chair time to lie back and crack a novel a rare indulgence -- and necessary sanity-saver. Happily, I've found some of the very coolest literary tote bags for all the readers and avowed book nerds out there...
The perfect LBD…for your toddler
Kate just turned me onto the very cool online boutique Will and Ivey, and poking around their sale section, I instantly fell in love with this super chic toddler swing dress. On sale, no less! It's everything I always loved about dresses for my girls when they were...
Grab this Golden Snitch fidget spinner now! No Nimbus 2000 required.
Attention muggles: we've just discovered the fidget spinner of your Harry Potter-loving kids' dreams.They will love taking pretend-play to the next level with this totally on-trend Golden Snitch fidget spinner. UPDATE: This shop no longer seems to exist. We've found...
I found the best bath bombs in a kind of random way.
My girls are totally infatuated with bath bombs, ever since my middle schooler joined a Harry Potter Potions after-school science club (so cool, right?) and made her own handmade bath bomb. So when I started combing our neighborhood looking for one for a gift, well...
Behold! The magical color-changing rainbow unicorn mug that we need now.
One look at the short video of the color-changing rainbow unicorn mug in action and you will want it too. You may even scream, I WANT IT! like I did when Kristen sent me the link. Just pour in hot water and -- magic -- the mane slowly becomes a rainbow, while the...
3 fantastic children’s books to get the kids to read before they become hit movies.
There are three fantastic children's books being made into movies for release this fall and early 2018. The way I see it, that gives us plenty of time to read them before scheduling a family movie night to see them! I'm a big believer in reading the book first before...
9 OMG emoji photo booth props you can totally make yourself.
We've embraced the emoji world takeover with clapping hands, champagne bottles mid-pop, and dancing twins in bunny leotards. Resistance is futile we've learned. And with The Emoji Movie coming out this week, we imagine even more will be psyched to discover our...
This Women’s March coloring book is what democracy looks like.
There's no denying that the massive success of The Woman's March on January 21, 2017, marked it as an historic day in our country, the world and the continuation of a long history of boss ladies making our voices heard. So I was so excited to discover this We March...
A dad created this awesome makeup brand to empower his daughter. And all of us too.
It's not often that you'll find a makeup brand that celebrates who women already are instead of making promises as to what women should be. But when Bill Xaing's daughter was born, he realized that he could do something to change that. So he created RealHer Makeup, a...
Mifold vs. BubbleBum: Travel booster seat smackdown
My kids have all used traditional booster seats in the car, but recently my son has had a chance to test out two cool booster seat alternatives so we could really give you the scoop on the pros, cons, and differences between the Mifold and the BubbleBum travel booster...
Don’t toss it yet! 7 brilliant hacks that give second life to your baby gear.
I've racked up quite a bit of baby gear as a mom of four. From diaper bags to bottles to wipe warmers, I could fully stock my own Babies R Us resale outlet! But now that my kids are beyond the baby years, it's time to purge. Because no parent needs leftover diapers...
5 pool rules for kids that everyone should commit to memory.
Sometimes, I think kids have a button in their heads --like in the movie Inside Out -- and it gets pressed whenever they see water. When activated, it's like this button overrides all rational thought with POOOOOOOL! the second they see one. That's why it's important...
Hamiltones crayons: We don’t know how to say no to this!
My daughter has been completely obsessed with Hamilton because she is a normal 2017 kid. And as an artist, she's just as obsessed with these Hamiltones Hamilton crayons by Thespian Swag. Enough that she's been forwarding me pictures of them for days. Now that I've...
We can’t believe the reason a kids’ softball umpire asked a deaf 10-year-old player to remove her hearing devices.
Parents of kids with special needs are used to having to fight for their kids' rights. It's part of the parenting territory. But when my friend told me what happened to her deaf child at her softball tournament this week, I was shocked. (Please note an editorial...
Cool hard-side kids’ luggage: 9 options that might get them to carry their own bags
There are few better moments for traveling families than the day your child is ready to carry their own luggage through the airport! (Can I get a woot?!) I've put together some fantastic hard-side luggage for kids that makes for fantastic first-time luggage, whether...
A mermaid pillow so mesmerizing, your kids just might choose it over an iPad.
Mermaid fever is at fever pitch for my kids and probably yours too. So when we heard about mermaid pillows, well. Turns out, they're truly magical in the most unexpected of ways. Mermaid Pillow Co. calls its puffy creations (which, by the way, are not all...