Readers, get excited! The 2021 ALA youth media awards have been announced, and it's time to update our reading lists! In case you're not fully in the book-nerd world like me, that means our 2021 Caldecott, Newbery, Coretta Scott King awa…
My kids and I were glued to the TV last Wednesday, watching history take place on Inauguration Day. We were sobered by the national guard presence, excited about the achievements of our new VP Kamala Harris , and just so totally and comp…
I don't think our annual roundup of the best children's books of 2020 could come at a better time. As we're heading into a winter of quarantining in 2021, my goal is to turn off the TV more and open up more books. This is my sixth year c…
The truth is, I don't need an excuse to play scary board games for Halloween with my. kids. We're full-fledged board game geeks at my house , and all games are an option for us, any time at all. But with so many families looking for safe…
I know that this year, a lot of teens, including my own 17 year old, are even more motivated to get out and do something to impact November's election. But for socially conscious teens under 18, it can be frustrating that they can't make…
If the continued interest over Michelle Obama's lovely "Vote" necklace from last month's speech at the Democratic National Convention was any indication, many of us are also eager to promote our voting rights loud and proud, this critica…
This year, even though we haven't been able to go to actual movie theaters, we're still seeing plenty of great movies from home. Yay for film companies adapting! And yay for me spending less than $50 to get everyone popcorn! If you're bi…
Q: I’m looking for good resources for talking to my 11- and 12-year-olds about the presidential election, like candidate platforms that are kid-friendly reads . - Monica, via our Spawned Podcast Community . A: Well, this certainly sent m…
Some of us have older teens who are really excited to vote this year. But because each state manages their own voting policies, it can be confusing as to how, when, and where to register to vote. We all know that if you're 18 on or befor…
Over the last few months, we've shared some informative posts to help the newbies among us succeed more with homeschooling -- or more accurately, helping us to guide our kids through the at-home learning they're getting from their school…
Anxiety had already been a concern for many of our kids before the Covid pandemic hit, and as we all know, the current situation isn't helping. All of us are having to navigate an entirely new way of life right now, and it can be particu…
With about six weeks into this COVID-19 quarantine, we're all desperately longing for the connection of faraway friends and family. And while texting, phone calls, even writing letters (yes, remember those?) are a great salve to what we'…
Our Facebook groups have been asking for graduation ideas during Covid-19 and quarantine , and as a mom to a rising senior, and a high school grad last year, my heart goes out to all the 2020 grads. While school kids everywhere have had …
If your kids are like ours, they've always got some pretty creative solutions to everything from getting out of eating vegetables to extending their bedtime just a little bit longer. (Why do they need so much water at 8pm?). Well, thanks…
We know that it can be a lot easier to just do the laundry yourself. No whining, no complaining. Everyone’s happy! Except, tough love, parents: everyone in your family (especially if you've got young adults heading off to college) needs …
Winter in Boston with the family may sound...well, cold. It 's true that the sun sets earlier, and you have to bundle up when you go out, because, New England! Even so, Boston an excellent city for a getaway with teens any time, and that…
As a life-long bookworm, I am always looking for ways to get my three teens to put down their phones and read more books. Sound familiar? Then check out the coolest, new-to-me concept in book publishing: Penguin Minis. These novels for t…
Last year, I was invited to visit the Nickelodeon all-inclusive Hotel & Resort in Punta Cana on a press junket. The truth is, I hesitated a bit. I tend to be a more intrepid traveler, though I do love the convenience of all-inclusive bea…
In the past, teenagers have had a reputation with parents that preceded them. Does the eyeroll emoji come to mind? Well in 2019, we saw the rise of an exciting movement that empowered parents raising teens to see them in all their awesom…
It's no surprise to anyone who knows me or my kids that we are massive Broadway fans . We are so fortunate to live in The Greatest City in the World (name that tune), which allows us to see a lot of musicals. A lot. But my kids are hardl…
Each year, we love putting together some of our favorite gifts that give back in substantial and specific ways -- not just some undetermined percentage of your purchase going to "charities." While we definitely share these kinds of gifts…
STEM toys and gifts are definitely high on lots of holiday wish lists this season, so we're rounding up some of the coolest options for big kids and tweens . From cool STEM building sets to STEM subscription boxes, in every single price …
Every year, we keep an eye on hot holiday toy trends, and no surprise here, STEM toys are still a big ticket item for the 2019 holiday season. When we look for STEM toys, we particularly appreciate ones that teach kids STEM concepts by e…
While a real pet requires food, water, and responsibility, the phenomenal hand-knitted animals scarves from Dutch Etsy artist Nina Fuehrer require...well, just enough responsibility that they come home with your kids at the end of the da…