Life Kit: Parenting - podcast cover

Life Kit: Parenting

Raising awesome kids takes help. NPR has science and experts to get you through the toughest parenting moments. Updated every time we have Life Kit episodes on parenting.
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Episodes

The 5-minute daily playtime ritual that can get your kids to listen better

Called 'special time,' the strategy is widely recommended by children's health professionals to help reduce behavioral issues in young children. Here's a guide on how to do it with your kids at home. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Oct 17, 202214 min

Why you should connect with your kid, not correct them

Psychologist Becky Kennedy, author of the new book "Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be," urges parents to spend more time raising thoughtful humans instead of fixing their behavior. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Sep 26, 202218 min

How to financially prepare for having a baby

Having a baby is one of the biggest - and most expensive - life changes a person can experience. Here's what you need to know about financially planning for a baby, according to Farnoosh Torabi, Editor at Large CNET Money. Find out if there is a magic number that tells you you're ready, what to think about ahead of time and learn what can probably wait. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Jul 26, 202222 min

How to talk to kids about abortion

Talking about abortion can be complicated, even with adults. How do you talk about the medical procedure and the politics around it with kids? NPR's Ailsa Chang gets tips from Dr. Elise Berlan and parenting expert Reena Patel. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Jul 21, 202210 min

How to raise a good citizen

Talking to kids about civics is kind of like talking to kids about sex - avoiding the conversation can have some really negative consequences. Here's how to talk to kids about civic participation, from discussing our hard history to taking action. This episode originally aired in November 2022. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Jun 27, 202223 min

What to say to kids when the news is scary

The news can be devastating, and tragic events can be incomprehensible for adults — so how do we talk about them with kids? Child development experts offer advice on what parents, teachers and other caregivers can say to help kids process all the scary news out there. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

May 28, 202223 min

How to give mothering the value it deserves

Raising kids is among the most essential work humans do, and yet it's rarely valued as labor. Angela Garbes, author of Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change, guides us through a shift in mindset to help give mothering the value it deserves. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

May 10, 202220 min

How working parents can win back some time

Calling all working parents and caregivers! We see you, and we know you don't have much time. Career coach Daisy Dowling shares time management tips to help working parents find sanity and joy. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Mar 24, 202216 min

A pediatrician's advice on omicron, daycare and travel for kids under 5

Amid the omicron surge, there is understandable anxiety among parents, particularly those with kids under 5. In this episode, infectious disease doctor Ibukun Kalu answers listeners' questions on the latest COVID variant, daycare and travel for unvaccinated children. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Jan 08, 202210 min

5 Tips For Transferring Colleges

Most students who want to transfer colleges, don't. The process can be complicated and confusing and differ from state to state and institution to institution. Despite these hurdles, transferring is a common route to college. So how do you make the process go as smoothly as possible? Start early, stay organized, and find a good fit. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Nov 11, 202119 min

How To Build A Sleep Routine For You And Your Children

Getting enough sleep helps you focus, retain information and helps to fortify your immune system. But when it comes to children, they aren't always thinking about these benefits. For parents and caretakers struggling to get their little ones to bed on time, here are tips on establishing healthy sleeping habits — that can benefit your entire family. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Nov 08, 202118 min

Finding Agency With A Birth Plan

For expectant parents, navigating pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum can raise a range of emotions. There are so many things to think about and prepare for, and knowing where to start can feel daunting. But a birth plan can help! In this episode, Martina Abrahams Ilunga and Gabrielle Horton of NATAL, offer guidance on creating a birth plan that works for you, and makes it simple for your support system to pitch in. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Priv...

Oct 19, 202123 min

It's FAFSA Time! Here's How To Apply For College Financial Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid opens to potential college students to fill out on Oct. 1 for the 2022-2023 school year. Here's how to fill out the form to get money for college — and why you should apply now instead of waiting. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Sep 30, 202114 min

How You Can Help Someone At Risk Of Suicide

Research shows that suicide is preventable. And while surveys have shown that Americans know this, they might not know how to help someone who may be at risk. It's National Suicide Prevention Month, and we're looking at ways you can help if you know someone who is struggling. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 28, 202119 min

How Reading Aloud Can Help You Bond With Your Kids

Reading at school is one thing, but reading at home is important too. Though with busy schedules filled with after school activities, homework and lots of tech at kids' fingertips, it's not always easy to convince kids that reading isn't a chore. In this episode, Diana Opong helps us discover that there is so much joy — and value — to be found in reading aloud as a family. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 27, 202120 min

In 'We're Not Broken,' Author Eric Garcia Takes On Myths About Autism

Whether you know it or not, you know somebody who is autistic. So if you think autism doesn't affect you, you're wrong, says Eric Garcia. In this episode, Garcia, author of We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation, talks about myths surrounding autism, how to talk about it and how to help your autistic loved one live their most fulfilling life. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Sep 20, 202122 min

How To Keep Your Kids Safe From The Delta Variant

Returning to in-person schooling is both a relief — and a source of great anxiety — for a lot of parents this year. The pandemic is still happening. The Delta variant is surging. And millions of children are too young to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The news changes fast — updates on vaccine trials and breakthrough infections seem to roll in every day — but there's still a lot the whole family can do to stay as safe as possible. In this episode NPR health reporter Pien Huang shares tips from public h...

Aug 30, 202112 min

5 Tips For Becoming A Stepparent

Becoming a parent is challenging and the same is true for those becoming stepparents. In this episode, we talk to experts — some of whom are stepparents themselves — about how you can navigate the process. They share their do's: let the biological parent deal with discipline — and their don'ts: don't say anything to the child that you wouldn't want them to repeat to the other parent. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Aug 19, 202121 min

Do's And Don'ts For Parents Whose Kids Have Gained Weight In The Pandemic

If you've noticed that your kid put on some weight during the pandemic and you're not sure what — if anything — to do about it, you're not alone. Weight is an incredibly fraught topic — and an imperfect indicator of health. As parents, a kid's sudden weight gain can be hard to know how to tackle — the last thing we'd want is to do anything that might create poor body image for our children or set the stage for eating disorders. We spoke to doctors and specialists who work with kids. In this epis...

Aug 16, 202110 min

A Business-Minded Way To Make Tough Family Decisions

Having elementary-aged kids at home can mean a maze of tough decisions about how to run your family and what's right for your small children. Economist Emily Oster offers ways to streamline decision-making with strategies — and data — that work in the business world. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Aug 09, 202117 min

The Process Of Becoming A Mother Has A Name: Matrescence

Becoming a mother is a huge, complicated life transition that can rock every fiber of a person's being. The process even has its own name: matrescence. That postpartum feeling of being on an emotional rollercoaster, not recognizing your body in the mirror, thinking that you've lost yourself — it's all part of the process. Yet, not a lot of people talk about it, leading many new moms to think that there's a problem with them if they feel anything but joy. In this episode, host Grace Bastidas of P...

Aug 05, 202124 min

Money Talks: How To Teach Kids About Finance

Money can feel like a taboo topic in a lot of households, but talking about it regularly can take the awkwardness out of it. Kids see and do everything that we do, and that's true when it comes to money, says financial expert Jen Hemphill. In this episode, Hemphill shares her top tips for financial literacy for kids and families, including how to start those conversations and creating a healthy money mindset for everyone. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR...

Aug 03, 202120 min

How To Talk About Divorce With Your Children

Even the most amicable split is world-changing for young children. Here are a few key tips for grown-ups trying to help their kids navigate this big transition. (This episode originally published April 26, 2019.) Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Jul 26, 202121 min

Finding The Perfect Name For Your Baby

Picking a name for a baby can be overwhelming. With all the possibilities out in the world, it can be hard to even begin to choose. On this episode of Life Kit, host Diana Opong speaks with baby naming experts for a framework that can help. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

May 06, 202122 min

Navigating Life After Pregnancy Loss

Despite how common pregnancy loss is, families often suffer in silence. In honor of Black Maternal Health Week, Life Kit teamed up with the hosts of the podcast docuseries NATAL to share stories from parents who have experienced loss, and expert advice about how to support loved ones through grief. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Apr 12, 202122 min

Raising Boys To Be Feminists

Author Sonora Jha shares insights from her memoir, How To Raise A Feminist Son, which includes practical to-do lists about how to handle some of the hardest conversations with sons. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Apr 10, 202111 min

Raising Kids Who Help With Chores

Raising kids who pitch in around your home doesn't require bribes or a chore chart. Kids want to help – and parents can nurture that desire by including them in age-appropriate ways. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Apr 01, 202121 min

Talking With Kids About Anti-Asian Racism

Navigating conversations with kids around race and racism can be tricky. Here's what to think about while talking to kids about the rise in anti-Asian attacks and the shootings in Atlanta earlier this month. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Mar 27, 202111 min

Helping Teens Cope With Mental Health Struggles

Over a year into the pandemic, many teens are missing milestones and struggling with their mental health. Here's how to spot red flags and when to get help. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Mar 25, 202122 min

Deciding When To Have A Baby

Whether you've always wanted to be a parent or not, starting a family is a big decision. The pandemic makes it even tougher. In this episode, experts talk through what to consider. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Mar 01, 202124 min