Life Kit: Parenting

NPR

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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119 episodes
Updated July 9

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Episodes119

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Sep 30, 2021 · 14 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. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Sep 28, 2021 · 18 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. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Sep 27, 2021 · 19 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. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Sep 20, 2021 · 22 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. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Aug 30, 2021 · 12 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 health experts — all parents themselves — for keeping kids safe at school. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Aug 19, 2021 · 21 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. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Aug 16, 2021 · 10 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 episode, they share their tips for how to get kids back on track and support healthy habits. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Aug 9, 2021 · 17 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. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Aug 5, 2021 · 24 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 Parents Latina offers guidance for mothers trying to make sense of this life stage. Here are five takeaways that can help moms-to-be (and moms already in the thick of it) get their footing, including tips on how to manage expectations, get the support you need and prioritize time for yourself. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Aug 3, 2021 · 19 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. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Jul 26, 2021 · 21 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.) See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
May 6, 2021 · 21 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. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Apr 12, 2021 · 22 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. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Apr 10, 2021 · 10 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. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Apr 1, 2021 · 21 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. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Mar 27, 2021 · 11 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. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Mar 25, 2021 · 22 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. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Mar 1, 2021 · 24 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. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Jan 7, 2021 · 25 min
What To Tell Kids When The News Is Scary
When the headlines are terrifying, how can parents make sure kids get the facts without traumatizing them? Whether it's a school shooting, a global pandemic or an insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, child development experts have some advice. (This episode originally ran in March 2019.) See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Dec 10, 2020 · 21 min
Helping Kids (And Parents) Cope During COVID-19
Kids and teens have had their lives upended by COVID-19. Here's what parents can do to help them stay positive and feel supported. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Life Kit: Parenting

Support the show

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

How You Can Help Someone At Risk Of Suicide

How Reading Aloud Can Help You Bond With Your Kids

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

How To Keep Your Kids Safe From The Delta Variant

5 Tips For Becoming A Stepparent

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

A Business-Minded Way To Make Tough Family Decisions

The Process Of Becoming A Mother Has A Name: Matrescence

Money Talks: How To Teach Kids About Finance

How To Talk About Divorce With Your Children

Finding The Perfect Name For Your Baby

Navigating Life After Pregnancy Loss

Raising Boys To Be Feminists

Raising Kids Who Help With Chores

Talking With Kids About Anti-Asian Racism

Helping Teens Cope With Mental Health Struggles

Deciding When To Have A Baby

What To Tell Kids When The News Is Scary

Helping Kids (And Parents) Cope During COVID-19