Life Kit: Parenting
NPR
122 episodes
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. Want another life hack? Try Life Kit+. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks an exclusive sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/lifekit
Episodes page 1 of 3
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Anxious about trying for a baby? Here's how to deal
Trying to get pregnant can feel like being stuck on a stressful hamster wheel. Between monitoring your cycle, dealing with your family's probing questions and navigating medical ups and downs, conception is rarely…
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How to jumpstart your child's financial future
If you're a new or soon-to-be parent, free time is at a premium. And sorting through different investment account options is confusing and time-consuming. On this episode, Life Kit reporter Andee Tagle walks you…
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Mom needs a moment! How to pause parental rage
Parenthood is exhausting. When a kid asks for snack for the millionth time while you're running on little sleep and trying to make dinner, it's easy to snap. Licensed marriage and family therapist Cassidy Freitas says…
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Want to get pregnant? There’s more to it than you think
Whether you’re ready to become pregnant today or thinking about the future, there’s a lot to learn about your fertility. In this episode, a reproductive endocrinologist and a reproductive psychiatrist walk through the…
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Practical advice for modern dads
We often talk about the mental load of parenting as something mothers carry. But active, involved dads have questions, too, and not many places to ask them. In this episode, Kevin Maguire, author of The New Fatherhood,…
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On the fence about parenthood? Listen to this
Could you see your life just as easily with children as without? What if you're not cut out for parenthood? What if you grow lonely in your old age? Or what if you have a loving partner, but you disagree on this…
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The dos and don'ts of baby talk
If you have a baby in your life, you may not find them the most intellectually stimulating conversation partner. But your baby is soaking up everything you say. On this episode, advice from early childhood experts on…
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Feeling drained? Here's how to lighten your mental load
Did you remember to pick up milk? Or reschedule that dentist appointment? Oh, and pick up cupcakes for the meeting? The never-ending tending to the never-ending to-do list is known as the mental load. Sociologist Leah…
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How to be a working parent? Lower your standards
From brain fog to identity crises to complicated feelings of guilt (or relief), returning to work as a new parent can be daunting. Luckily, you don't need to navigate this transition alone. Life Kit reporter Andee…
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Using AI chatbots can impact your teen's mental health. Here's what to do
Using chatbots for emotional support can pose risks to teens' mental health. How should parents talk to their teens about using chatbots safely? And what's the best way to have those conversations without causing…
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Drowning in toys? Here’s how to handle kid clutter
Having kids comes with a lot of clutter - some of it even shows up before your baby does. From toys that overflow from the toy chest, to unwanted hand-me-downs and the piles of art your kids make, you can't keep it…
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Common mistakes parents make when installing a car seat
If you're a new parent, picking out a car seat can be stressful. Do you need to spend extra on special features to keep your kid safe? How long should your child be rear-facing? How do you know if the car seat is…
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The key to a less frantic holiday season
There can be a lot of stress when it comes to the holidays: figuring out travel plans, preparing the perfect meal, spending time with the whole family for days on end. There can also be a lot pressure to do everything…
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How to talk toddler
Toddlerhood is a big and beautiful period of self-discovery. Kids are picking up new cognitive and motor skills and learning language a mile a minute. But there are some behaviors in this age range that can be…
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A smarter way to pick the right college
When deciding between colleges, it can be tempting to let prestige guide your choice. But so many factors go into finding the right fit: research opportunities, campus extracurriculars, social life, specific classes or…
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Teens are using AI. Here’s how parents can talk about it.
High school and college students graduating in 2026 will have had access to artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT since their freshman year. Teens are using it in creative ways to help them study, but many have…
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A better way to support your teens as they go back to school
Today's teens struggle with perfectionism and mood swings, and their parents struggle to have hard conversations with them, according to a 2024 Walton Family Foundation and Gallup poll. Teen psychologist Lisa Damour…
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Hidden ways technology can influence your parenting decisions
From pregnancy tracking apps to smart baby monitors, technology is ingrained in parenthood at every turn. But at what cost? In this episode, Amanda Hess, author of Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age, shares…
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How to embrace the mess and teach your kids to cook
If you have kids, cooking with them might sound like a daunting prospect. But David Nayfeld, the chef behind the new book, Dad, What's for Dinner?, says cooking with your kids can create positive memories and help your…
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How to maintain your friendships after kids
It can be tough to navigate adult friendships when kids come into the picture. Parents assume their child-free buds don't want to hang out with them, and vice versa. To overcome this divide, reporter Emily Siner speaks…
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How to raise kids in a multilingual home
There are a lot of benefits to raising a child speaking two or more languages: a better understanding of their culture and their relatives, cognitive benefits and expanded job opportunities. But raising a kid is hard…
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How to combat parental burnout
Today's parents are more involved in their children's lives — and more stressed out — than they were two decades ago, according to an advisory from the 2024 U.S. Surgeon General. So how can they catch a break? Life Kit…
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Should you let your kid quit something?
You signed your kid up for the soccer team (or swimming lessons, or piano or art), paid the fee and now they're begging to quit! In these moments, it's difficult to know what decision will help your kid grow in the…
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Your kid is having a tantrum in public. Now what?
Meltdowns, refusing to share, hitting other kids. Every child has bad behavior sometimes. At home, it's easier to deal with. But what about in public? Psychologist Celina Benavides explains what to do in the moment —…
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Up your lunchbox game
Sulhee Jessica Woo's love language is packing lunch. When she sends her three kids off to school, she includes themed lunches, snacks cut into cute shapes, and sweet notes to give them some support while they're away.…
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How to help your Gen Z kid cope with their back-to-school emotions
Today's teens struggle with perfectionism and mood swings, and their parents struggle to have hard conversations with them, according to a recent survey. Teen psychologist Lisa Damour explains how parents can better…
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How to babyproof your relationship
With a baby on the way, you'll need to babyproof your home — and your relationship. In this episode, how to strengthen your connection with your partner and survive the newborn phase. Learn how to navigate fairness in…
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Why you should connect with your kid, not correct them
Psychologist Becky Kennedy, author of the 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. This episode…
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Keeping intimacy alive after having a baby
It's hard to find time for anything with a newborn at home. And in the months after having a baby, intimacy with your partner may fall to the wayside. But sex and relationship experts say that maintaining your intimate…
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These water safety tips can save lives
Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death for children ages 1-4 in the United States. To prevent drownings, make sure there's always a designated adult watching the water whenever kids are swimming. We'll cover other water…
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Kids, social media and privacy: What to know before you post
Many parents share photos and videos of their babies and children on social media. But there are potential dangers to constantly posting about your kid online, says Leah Plunkett, a faculty member of Harvard Law School…
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How to help your stepfamily grow closer
Becoming a blended stepfamily can be fraught for everyone involved. How can your family build trust, function more smoothly and ultimately grow closer? In this episode, NPR health correspondent Maria Godoy shares…
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How to prepare for a second pregnancy after a complicated first one
Pregnancy complications — like miscarriage, preterm birth or postpartum depression — are incredibly common. But expecting parents can often feel alone if they are experiencing these conditions, or like a second…
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Curbing needle phobia in adults starts with making shots less painful for kids
Approximately one in four adults has a fear of needles, according to the CDC. Many of those people say the phobia started when they were kids. Researchers developed a five step plan to prevent what they call "needless…
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How to talk to teens about vaping
About 1 in 5 high school seniors say they have vaped nicotine in the past year. Even though smoking cigarettes is less popular than it used to be among teens, e-cigarettes are common, highly addictive and harmful to…
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How to introduce solid food to your baby: A nervous parent's guide
Chewing, choking hazards, high chairs – oh my! Starting solid foods with your little one can be as stressful as it is special. A pediatric dietitian and a pediatrician discuss menu choices, allergens, safety and…
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Enjoying travel with a baby
Looking to travel this spring with your little one? These tips and tricks can make the journey not just manageable, but enjoyable. Travel experts explain how to navigate packing, air travel and tourism with a kid under…
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How to talk to kids about sex, bodies and consent
It's tricky to talk to younger kids about sex. This episode helps parents get past the confusion and embarrassment around sex education so they can raise healthy, responsible kids. This episode originally aired…
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The emotional rollercoaster of being a new mom
Becoming a mother is a complicated life transition. That postpartum feeling of being on an emotional rollercoaster, not recognizing your body in the mirror and thinking that you've lost yourself is all part of the…
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How to talk to teens about drugs
Overdose deaths among teenagers have skyrocketed in the last few years due to opioids like fentanyl. Experts say drug education that focuses on harm reduction, an approach that focuses on safety rather than abstinence,…
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Kids and firearm safety
Firearms are the number one cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. Parents can take life-saving precautions to protect children — whether or not you own a gun. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our…
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How to talk to kids about the violence in Israel and Gaza
Last weekend, militants from the terrorist group Hamas killed more than a thousand people, including children, in an attack on Israel while also taking hostages. Israel has ordered a full siege of Gaza, where nearly…
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The consequences of overindulging your kids
Overindulging kids when they're young can lead to negative effects in their adulthoods. But it's hard for parents to put their foot down when they want to avoid a conflict at all costs. Child psychologist Lauren…
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The 5-minute playtime ritual that can help your kids listen
Children's health professionals widely recommend a strategy known as 'special time' to help reduce behavioral issues in young children. This episode explains how to do it and why this simple and free tool is so…
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How to be a supportive adult in a kid's life
While there's endless advice for parents, there's little guidance on supporting kids for non-parents. Whether you're an aunt, uncle, godparent, or a family friend, here's how to have healthy, fulfilling relationships…
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Why you should play video games with your kid
Video games get a bad reputation that's often unwarranted. But kids do need guidance in using them wisely. Here's how to help them, starting with spending some time with the games your kids can't put down. See…
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Pregnant? Here's how to deal with the new you
Pregnancy is hard work – for the body, mind and soul. There are seemingly endless resources for all the physical and logistical aspects of pregnancy but far fewer for renegotiating your sense of self in every part of…
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Build a stronger connection with your kids
It may sound counterintuitive, but if you want to take charge as a parent, stop trying to control your child, says psychologist and author Shefali Tsabary. Her new book, "The Parenting Map," lays out a step-by-step…
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How to show up for teens when big emotions arise
Being a teenager is hard. There are emotional highs and lows every day. Clinical psychologist Lisa Damour says instead of jumping into problem-solving mode, parents can learn to ride the wave of emotional management…
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Creative way to get kids to eat their veggies
Veggies help kids grow and develop, but it can be hard to convince them to eat their broccoli. These research-backed tips can help you encourage your kids to eat more veggies — or at least try them. See pcm.adswizz.com…
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