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Want to create a stronger bond with your kids? First relinquish control
Malte Mueller/Getty Images/fStop

Perspective

Life Kit

Want to create a stronger bond with your kids? First relinquish control

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 guide for creating conscious parent-child relationships.

Want to create a stronger bond with your kids? First relinquish control

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How to show up for teens when big emotions arise
Malte Mueller/Getty Images/fStop

Life Kit

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 with their teens. NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with Damour about her book "The Emotional Lives of Teenagers."

How to show up for teens when big emotions arise

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Dear Life Kit: My husband is living under COVID lockdown. I'm ready to move on
Photograph by Pam Menegakis/Unsplash; Photo illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Opinion

Dear Life Kit

Dear Life Kit: My husband is living under COVID lockdown. I'm ready to move on

Three years into the pandemic, one spouse is ready to lift lockdown. The other? Not so much. Epidemiologist and science communicator Jessica Malaty Rivera shares ideas on finding compromise and managing a risk budget.

Dear Life Kit: My husband is living under COVID lockdown. I'm ready to move on

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Dear Life Kit: My 10-year-old bullies my 8-year-old. How do I make it stop?
Photograph by Michael Blann/ Getty Images; Collage by NPR

Dear Life Kit

Dear Life Kit: My 10-year-old bullies my 8-year-old. How do I make it stop?

​A sister relentlessly picks on her brother despite their mom's best attempt to make peace between them. Psychologist Becky Kennedy shares advice with a parent who feels out of ideas — and patience.

Dear Life Kit: My 10-year-old bullies my 8-year-old. How do I make it stop?

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Michelle Obama's best advice on marriage, parenting and being your authentic self

Former first lady Michelle Obama talks to Life Kit about her new book The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times Photograph by Mito Habe Evans/NPR; Collage by Life Kit hide caption

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Photograph by Mito Habe Evans/NPR; Collage by Life Kit

Life Kit

Michelle Obama's best advice on marriage, parenting and being your authentic self

In her new memoir, 'The Light We Carry,' the former first lady shares her philosophy on the relationships we have with our partner, our family and ourselves. 'You have to evolve with it,' she says.

Michelle Obama's best advice on marriage, parenting and being your authentic self

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

Life Kit visuals editor Becky Harlan engages her 2-year-old son, August Grabowsky, in "special time." It's a kind of child-directed playtime that children's health professionals say can be helpful in treating disruptive conduct in kids. Meredith Rizzo/NPR hide caption

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Meredith Rizzo/NPR

Life Kit

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.

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

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How to change your kid's behavior, according to the host of a hit parenting podcast
Tilda Rose for NPR

Perspective

Life Kit

How to change your kid's behavior, according to the host of a hit parenting podcast

It all starts with the assumption that your kids have good intentions and want to do the right thing, says Becky Kennedy, a psychologist and host of the Good Inside parenting podcast.

How to change your kid's behavior, according to the host of a hit parenting podcast

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How can you talk to kids about abortion? Here are some tips

Experts say there may be no perfect time to have the discussion, but doing it in the right way can help. Matt Marton/AP hide caption

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Matt Marton/AP

Reproductive rights in America

How can you talk to kids about abortion? Here are some tips

For many parents, the wall-to-wall news coverage of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade means facing some questions from their kids. Here's how to answer them.

How can you talk to kids about abortion? Here are some tips

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How to talk to kids about radicalization and the signs of it
Tracy J. Lee for NPR

Life Kit

How to talk to kids about radicalization and the signs of it

It's a horror to think your kid could be a victim in a violent act of racism, sexism or other radicalization. It's a whole different kind of fear to think they could be the perpetrator of that act. Here's how to spot the signs of radicalization and how to talk to kids about what they're seeing online.

How to talk to kids about radicalization and the signs of it

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Raising kids is hard work. The way we think about it can shift how we value mothering
Simone Martin-Newberry for NPR

Life Kit

Raising kids is hard work. The way we think about it can shift how we value mothering

Raising kids is among the most essential work humans do, and yet it's rarely valued as skilled 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.

Raising kids is hard work. The way we think about it can shift how we value mothering

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These strategies can help working parents build support and reclaim some time
Tilda Rose for NPR

Life Kit

These strategies can help working parents build support and reclaim 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.

These strategies can help working parents build support and reclaim some time

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What to say to kids when the news is scary
LA Johnson/NPR

Education

What to say to kids when the news is scary

Whether a school shooting or a deadly tornado, scary events in the news can leave parents struggling to know when — and how — they should talk with their kids about it. Rosemarie Truglio of Sesame Workshop and Tara Conley, a media studies professor at Montclair State University, give us tips.

What to say to kids when the news is scary

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5 tips on being a kinder neighbor and fostering a sense of community
Andrea D'Aquino for NPR

Life Kit

5 tips on being a kinder neighbor and fostering a sense of community

What does it mean to be a kinder, more caring neighbor? From Daniel Tiger's world of make-believe to Winnipeg, here's how to plug into your community, practice small acts of kindness and boost your mood. We'll also think critically about being neighborly when things get complicated.

5 tips on being a kinder neighbor and fostering a sense of community

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Most students who want to transfer colleges don't. Here's how to start
Annelise Capossela for NPR

Life Kit

Most students who want to transfer colleges don't. Here's how to start

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 a four-year college. So how do you make the process go as smoothly as possible? Start early, stay organized and find a good fit.

Most students who want to transfer colleges don't. Here's how to start

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Beyond delivery: How a birth plan can prepare you for all four trimesters

Having a birth plan can prepare you for pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. Bee Harris for NPR hide caption

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Bee Harris for NPR

Life Kit

Beyond delivery: How a birth plan can prepare you for all four trimesters

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!

Beyond delivery: How a birth plan can prepare you for all four trimesters

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How reading aloud can help you bond with your kids and make them better readers
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Life Kit

How reading aloud can help you bond with your kids and make them better readers

It's not always easy to convince kids that reading isn't a chore. But reading aloud can help. Here are a few ways to help you find joy — and value — in reading aloud as a family.

How reading aloud can help you bond with your kids and make them better readers

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The Key To Stepparenting: Be Patient, It Takes Time
Jasjyot Singh Hans for NPR

Life Kit

The Key To Stepparenting: Be Patient, It Takes Time

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.

The Key To Stepparenting: Be Patient, It Takes Time

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Get your family running more smoothly with tricks from running small businesses

In her new book, The Family Firm, economist Emily Oster suggests using strategies from the business world to make tough decisions easier for your school-aged kids and family. Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR hide caption

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Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Life Kit

Get your family running more smoothly with tricks from running small businesses

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.

Get your family running more smoothly with tricks from running small businesses

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