Kidliterate

In our house, a weekly family meeting on Sunday afternoons helps set expectations, troubleshoot issues, and - best of all - make plans for FUN! In today's episode Sarah does a deep dive into how family meetings work in the Powers house, from what, when, why, and how they happen to sample agenda items and ideas for making them fun for kids of different ages.

As more families start to travel again this spring and summer, we're chatting about our own wanderlust, and how it relates to the media we consume. We talk about where we've been, where we'd like to go, and how the books we read and the shows we watch have inspired our travel goals. Plus we've got updates to what we're reading (and listening to), and what YOU're reading too.

Behind the books we read, the podcasts we love, the movies we watch, and the music we listen to are the methods by which we consume the media. From smart speakers to apps, headphones to charging solutions, today's episode is all about the tech in our lives that helps us consume the media we love. As always, we finish the episode with what we're reading and what you're reading.

It's easy to get excited about new books at the library or in stores, but sometimes we forget just how many great books we already have at home. In today's episode Sarah and Allegra each choose four books - across multiple age levels and genres from picture books through YA fiction - to spotlight from our home shelves. We share why we chose them, why we love them, and who else might love them too. As always, we close the show with what we're reading lately, and welcome two special guest voices to share what THEY're reading right now too. Enjoy!

From encyclopedias to biographies, nonfiction additions to your home library make for great learning--and fun--at all ages. In Episode 29 we share some of the reasons we love a well-curated nonfiction collection, recommendations for capturing kids' natural interest through nonfiction books, tips for reluctant readers, and more. Plus, as always, we share what we're reading and what YOU're reading.

From animated comedies to edgy documentaries, 1990s mega-hits to new releases, our family is big into streaming television lately. Today's episode is fully of recommendations for TV shows to watch as a family as well as shows specifically for elementary-aged viewers, tweens, and teens. As always, we round out the episode with book recommendations inspired by what we're reading AND what you're reading with your kids these days.

Let's talk about food and cooking--and the media that helps us make and eat yummy stuff! In Episode 27 we share our favorite ways to get kids inspired in the kitchen, from magazines to cookbooks, TV shows to apps. Allegra talks about a multi-course, internationally-inspired meal she recently made from scratch for a school project, and, as always, we round out the episode with what we're reading and what YOU're reading.

Listening to audiobooks is a great way to pass the time on car rides or during long days at home, and we have some specific suggestions for HOW to get your kids hooked on listening to great books. In today's episode we share ideas for getting started with audiobooks (even with very young children), plus some specific titles that we love for little kids and several more our bigger kids have been loving lately. As always, we wrap up the episode with what we've been reading and what YOU've been reading.

If you're listening, you probably identify as a reader. But do you give much thought to WHERE, WHEN, and HOW you read? Today's episode is all about our family's reading habits; with two grownups and three kids, we run the gamut between late-night marathon readers to early birds who read in the morning, and everything in between. In this episode we also chat about electronic vs. paper books, reading in bed vs. outside, and more. Plus we'll share what we're reading and what YOU're reading.

Whether it's through an old attic, a mysterious tree house, or a speeding Delorian, the idea of traveling through time to another era makes for great storytelling. Inspired by a new television series that hooked us recently, we look at time travel as a genre: from why we love it to how different authors handle it. We offer some book, TV and movie suggestions for other fans of time travel and, of course, we also share what we're reading and what YOU've been reading lately.

Ready to read more in 2021? We’ve got you covered with listener-recommended books for everyone in the family, toddler through adult! Join us as we welcome in a new year of reading by sharing what’s new and what’s motivating us in our own reading lives, and then present YOUR book suggestions through emails and voicemails we’ve collected recently. You’ll hear from kids and grownups from around the world as they share what books they’ve been loving lately.

With the holidays coming and winter upon us, crafting and making have taken over our house! Join us for a conversation full of recommendations for bringing maker arts into your home: we cover paper airplane making and origami, self-taught knitting, bead work, craft kits, and more. We also share resources for learning these handicrafts online, plus how our family organizes supplies for creative making. As always, we'll share what we're reading, too!

Today's episode is a BIG roundup of the books, movies, and other media our family has been loving lately. We cover everything from little kid tablet games to YouTube art tutorials, sci-fi books to documentary series. And, as always, we share what we've been reading AND what you've been reading.

Magazine subscriptions make great holiday gifts (or anytime-gifts!), and we're here to round up our favorites for preschoolers on up through teens. Plus we share what we've been reading (or, in Sarah's case, not reading) and what YOU've been reading.

This year, breaking news and current events have been hard to avoid--2020 just keeps on delivering unbelievable twists and turns. Join us for Episode 19 of Kidliterate, where we look at a few ways kids can stay informed without getting bored or overwhelmed, and how families can discuss the news together in a way that works for everyone.

For a family who doesn't do a ton of screen-based entertainment during the week, we have a lot to say about gaming! In Episode 18 of Kidliterate, Sarah and Allegra are joined by 10-year-old Reid for a look at video game console systems, the upsides to social gaming (especially in a pandemic!), and which games our family loves lately. We also talk about the virtual reality headset our family purchased in 2019, and where it fits into the gaming and entertainment picture. As always, we share what we're reading lately, and what you've been reading too.

It's October, and we're excited to celebrate Halloween all month long with books, movies, TV series, games, and activities. Join us in our post-hiatus return for an all-Halloween chat to get you inspired for the month ahead. And, as always, we'll share what we've been reading lately.

It’s been a while, but we are BACK this fall with more new episodes of Kidliterate! A lot has changed since we wrapped up in the spring, and we’re excited to bring you new episodes every other Monday starting next week. We’re starting with an episode all about Halloween books, movies and ideas for celebrating … Continue reading "We’re Back!"

It's time to talk summer reading! We discuss how we find books to read over the summer, how to motivate reluctant readers and whether our family uses reading challenges or incentives, and one special tradition that kicks off summer reading in our family every year. And, as always, we talk about what we're reading and what YOU all are reading.

Books and other media make for great gifts! In Episode 15 we offer 10 birthday gift ideas for kids from preschool through teen--most of them from the realms of learning and literacy. We also chat about quarantine birthdays and, of course, what we're reading lately.

Need some new ideas for family games and board games? We think it's helpful to have a few that take a LONG time to finish and others that can be played quickly. In this episode we talk about the merits of both long and short board games and offer a few of our favorites in each category. As always, we wrap up the episode with what we're reading and what YOU're reading.

We're big fans of long-running reality competition shows Survivor and The Amazing Race--but we have differing opinions on how best to view them as a family. Join us for a fun, friendly mom-daughter debate about which show we like best, which makes for the best family viewing, and which show we'd rather be a contestant on.

School has moved online, learning is happening remotely, and we have LOTS of time to make art. In Episode 12 of Kidliterate we give an update on how distance learning is going, offer ideas for learning visual art through books and videos, and chat with 11-year-old guest Clara about her favorite YouTube channels for art inspiration. As always, we share what we're reading AND what you're reading.

Family movie night doesn't have to be for fictional tales only--we love a good documentary or documentary series in our house! With so many kids spending more time at home these days--and even learning remotely--we thought we'd round up a list of good documentaries for preschoolers through tweens and teens. Join us!

We have recommendations to share across a bunch of genres this week! Listen for a grab bag episode full of podcast, audiobook, television, app, and video game recommendations from our family to yours–plus, as always, we share what WE’re reading and what YOU’re reading. Join us! Six Minutes (Sci-Fi/Fantasy narrative fiction podcast from Gen Z … Continue reading "Our Family’s Favorites Lately (Podcasts, TV, Audiobooks, Apps & More!)"

There are so many ways to learn history through reading–and it doesn’t have to be boring! In Episode 9 of Kidliterate we share our favorite biographies and memoirs, historical fiction, and classic fiction, and why we both prefer to get our history lessons through compelling stories. Join us! Who Is? and Who Was? series, by … Continue reading "History Through Books"

How young is too young to enjoy a movie in the theater? How do we handle choosing movies that aren't too loud, scary, or overwhelming when viewed on the silver screen? And what, most importantly, does our 11-year-old co-host think are the best movie snacks and treats? Episode 8 is all about the experience of seeing movies in the theater, from toddler to tween and as a whole family. Join us!

We’re going back in our TV time machine to celebrate some beloved cartoons from a generation (or more) ago. Sarah is joined by guest co-hosts 9-year-old Reid and 7-year-old Violet for their thoughts on which classic cartoon TV shows hold up for their amusement. Join us! Disney+ DuckTales Tom & Jerry (Amazon affiliate link) Inspector … Continue reading "Classic Cartoons (Featuring Guest Co-Hosts Reid & Violet)"

Our inbox is full of listener mail, with your recommendations for great books to read for kids and adults of all ages. Listen to a special bonus episode of Kidliterate as we answer some listener questions, offer our recommendations, AND share the books that you’re reading and loving lately. Join us! Emma Smith and daughter … Continue reading "What YOU’RE Reading (Book Recs Based On Listener Mail!)"

Gaming is fun and has its place, but our family loves to use table apps to encourage making and creating, too. Join us for Episode 6 of Kidliterate, where we recommend tablet apps that encourage creativity rather than passive play. Photo editing apps: A Color Story Snapseed (App Store / Google Play) PicMonkey Sarah recommends … Continue reading "Tablet Apps For Creative Play"

Two people or ten, little kids to adults, we’ve found card games, board games, and family games that can please a mixed gathering. As always, we discuss what we’re reading lately, PLUS we introduce a new regular segment featuring what YOU’re reading. Join us! Werewolf Labyrinth Othello Left Center Right Catan Sarah is reading Less, … Continue reading "Board Games & Family Games For All Ages"

Listening to podcasts is a great way to pass the time on short car rides, and we have a few favorites that entertain our minivan full of both little and big kids. Plus we discuss what we’re reading lately. Join us! Pants On Fire from GenZ Media Circle Round from WBUR Story Pirates from Gimlet … Continue reading "Podcasts Kids Love (And Parents Too!)"

How do we handle it when kids want to watch, read, or listen to something that parents think is of questionable appropriateness? We recently read The Hunger Games together – mom and 6th grader – and in Episode 3 of Kidliterate we discuss how we arrived at the decision to do that, as well as … Continue reading "“Can I Watch This?” (The Hunger Games & Parental Guidance)"

Headed out on the road as a family? We’re rounding up our favorite audiobooks for family listening in Episode 2 of Kidliterate. Join us! Audible Libby Hoopla Ramona Quimby series The Phantom Tollbooth Andrew Clements books: Frindle, No Talking, Lunch Money Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (and subsequent books) Mary Poppins The Library Book … Continue reading "Audiobooks For Road Trips"

In our kickoff episode we’re talking all about TV shows that make for great family viewing. From reality competition to throwback sitcoms, our picks have been tested by the Powers family and we’re rounding up our favorites for you today. Join us! The Amazing Race MasterChef Junior The Titan Games BattleBots The Great British Baking … Continue reading "TV Shows To Watch As A Family"

Kidliterate launches Fall 2019. Listen to our trailer here!