Libsyn Directory

Top 5 Summer Reads for Kids

Release Date: 05/01/2025

The Family Lab

This week, we navigate the challenges of traveling with kids, discussing the joys that come with family travel, and various strategies that make it more enjoyable. At the Family Lab, we investigate all things parenting and home management. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video episodes and shorts , and find us on Instagram . You can also find us at .

Encore: How Whitney Experiments, Summer 2020

The Family Lab

A recap of the experiments in the Archibald home in the summer of 2020, including meal planning, cooking, chores, screen time, music lessons and read alouds. At the Family Lab we investigate all things parenting and home management. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video episodes and shorts , and find us on Instagram . You can also find us at .

Encore: How Andrea Davis Manages Technology

The Family Lab

Andrea Davis shares how her family has learned to navigate technology within her home, from phones to TV usage. At the Family Lab, we investigate all things parenting and home management. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video episodes and shorts , and find us on Instagram . You can also find us at .

Encore: How Whitney Experiments, Summer 2021

The Family Lab

Recap of the experiments in the Archibald home in the summer of 2021 when my kids were 5-15. We talk about developing interests and talents, cooking class, chores, screentime, and a neighborhood concert. At the Family Lab we investigate all things parenting and home management. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video episodes and shorts , and find us on Instagram . You can also find us at .

Encore: How Whitney Experiments, Summer 2022

The Family Lab

Throwback to the experiments we did at the Archibald home in the Summer of 2022--with each of my kids as special guests. They talk about what they tried that summer and how it all went, including summer jobs, hosting Lego Camp, fighting boredom, facing fears, family vacations, screen time, and setting goals. At the Family Lab we investigate all things parenting and home management. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video episodes and shorts , and find us on Instagram . You can also find us at .

Encore: How Donna (Whitney's Grandma) Mommed Back in the Day

The Family Lab

Happy 95th birthday Grandma! In honor of this delightful, hilarious, loving woman, I'm re-releasing this episode where my grandma talks about motherhood (and life) in the 50s and 60s. If you can't get enough Donna, here are a couple of YouTube links: A beautiful video my cousins made, interviewing my Grandma in her home A video of Donna's great grandchildren repeating some of her famous sayings. I made this video for her 95th birthday party.

Encore: How She Takes Care of Herself Part 2

The Family Lab

Three moms share self-care tactics beyond spa days and manicures. KaeCee Reed focuses on sleep and hobbies, and works with her husband to make sure both of their needs are met. Brittney Smart got out of a mothering slump by spending one-on-one time to get to know her kids bettter. And Andrea Quimby deliberately schedules down time.

Encore: How She Takes Care of Herself

The Family Lab

Myth: Moms are bad at self care. Truth: Moms are bad at prioritizing self care. In fact, moms have honed their caregiving skills caring for others; now all they have to do is apply those same skills to themselves. This episode is chock full of experiments you can try to figure out what fills you up and then carve out the time for it.

Top 5 Summer Reads for Kids

The Family Lab

Nothing like curling up under a tree with a good book! This episode is full of summer reading recommendations from kids for kids--with a good mix of avid and reluctant readers ages 8-16 with interests spanning all the genres. Here's a list of all the recommendations: (I’m an Amazon affiliate, so buying from these links helps support my podcast!) Hudson (14): Jacob (15): Katie (13): and the rest of the Ascendant series by Jennifer A Nielson Abel (15): Aiden (16): Claire (12): Anything by Gordon Korman Lydia (8): Heidi (10): by James Rallison Ezra (9): ...

Re-entering the Workforce with Heather Nemelka

The Family Lab

Ready for a career change? Wondering what to do in the next stage of your life? Heather Nemelka to the rescue! In this episode we talk about how to transition back to a traditional job after focusing on caregiving and home management, how to figure out what you want to be when you grow up, and how to gain the confidence to make big changes. For more from Heather, check out or watch her podcast on Past episodes about motherhood and work: Listener Survey I'd love your input for next season. Plus, I'll send you a free Independent Kids Self-Evaluation. Weekly Open...

More Episodes

Here's a list of all the recommendations:

(I’m an Amazon affiliate, so buying from these links helps support my podcast!)

Hudson (14):

Refugee by Alan Gratz

Ground Zero, by Alan Gratz

Jacob (15):

Magic Treehouse Series, by Mary Pope Osborne

Halloween Party by Agatha Christie

Slacker series by Gordon Korman

Katie (13):

Resistance by Jennifer A Nielson