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Becky Harlan Becky Harlan is a visual and engagement editor for NPR's Life Kit.
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Becky Harlan

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Becky Harlan headshot
Becky Harlan/NPR

Becky Harlan

Engagement Editor, Life Kit

Becky Harlan (she/her) is a visual and digital editor for NPR's Life Kit, which brings readers and listeners actionable advice on health, finances, relationships, parenting and more.

Previously, she served as a producer on NPR's video team, creating content for the series "Maddie About Science" and "Future You with Elise Hu"; explainers covering everything from the impact of green roofs in New York City to food deserts in Washington, D.C.; and interview-based videos that create space for individuals to share their own experience on topics like treaty relations between the U.S. and Native Nations and menstruation.

Before she came to NPR in 2016, Harlan was an associate photo editor at National Geographic.

Harlan has an MA in new media photojournalism from the Corcoran College of Art and Design and a BA in art history from Furman University.

Story Archive

Saturday

Photograph of a deflated soccer ball sitting in high grass.
Photo illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Life Kit

So your kid wants to quit soccer (or piano, or swim class). Should you let them?

Piano lessons and soccer practice can encourage grit. But if your kid isn't into it, it can become a stress-inducing obligation. Here's how to have hard conversations with your child about quitting.

Should you let your kid quit something?

Listen · 21:39
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Monday

Photograph of a mother embracing her two daughters at school drop off. The school-aged children wear backpacks and are seen in front of their school building. The family is pictured from behind. Talking through what to expect at school before a new year begins and adopting a goodbye ritual are two tips from experts on helping to prepare your child for the changes as they begin a new year.

The transition back to school can be overwhelming for kids. Explaining the changes and setting expectations can help them feel more prepared to take on the year. Urbazon/Getty Images hide caption

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Urbazon/Getty Images

Life Kit

Snuggles, pep talks and love notes: 10 ways to calm your kid’s back-to-school jitters

Teachers, pediatricians and child development experts share loving, creative advice on how to ease children (and their parents!) into a new school year.

Sunday

Books

NPR staffers share their favorite fiction of 2024 so far

NPR staffers recommend five of this year's new novels for summer reading: "The Ministry of Time," "The Familiar," "Come and Get It," "Memory Place," and "Sex, Lies and Sensibility."

NPR staffers share their favorite fiction of 2024 so far

Listen · 5:16
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Tuesday

Thursday

Dear Life Kit: Should I spend $1,000 on a wedding gift?
Photo illustration by Becky Harlan/Getty Images/NPR

Perspective

Dear Life Kit

Dear Life Kit: Should I spend $1,000 on a wedding gift?

Etiquette coach Myka Meier revisits traditional wedding customs, including the cost of wedding gifts — and how much a mother-in-law should contribute to the matrimonial budget.

Dear Life Kit: Should I spend $1,000 on a wedding gift?

Listen · 14:55
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Thursday

Friday

Monday

So you don't want kids. Here's how to respond to unwanted comments
Ana Galvañ for NPR

Perspective

Life Kit

So you don't want kids. Here's how to respond to unwanted comments

If you've decided not to have kids, your life will look different from what you might have seen growing up. Here's how to build your child-free life, with or without a long-term partner. We talk about finding community, planning for the future, making a financial plan and responding to some of the comments and judgments of other people.

So you don't want kids. Here's how to respond to unwanted comments

Listen · 18:38
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Sunday

Monday

Monday

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

Listen · 14:15
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Saturday

Thursday

How to take better (and more distinctive) photos on vacation

Harlan shares a collage of images from a family beach trip. She knew she wanted photos of a sandcastle, her family at the beach at dusk, downtime at the house and the cousins playing together in the pool. Creating a "shot list" in advance of images she hoped to capture helped her "leave her trip with no regrets," she says. Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR hide caption

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Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Life Kit

How to take better (and more distinctive) photos on vacation

When your smartphone can hold thousands of photos, it's tempting to snap away. But that approach may not actually help you capture the best moments. These tips on creating stunning images will help you more meaningfully document your trips.

How to take better (and more distinctive) photos on vacation

Listen · 20:49
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Sunday

Monday

6 tips to help you overcome your fear of flying
Becky Harlan/NPR

Life Kit

6 tips to help you overcome your fear of flying

Whether you're a nervous flyer, you'll do almost anything to avoid flying, or you have an actual flying phobia, these tips from associate professor of psychiatry Luana Marques, Ph.D. can help you overcome a fear of flying.

6 tips to help you overcome your fear of flying

Listen · 22:11
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Sunday

Sunday

Thursday

How to arrange supermarket flowers like a pro

Florist Alexander Campbell shares tips to help you level up your supermarket bouquet. We followed his advice to create this arrangement from grocery store flowers. Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR hide caption

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Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Life Kit

How to arrange supermarket flowers like a pro

Whether you forgot to order flowers for that special occasion, or you just want to flex a new creative muscle, here's how to DIY a professional-looking bouquet with grocery store flowers.

How to arrange supermarket flowers like a pro

Listen · 13:53
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Sunday

Saturday

Thursday

Caught in pandemic limbo? Here's how to rebound from life's interruptions
Mar Hernández for NPR

Life Kit

Caught in pandemic limbo? Here's how to rebound from life's interruptions

Writer Suleika Jaouad has made a career out of covering folks living in the 'in between' spaces — starting with herself. Diagnosed with leukemia at 22, she embraced writing as a way to regain narrative control of her life. She shares lessons on making peace with uncertainty and transforming isolation into creative solitude.

Caught in pandemic limbo? Here's how to rebound from life's interruptions

Listen · 20:06
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Friday

Sunday

Saturday

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