How to report spam texts and phishing. Because sorry, Amazon is not giving you $130 in freebies out of blue.
"You'll get $130 freebies to do a survey ELIZA," the totally American English-sounding text reads. Every day, sometimes twice a day. They don't even bothering masking the phishing link that doesn't start with an Amazon URL. (Let alone getting my name right.) As it...
The 20-20-20 rule, and why you (and your eyes) need to know about it
Every now and then I'll spot a fantastic article shared by one of my Facebook friends, only to discover it was written a few years ago. Womp, womp. But in a few cases, like this Vice article about what screens are doing to our eyes (and our kids' eyes), there's still...
Bandolier goes pro. AirPods Pro, that is.
If you were lucky enough to snag a pair of AirPods Pro this holiday season (or you played Santa for yourself), then you've got the perfect excuse to get one of the new Bandolier AirPods Pro pouches. Related: I tried AirPods for a week, and here's what I thought Even...
Instagram trick: How to find all those cool Instagram Story filters everyone else seems to have.
We used to say "photos or it didn't happen," but it feels like 2020 is all about "filters or it isn't Instagram." You may have noticed folks you follow using wacky filters -- or oddly flattering filters that bathe them in a beautifully hazy rose gold glow. If you you...
Digital parenting tip: How to teach your kids (and yourself) to spot fake photos
We live in an age of photoshop and photo altering, and quite frankly, our teens and tweens are pretty savvy when it comes to pointing out (and complaining about) a model's face that's been de-wrinkled. But photos of women -- made to look skinnier and younger -- aren't...
Use this browser extension to show you what Amazon books are available at your local library
If your goal is to read more in 2020, here's a smart browser extension that could help you save a little money this year, because it shows you what Amazon books are available at your local library. Related: 3 free audiobook apps you should know about I know lots of...
4 ways to try a tech detox with your family that actually work
With resolutions and goals for 2020 in mind, we know that a lot parents are thinking about technology and screen time. Wrangling screen time is a huge concern for many of you (and us), as well as the members of our Out Tech Your Kids Facebook Group. Let's just it's a...
The top 10 Cool Mom Tech posts of 2019
We're going into our 10th year of Cool Mom Tech and our 2nd year of our Out Tech Your Kids Facebook group that's almost at 4500 members! We know, we can't believe it either. Every year, we share our 10 most visited posts on Cool Mom Tech. From tech tips and tricks to...
The top 10 Spawned Parenting Podcast episodes of 2019
Every year, we round up our top 10 most downloaded Spawned Parenting Podcasts. As we enter our 5th season (yes 5!), it's fun to look back on what resonated with you, our awesome listeners. And if you're looking to catch up on episodes, or you're new to us (hi!), this...
How to take better holiday photos: 6 fantastic online photo tutorials to make your holidays merrier and brighter. (But not too bright – just the right white balance.)
Every parent wants to know how to take better pictures, especially around Christmas. A few years ago I received the completely awesome gift of a DSLR camera, but I admit I haven't entirely learned how to use it properly. I've taken thousands of pictures in auto mode,...
The new parental controls on the latest iOS 13.3 update are what you might have been waiting for.
If you've got a kid on an iPhone or an iPad, this week's iOS 13.3 update (as well as iPad OS 13.3)has some serious parental controls that we think you'll be happy to know about. Introducing Communication Limits Starting his week, there's a new Communication Limits...
15 fun Amazon Echo skills for the holidays, from fun and festive to really helpful
Just in time for the holidays, we've found 15 fun Amazon Echo skills that can help you stay organized, add a little more fun to your family time, and even put some magic into the holidays for your kids. If you and Alexa are in a rut, just remember: she can do a whole...
Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way!) Easier
How to report spam texts and phishing. Because sorry, Amazon is not giving you $130 in freebies out of blue.
"You'll get $130 freebies to do a survey ELIZA," the totally American English-sounding text reads. Every day, sometimes twice a day. They don't even bothering masking the phishing link that doesn't start with an Amazon URL. (Let alone getting my name right.) As it...
The 20-20-20 rule, and why you (and your eyes) need to know about it
Every now and then I'll spot a fantastic article shared by one of my Facebook friends, only to discover it was written a few years ago. Womp, womp. But in a few cases, like this Vice article about what screens are doing to our eyes (and our kids' eyes), there's still...
Digital parenting tip: How to teach your kids (and yourself) to spot fake photos
We live in an age of photoshop and photo altering, and quite frankly, our teens and tweens are pretty savvy when it comes to pointing out (and complaining about) a model's face that's been de-wrinkled. But photos of women -- made to look skinnier and younger -- aren't...
12 practical tech gifts that are still pretty darn awesome | Holiday Gift Guide 2019
There are some folks on our lists who love tech gifts, but prefer the more practical tech gifts to the gaming systems or the entertainment consoles. Or hey, maybe they love both but just have some specific needs this year. If that's the case, I've got you covered! I...
12 tech gifts you should probably just buy for yourself already | Holiday Tech Guide 2019
We've got lots of cool tech gifts for big kids and teens, not to mention some awesome STEM holiday gifts for kids as part of our Holiday Tech Guide, but what about us? We love tech too! Except sometimes, the tech gadgets we want aren't super gifty. But hey, we're here...
10 of the coolest tech toys and gifts for tweens and big kids | Holiday Tech Guide 2019
Next up in our Holiday Tech Guide 2019, we're sharing the coolest tech toys and gifts for tweens and big kids. We know that they can be tricky to shop for, so we've done the research for you (not to mention asked our own tweens and big kids their honest opinions)....
The big Black Friday tech deals roundup: The best codes and most outrageous deals
If you’re looking for the very best 2019 Black Friday tech deals and discounts around the web, we've got you covered! These are the best codes and most outrageous deals. No "buy one, get one 6% off." Many of them are good through Monday and beyond. We’ll continue to...
10 of the coolest tech gifts for teens that are all teen-approved | Holiday Tech Gift Guide 2019
We know first hand that finding cool gifts for teens is no easy task. But in our experience, tech is always a safe choice, especially in 2019 when teens are so in tune with what's hot on the tech scene. We're so pleased to present this holiday tech gift guide on...
Holiday tech gifts: A new and improved kids tablet that parents will love too | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message for Samsung Kids Tablets are still at the top of holiday wish lists this year, so if you're shopping for a kid-friendly option that's got grown-up power, you'll want to take a look at the new Samsung Kids tablet. The new and improved...
Digital parenting question: Should I let my child on Snapchat because all of her friends are?
This past week, my 11-year old daughter and I had a long conversation about Snapchat. She's been begging me for awhile now, but lately, it's amped up because pretty much all her friends use it exclusively to communicate. I've been very resistant to Snapchat for all of...
Disney+ streaming service: Here’s how our first 24 hours went.
My husband already had the new Disney+ streaming service locked and loaded on our Roku TV yesterday morning. And even though there were a few glitches with it on mobile, we had no problems perusing the many offerings and watching a couple of shows. Let's just say I'm...
Digital parenting tips: 5 ways you can be a tech-positive parent
We know that "digital parenting" is quite the buzz phrase these days. Our approach to it has been similar to how we parent our kids around similar difficult topics (think non-alarmist, non-judgmental), except unlike the sex talk or the drug talk, there's really no...
The Seriously STEM Award winners: 4 of the best educational STEM toys of the year
I was so honored to return as a judge for the second annual Seriously STEM awards, honoring the best educational STEM toys. In collaboration with STEM.org, and with judges including educators, journalists, science museum directors, and independent STEM toy experts --...
Reschedule Halloween? Just move the party inside with this fun Spotify playlist.
With all this rain here in the northeast, our social media feeds have been all a-buzz about rescheduling Halloween. Isn't that why there are umbrellas? But seriously, it's been so contentious that I've seen numerous threads on local city Facebook Groups with comments...
Outschool: Real-time, teacher-led courses for kids…from home.
As a homeschool mom, there's something I've realized about myself over the past couple years: I'm not great at everything. There are some subjects I definitely teach better than others (hello, writing!), and some that I have no business attempting to teach my kids...