Christina Refford

If you're searching for some cool Hanukkah music for the kids beyond Adam Sandler (though hey, we love that song), check out one of our favorite bilingual tunes of the past few years, Choco-lalala by Mister G. It's gone kosher with its r…

You may know Dasher and Dancer, but only a few of us grew up with knowledge of der Krampus the horned creature in German folklore who kept kids in line way better than some elf on a shelf could ever do. But since the Krampus is about to …

We like to joke about the poor kids who get stuck sitting over at the kids' table on Thanksgiving when, really, they are all having a blast on their own without having to listen to all the boring grownups talk about boring grownup things…

We are still reeling over the events that happened in Paris on Friday and struggling with how much to share with our kids of varying ages. We hope our post, How to talk to your kids about the tragedy in Paris , has helped you find resour…

Before the noise of the holidays gets too loud and distracting, I totally recommend you download this upbeat, Motown-flavored tune that will remind you that this Thanksgiving, the sentiment is all about Gratitude . Sung by funky favorite…

It's been more than two years since long-time favorite artist Frances England has released a full-length album, so a new song from one of our very-favorite voices is a cause for celebration. And her new single, City Don't Sleep , does no…

One thing we've always loved about littleBits' magnetic electronic building blocks is that kids can snap them together in any way they want, while learning about circuitry and electronics in an open-ended and fun way. More ambitious kids…

If your kids are having a hard time waiting for Halloween to hurry up and get here, we've got a fun treat to share with you that will keep them busy and challenged this week. Developed by Kano , whose DIY computer kit wowed us earlier in…

We're hoping your kids practiced singing along with last week's download of the week, I'm Not Afraid . This week, we're testing their bravery and singing along to Monsters by Detroit's punk-rocking mamas, The Candy Band. Coming off the m…

Halloween may be one of my favorite times of the year, but it's not much fun for kids who are afraid of all the bats, ghosts, witches, and goblins around every corner. If you're also finding that the spookiness of Halloween is crowding o…

If you ask a lot of kids what they'd like more than a baby sister or a new bike or even their two front teeth, they'd say that want a sweet, fluffy, lick-you-in-the-face dog. And since October is the American Humane Association's Adopt-a…

Good grief! Peanuts, the comic most of us grew up with, is a senior citizen! Charles M. Schultz's beloved comic strip is 65, having debuted in just nine newspapers back on October 2, 1950. And though no soundtrack would've been assigned …

There's a chill in the air this morning that lets me know that, without a doubt, fall is here. And since I know firsthand how hard it is to get kids out of bed on these colder, darker mornings, I'm recommending you follow my lead and dow…

When it comes to teaching my kids history, I'll use anything I can get my hands on, from Crash Course and Brain Pop videos , to cool apps like History Here that help us learn the history of places we visit. And now I've found a lighthear…

After a rather rough news week, I think we could all use a little bright spot of musical sunshine in our day. And to provide it, we're turning to the very first band we ever featured here on Cool Mom Tech for our kids' music download of …

Your kids may say Nana or Grandpa or Oma or Nonno, but no matter what they call their grandparents, there's no doubt that the good ones are worth their weight in gold. So on today's Grandparents Day (don't forget to make a call or schedu…

My third born is soon turning another year older, a fact that makes me feel both happy and wistful as he is the baby in the family. So though I may be holding back tears as he blows out his birthday candles, I also love that I've found a…

There seems to be no shortage of websites or online games that will help teach our kids coding so they can be ready to head out into this increasingly technical world. And as much as I love that there are so many online options, sometime…

Of all the great songs on Renee & Friends' amazing new album Simpatico , the one that I've had running in my head for weeks is a Prince cover featuring the voices of Renee Stahl of kindie band Renee & Jeremy and Maya Rudolph. Yes, that M…

One of the very first kids' albums I ever bought was They Might Be Giants' 2002 classic No! to play for my then-toddler daughter. It still ranks up there with some of my favorite albums thanks to songs like Fibber Island, I Am Not Your B…

When you have some favorite photos -- and with five of us taking photos, you can bet we have lots -- we've got a great new way to turn them into wall decor. You might know SnapBox as the company that started by turning your Instagram pho…

As I pack up my family for a trip to Orlando and some of its finest theme parks , it seems fitting that today would happen to be National Roller Coaster Day. Especially since my kids can't stop talking about which loopy, speedy, hands-in…

How do superheros unwind after a long day of fighting crime? Well, according to this excellent power-pop song by Minneapolis's The Bazillions, they form a rock band and hit the stage. Got a kid who loves superheroes? You need to play the…

Every summer I vow that we're going to do enriching activities to keep everyone's brain sharp, but then my resolve melts faster than ice cream on a hot day once we start enjoying the lazy, unscheduled days of summer. But, I've found a gr…