5 important digital parenting questions parents should ask themselves (and know the answers to)
We’ve always said that raising digital natives, especially since we’re not digital natives ourselves, means understanding the role of technology in our family. But when it comes to knowing what questions to ask (and answer), well, that can be the...
7 must-do tips for spring cleaning your email inbox
We talked last week about tips for spring-cleaning your phone, and this week I’m taking a stab at my email. I’d never let my actual snail mail pile up in a massive overflow of unanswered bills and letters, but for some reason I let my email inbox become an...
9 smart tips for spring cleaning your phone, inside and out.
With spring nearly here, I’m getting antsy to clean up my yard and go through all my closets to get rid of all the junk we’ve accumulated over the winter. But I’m going to start small, literally, and follow these tips for spring cleaning my phone...
What parents need to know about YouTube’s new parental controls for tweens and teens
Parents of tweens and teens, we’ve got good news! YouTube is launching new parental controls specifically for kids in this age group. What a relief to those of us who see the value in letting them watch some of the content on YouTube…but who are exhausted...
Parents, what if you just stopped managing screen time?
Over the last month, we’ve been getting bombarded with all sorts of posts about kids and screen time, from articles telling us that we’ve got a big problem on our hands to ways to feel okay about all the screen time. If you’re like me, it feels like...
How to “untab” your Gmail so you never miss an important email again
Chances are good that you’re clicking through to this article because you don’t know what “tabbed gmails” even are. Right? Well, here’s the deal: Gmail has a “handy” organization tool that categorizes all your emails...
The most helpful new iOS 14 feature you might have missed.
If you’re like us, you were so busy rearranging your home screen that you missed one of the most helpful new iOS14 features. Of course, “helpful” is relative, especially these days when even the smallest little thing that gives us a taste of normalcy...
13 creative ways for teens to connect with friends virtually right now
Let’s take a minute to applaud our teens who’ve been willing to quarantine this year. It’s been brutal to lose so many activities they love, and they’ve handled it with flexibility and (mostly) good attitudes! While we’d hoped we’d...
Inbox Zero trick: How to clean out your inbox on Gmail and start the year fresh. (Updated for 2021)
As someone with anywhere upwards of 10,000 emails in my inbox — many of them unread, to the dismay of my OCD friends — I am always looking for tips and tricks to help me manage my email. One of those is to start each new year with an absolutely clean...
44 cool things you can do with the Amazon Echo: From productive time-savers to just plain fun.
I received an Amazon Echo for Christmas a few years ago, and I have to admit at first I was a little skeptical. What is all the buzz about anyway and what can I actually do with an Amazon Echo? I wasn’t sure it could really do more for me than Siri or my phone,...
Clever ways to use Alexa to make your life easier | Out-Tech Your Kids Episode 22
We can all use ways to make our lives a little easier, which is why we’re talking about Alexa, which we know has helped our own staff, and maybe you too. That includes this episode’s sponsor Bamboo Learning, which offers fun ways for elementary-aged kids to learn and...NEW: The podcast that helps you be a savvier digital parent in under 15 minutes a week
Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz
We started Cool Mom Tech in 2010 to help make our increasingly digital lives easier, more organized, more meaningful, and more fun, however old your kids may be.
We love that it's grown to become the go-to source for millions of parents who want commonsense info about tech delivered with a smile.
We even have the privilege of sharing our tips + tricks with The TODAY Show, CNN, HLN, GMA, Nightline, newspapers and magazines around the country, and our favorite -- regular parents who stop us at PTA meetings and ask us how old kids need to be to get a smartphone, and whether they really need to panic about Snapchat.
(Answer: It's complicated.)
We're so glad you're here! And we hope we can help you too.
The Spawned Podcast. (It’s won awards and everything!)
At-Home Learning Help
* 14 very cool virtual summer camps for kids
* 8 of our favorite online educational resources
* 10 awesome online STEM camps for kids this summer
* Homeschooling 101: Tips for newbies
* 8 ideas for homeschool schedules that may work for you
* Creative ways to socialize online
* 5 audiobook apps keep us entertained and learning
* The best ways to clean and disinfect your phones and gadgets
* 15 awesome podcasts to keep kids engaged
“Are you guys okay with Facebook Messenger for your kids to stay in touch with friends?”
Parents have questions, we have answers
So they want to get a smartphone…
Work with us!
