Screen time and social media with kids: We might be doing it wrong, parents
Since reading Anya Kamenetz’s interview with Jordan Shapiro on NPR, I’ve made some heavy shifts in how I’m approaching screen time with my kids. For the years that they’ve been on video games, tablets and most recently, their own phones,...
How to set up the Screen Time app to manage your child’s screen time
After finally updating my son’s iPhone SE to iOS 12, I’ve been able to properly utilize the Screen Time app, which by the way, is where you’ll find all the Restrictions you might be familiar with from previous iOS versions. If you’ve got kids...
The most hilarious way to organize iPhone apps that we’ve ever seen
We’ve seen lots of different ways to organize your iPhone apps, and well, just when we thought we’d seen the best, we discovered this iPhone app organization method from Ian Stanczyk (above). It’s not necessarily the best, but certainly the funniest....
So why are we all still on Facebook again?
If we’re all perfectly honest with ourselves, then we know that Facebook has presented many privacy issues for a long time now. We’ve been writing about Facebook privacy issues since we started Cool Mom Tech in 2010. That’s nine years. NINE. A quick...
What you need to know about the crazy Facetime glitch. Who can see you?
If you’re a frequent Facetime user, you might want to turn it off until Apple fixes a recent glitch that actually allows callers to listen and see the people they’re calling, even if they don’t answer. Creepy much? Related: Watch out for this Apple...
5 simple strategies for making your phone less distracting
We’ve been talking a lot about screen addiction and overuse here over the last few weeks (and well, years), including our Curb Your Screen Addiction series. Well, we recently chatted with author Jake Knapp on our Spawned podcast, who has a well of fantastic...
How to set a Live photo as your iPhone’s wallpaper
I tend to be the one who schools my husband on cool iPhone tips and tricks, but this time, he’s the one who schooled me when he showed me how to set a live photo as my iPhone’s wallpaper. I admit, I take a bunch of live photos, but don’t ever watch...
Curb Your Screen Addiction series: Using screen time monitoring apps
This week in our Curb Your Screen Addiction series, we’re talking about how screen time monitoring apps can help you rein in your phone use. If you’re like me, then you found yourself quite surprised by your screen time stats when Apple updated iOS to...
Our Alexa organization series: The best Alexa finance skills
Next up in our Alexa Organization Series, we’re sharing some of our favorite Alexa finance skills to help you keep your family budget it check. Whether you want to track your investments or keep up with your spending, even pay you bills, here are 4 finance...
Curb Your Screen Addiction series: Narrating your phone use aloud
Next up in our Curb Your Screen Addiction series, we’re featuring our easiest tip yet. This one comes from Kristen and Liz’s interview with The Art of Screen Time author and NPR commentator Anya Kamenetz, who offers some excellent, non-alarmist advice on...
Curb Your Screen Addiction series: Turning off your notifications
Next up in our series on how to curb your screen addiction, we’re tackling the issue of notifications. Back when I first got a smartphone, those little red numbers next to my apps filled me with excitement. Someone had messaged me! Or liked my photo! Today, I...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!
