Tech Toys

The MAKERphone is about to give an answer to that nagging question parents frequently get, because now when kids ask for a mobile phone, parents can just say: Go make it yourself. Related: A DIY Bluetooth speaker kit for kids that totall…

We've been longtime fans of the Tile Bluetooth trackers since we first discovered them years ago. They're pretty much a staple tech gadget in our home, allowing us to keep track of our keys, our phone, and pretty much every important thi…

What Potterhead among us hasn't wanted to accio our own working wand and perform a little magic? Like, I don't know...make some Bertie Bott's Every-Flavor Beans get bigger, disappear a few Mandrakes, or summon some chocolate frogs? Well,…

Of all the STEM coding toys that have come through our door, our favorite has been Cubetto . Maybe it's the heirloom quality of the robot's square wooden housing, with a personable little smile on the front. Or the fact that they don't h…

Barbie has come a long way over the last couple of years, with everything from Curvy Barbie to Game Developer Barbie , and now, Robotics Engineer Barbie . But this goes beyond a STEM-loving girl with a stylish pair of lab glasses. Barbie…

I'm always happy when companies find a way to take their kids' toys, games and activities and add components or extensions that keep them fresh for kids to play with. One of the best tech companies at this: Wonder Workshop , whose robots…

Turn that summer screen time into learning time at your local Apple Store thanks to their annual free summer camps . We've been lucky enough to snag a spot for our own kids in previous years and they've loved it. The catch: the spots go …

So this is how the story goes. Nintendo brought back the NES Classic in November, 2016 and it sold out almost immediately. Then lots of people were sad and gnashing their teeth (okay, slight exaggeration. Maybe). Well, it's back. Again. …

With all the throwback gaming consoles making their way back to the market (cough Nintendo cough), we probably shouldn't be surprised that Atari is making a comeback. But that doesn't mean we're a wee bit excited about it. Okay, try very…

The Echo Dot has been one of Amazon's most popular speakers, so it's no surprise that they saw an opportunity to bring all the joy and magic and Orwellian fun of Alexa to kids in the form of the new Echo Dot Kids Edition available exclus…

Captain's log: We are still digging out of the most recent Nor'Easter but to divert our attention to warmer climes, we've got our eye on this Star Trek captain's chair pool float . Related: 10 of the coolest pool floats the whole family …

Our Cool Mom Picks' editor, Liz, had the awesome opportunity to check out the latest Crayola creations at the 2018 Toy Fair, and we are pleased as tropical punch (aka magenta) to sneak peek their brand new and upcoming releases with you!

We hear a lot about STEM concepts, but not so much about neuroscience, which is where Backyard Brains is hoping to fill a gap. Their super cool neuroscience experiment kits that give kids first hand experience on how the brain really wor…

Wow was I excited to discover Jooki at CES 2018. I mean, I saw a whole lot of new tech for kids, but not a whole lot beyond STEM and coding toys that really made me go wow. So I'll be sharing a few top favorites for kids over the coming …

I've been back several days from CES 2018, the Consumer Electronic Show, and I'm so happy to discover so many innovative new coding toys for kids this year that are giving new meaning to "best coding toys for kids." Wow, how far we've co…

Big news today, especially for American Girl doll lovers. They announced their 2018 girl of the year, who just so happens to love STEM. How cool is that? Related: Finally, the first American Girl boy Doll Meet Luciana Vega , the 2018 gir…

STEM toys have become one of the hottest gifts for kids, and we couldn't be happier. In fact, we think they're especially great for those tweens who've kind of started to outgrow "toys" but still want something fun to play with around th…

Mark your calendars for International Women's Day next year, because that's the day when Little Miss Inventor , the newest, coolest Little Miss character from Roger Hargreaves (well, now his son Adam Hargreaves), will be hitting the shel…

Raise your hand if you already have tickets to see The Last Jedi . Yep, we're obsessed too at our house, so I'm (obviously) looking for hot new Star Wars gifts for my kids this holiday season. At the top of my list: Bloxels Star Wars . T…

Hot Wheels is getting a big tech upgrade, thanks to their newest partnership with a longtime Cool Mom Tech favorite, Osmo . You'll be able to recapture your living room floors from miles of winding plastic track, but still let your kids …

Way back in February of this year, we wrote about forthcoming the Women of NASA LEGO Set which proposed wonderful mini versions honoring software developer Margaret Hamilton; NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson ; pioneering astronauts S…

It's fantastic to see the popularity of STEM over the last couple of years, with so many options that are truly inspiring kids to pursue their geeky passions. But we parents know that one of the best ways to get excited about something i…

Imagine me trying to get my four kids -- and their backpacks, tennis gear, snacks for the Scout meeting, and awkward diaper bag -- out of the car and into school . . . in the pouring rain. It looks a little like something you'd see on th…

If you were obsessed with Lite-Brite as a kid like I was, I bet you, er, your kids will love Pixel Kit , a new Lite-Brite-esque coding toy from Kano . It's all the best of the quintessential '80s toy, with the cool tech updates a 21st-ce…