by Christina Refford | Causes and Giving Back, Tips and Tricks
I’m excited to kick off the year by finding some easy, effective ways to recycle or donate those old tech gadgets that we all have lying around. Not just for you, but for me too! I know not to chuck my trusty old iPhone into the trash after upgrading to a newer...
by Liz Gumbinner | Internet Safety, Tips and Tricks
With the new year here, it’s a good time for a refresher on how to make strong passwords and help keep them safe. With phishing on the rise, ever-present social media hacks, and general security breaches and unsavory shenanigans, it’s just a good idea, and...
by Liz Gumbinner | Life and Home, Social Media, Tips and Tricks
For so many of us, the new year is about fresh starts. That’s why around here, so many of us use January as time to cross off what we can from all of those never-ending tech to-do lists. These are the kinds of tech to-dos we often put off, not necessarily...
by Cool Mom Staff | Editors' Picks of the Year, Link Roundups, Tips and Tricks
Every year, we think it’s fascinating to look back and see the top posts we wrote that captured our readers’ interests and imagination. Some of the favorites were just fun (hey, trendy halloween costume!) while most this year were really helpful. And hey,...
by Liz Gumbinner | Best Apps, Kids, Tips and Tricks, Websites We Love
I’m absolutely fascinated by the way my own kids and step kids use tech to make ongoing gift wish lists — the iOS Notes app has become the method of choice for them and so far, that’s working pretty well for us. Then I saw Jessica Bradley...
by Liz Gumbinner | Holiday Picks, Tips and Tricks
For over a decade now (whoa) we’ve been sharing the best Black Friday tips to help you find the best deals with the least hassle. Now that Black Friday has turned into “Black Friday through Cyber Monday,” which turned into an entire month of Black...
by Liz Gumbinner | Social Media, Tips and Tricks
We love when parents ask us “how do I know if my kid is ready for a cell phone?” It means you’re conscientious, caring, and involved — and of course, want to make sure that you’re raising a kid to make good choices, and not who...
by Kristen Chase | Tips and Tricks
We’ve said this many times here that some of our best iPhone tricks come from the digital natives in our lives, which is exactly where I got this simple, but very smart AirPods trick. You may be thinking “Are there really AirPods tricks?” and well, I...
by Kate Etue | Games + Gaming, Tips and Tricks
My teenage son and his friends are avid online gamers, so I recently broached the topic of good gaming etiquette for kids and teens with them. “What?” they asked, “You mean like when people tell you to go kill yourself when you mess up?” Ouch. I knew this kind of...
by Liz Gumbinner | Tips and Tricks
I know I’m not the only one who wants to get rid of the unread email count badge on my phone that taunts me loudly in BRIGHT. RED. NUMBERS. Every so often, a friend on social media gleefully (like a Mr. Burns kind of gleeful if you ask me) will prompt friends...
by Caroline Siegrist | Best Apps, Tips and Tricks
Lately I’ve heard some mixed opinions about the Focus feature on the latest iOS 15. If you haven’t updated your iPhone yet, Focus mode is similar to the Sleep mode introduced with iOS 14 with even more detail and more ways to customize your notifications...
by Cool Mom Staff | Life and Home, Tips and Tricks
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,...
We started Cool Mom Tech in 2010 to help make digital parenting easier. Whether you found us from a TV appearance, Google, or a reco from a friend, we're so glad you're here.
