The new Toca Blocks turns your kids into their own masters of the universe. Mainly because they’re building it from scratch.
My entire household is pretty thrilled that Toca Blocks, the 30th(!) app from favorite app developer, Toca Boca, just launched today. I got an early peek at it, and I'm happy to report, it's just as fabulous as the others. And while Toca Hair Salon and Toca Mini are...
5 great STEM toys for kids with a math focus. Because despite what you may remember, math is now fun.
As we approach the final week of Christmas shopping, I plan spend a few minutes to make sure that I'm buying toys and games that will feed my kids' brains as much as their need for play. And while "math toys" has never appeared on any of my kids' lists to Santa as a...
Flare Kids: A fun, free educational app that does good for kids in need, too.
This is a sponsored message from Flare Kids Parents love good educational children's apps, even more so when they're free. And now there's Flare Kids which isn't just great for the kids who use it, but for the children of the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House....
Best kids’ tablet in terms of security, function, parental controls, and value| Reader Q+A
Hi Cool Mom Picks, I'm looking to purchase the best kids' tablet for a 3-year-old, and maybe one for an 8-year-old. What do you suggest? - Reader, via Facebook. Oh, to be a kid on Christmas morning opening up a brand new tablet to play with! Lucky. The...
Home security devices: 3 simple new systems that will keep you — and all those Christmas presents — safe.
As our houses are filling up with gifts for the holidays, it's a good time to think about home security to keep our homes safe from burglaries and just provide some extra peace of mind. Because waking up Christmas morning to no presents under the tree would be a real...
Circle with Disney screen time management system: Is it worth it for parents?
A lot of our readers have been asking us about Circle with Disney, a new device on that market designed to connect to your WiFi specifically to help parents monitor their kids' internet usage and manage screen time. We were really curious about how it works and...
iPhone tip: How to turn on LED flash alerts for silent notifications
Just when you think you know everything there is about your iPhone, here comes a new tip for turning on the LED flash alert that I think will help a whole lot of people. You know how sometimes you'll miss a call, text or important notification on your phone because...
LA Christmas from Andrew and Polly: Kids’ music download of the week
We know that not all of us can expect a white Christmas, but most Christmas songs are definitely written for those of us who open to the door and realize, baby, it's cold outside. But now you Southern Californians have your own holiday anthem from Andrew & Polly...
Sponsored Message: 3 holiday tech gifts from TomTom for the fitness lovers in your life
This is a sponsored message on behalf of TomTom Whether you find your loved ones on the golf course, in the gym, or outside burning off calories through any sport at all, TomTom has all active people on your list covered with three tech gadgets that will make them...
Guitar Hero Live review: Cool updates put this classic back on top of the charts
Honestly, haven't we all rocked out to an air guitar at some point in our lives? (Or maybe this morning in the shower -- ahem.) Pretending to be Lenny Kravitz or Joan Jett shredding the axe and professing our love for rock 'n' roll out loud got a little less fake and...
Daily Vroom app gives you personalized brain-building exercises for your kids. So like, an extra brain for you.
Kids' brains grow so fast during the preschool years, which is why they need lots of stimulation to help them develop smarter, sharper brains. Also, possibly why kids at this age are so um, challenging. Not just me, right? But often, parents are so busy doing so many...
Sponsored Message: 2 kid-friendly devices from Amazon, just in time for the holidays
This is a sponsored message from Amazon With tech at the top of so many kids' holiday wish lists this year and so many gadgets on the market, it can be hard for parents to navigate through all the options. This year, Amazon is offering two kid-friendly devices that...
Tech Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way) Easier
12 smart tech organization tips for the holidays. Get those homes ready! Mostly.
The holidays are coming—as in, fast—and that means company. While we're always thinking about organization tips like cleaning off the china or straightening the bookshelves, it's easy to forget about what a presence tech is in our homes and how it can really make us...
7 helpful tips for taking Halloween photos of your kids. Your Instagram friends await!
In addition to fun-sized everything, one of the best parts of Halloween is seeing all of the adorable (adoraboo?) photos of people's kids in costume. Some of you are so clever with these costume ideas you dream up for your kids! We wanted to help you show off the...
How to make a Twitter photo collage: When you just have more to share
With Instagram having officially passed Twitter in mobile users this past spring, it's not surprising that the other social networks are trying to take a page from what's successful about Instagram. I've always loved all the great apps for creating Instagram...
Even More Coolness. Enjoy!
Cool tech gifts for men and women under $25: 2015 Tech Gift Guide
For our final installment of our 2015 Tech Gift Guide, we've got lots and lots of cool tech gifts for men and women under $25. Yes, you read that correctly. And no, we're not talking about stocking stuffers, folks. These are awesome gifts that would be most...
Stylish touchscreen gloves from Verloop: Because winter is coming
A few weeks ago I was at one of my favorite local boutiques picking up a birthday gift for a friend when I eyed these stylish touchscreen gloves from Verloop. Turns out, Liz had them on her list too, so these get a double Cool Mom Tech seal of approval. I'm a big fan...
Cool Hanukkah music for kids: Challah-lalala by Mister G, our kids’ music download of the week
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 remake as Challah-lalala. (Get...
Cool designer tech gifts for the stylish woman on the go : 2015 Tech Gift Guide
You know how we like the pretty things, mama. We can't help it, we're suckers for great design, especially when combined with smart tech. So we're excited to share some of our favorite stylish tech gift finds this year for that cool plugged-in woman on your list....
14 cool custom photo gifts for everyone on your holiday list: 2015 Holiday Tech Guide
Next up in our 2015 Holiday Tech Gift Guide series, we’ve put together 14 really cool custom photo gifts for anyone on your list We're talking sleek photo books, unique prints, amazing keepsakes, even a tasty photo treat or two -- basically, more reasons to finally do...
The relentless pursuit of tech toy perfection
You know that same commercial they run every Christmas where someone rich gives someone else rich a Lexus wrapped in a big red bow? Well that's about as likely to happen around here as Lexus retiring that ad (ha) but now there's a more affordable alternative for a...
The Hubble Telescope Advent Calendar: Who says faith + science don’t mix?
While we always share the coolest advent calendars on Cool Mom Picks each year, though none might be quite so 21st century as the genius, photo-a-day Hubble Telescope Advent Calendar. Visit the Atlantic online each day for a new, remarkable photo from Hubble, starting...
First cell phones for kids: 12 features and considerations to help you find the perfect one.
We're continuing our series about kids and cell phones on behalf of our sponsor, the premium authorized Verizon retailer, Cellular Sales, because wow, do parents need help with this! And by parents, we mean, ourselves too! Because we know first-hand that once you say...
16 really cool STEM toys and gifts for kids: 2015 Tech Gift Guide
We love toys for kids that are educational too, which is why we're so happy to share of these some favorite cool STEM toys and gifts for kids as the next installment in our 2015 Holiday Tech Gift Guide series. And we’re extra happy to share this guide on behalf of our...
Scribble Creative Book Maker app: Let kids become instant authors and illustrators
I'm pretty measured about letting my kids use my iPad, especially when they could be playing outside, practicing their instruments or learning their fifth language. Ha. In truth, I'm all about balance in our household, and I'm definitely a fan of apps that let kids...
Cool gifts for photographers: 2015 Tech Gift Guide
Next up in our 2015 Holiday Tech Gift Guide series, we’ve put together some of the coolest, gotta-have gifts for photographers. We're talking cameras, gadgets, accessories -- everything a photog would be happy to snap up. (Ha!) Even a few surprises. Whether the...
All That Krampus Wants by The Hipwaders: Kids’ music download of the week
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 get his own movie, we suspect...