Now kids can build their own robot overlords with The Robot Factory app
Every time Tinybop releases a new app, I'm not sure who's more excited -- my kids or me. Their newest release, The Robot Factory, is just as awesome as all the others that we've adored, like The Human Body, Plants, and Homes. The creative potential in The Robot...
A custom iPhone case that’s perfect for Mother’s Day. Tissues are extra.
Whether you are looking for a thoughtful, unique, and sentimental Mother's Day gift--or just really want one for yourself-- check out My Little Buffalo's custom illustrated family portraits which--hint--would make me a very happy recipient. And that's not just because...
Zipbuds: Affordable earbuds that cancel out noise and tangles
After a particularly long stretch of snow days this winter, I realized I needed a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Because, kids. If you are with me, here's one that takes care of two big parental issues: Tangle-free, noise-cancelling Juice 2.0 earbuds from...
KidsLink app: A smart alternative to social media oversharenting
I didn't even know there was a term for it, but of course there is. Oversharenting. It's that thing that so many of us parents do on social media -- especially on Facebook -- where we share, or overshare, info about our kids that ranges from cute "firsts" to humble...
A new one stop shop for STEM toys and games that you’re probably already visiting.
What do you get for the kid who has everything? Cool STEM toys that might help them learn something new, we say. Because even kids who have everything, don't yet know everything. And now it's easier than ever to shop for awesome educational gifts, thanks to Amazon's...
Mapstr app: A brilliant way to track favorite places wherever you go.
Have you ever wished you could literally bookmark a favorite restaurant in a new town you're visiting? Like, just magically click a button in your brain that lets you put an asterisk next to the name of the place so you'll always remember it? Or maybe it's the...
5 smart selfie stick alternatives. Because OH NOES, NOT A BAN ON SELFIE STICKS.
The selfie stick struggle is real, friends. From major museums, like the MoMA and The Met in NYC to the Palace of Versailles in Paris, to sports stadiums, to musical festivals Coachella and Lollapalooza, the ban on selfie sticks shows no signs of slowing down. While...
The Geek Baby Book: A memory journal to fill out beside the warm glow of the TARDIS nightlight.
There are any number of baby books and memory journals out there for new parents, but none I couldn't put down, before it was even filled in. Until I saw The Geek Baby Book by Tim Mucci. Right from the first chapter, in which the author offers a list of possible boys'...
The gorgeous new modular leather iPad and tablet case that could finally get you organized
When the small tech accessory company This is Ground first launched the Cordito and the Cord Taco -- clever little cord taming leather accessories named for Tex-anything-but-Mex fast food favorites, well we knew we liked these guys right away. Since then, their...
Cat Doorman’s Calling all the Kids to the Yard: Kids’ music download of the week
Whether your "yard" is a patch of grass attached to your house or a nearby city park, I think you're going to love this incredibly cool song from Portland's Cat Doorman that's the perfect anthem for spring. Calling all the Kids to the Yard! starts with a catchy guitar...
15 Instagram tips every user should know. We think you’ll heart-emoji them.
Truth be told, I abandoned my BlackBerry for the iPhone specifically because of Instagram. And, believe me, I was quite the keyboard-over-touchscreen loyalist. But the lure of the obvious fun of sharing square photos -- with filters! -- was just too strong, and back...
A fun Easter app for kids to keep them busy while you hide the eggs
It's only the beginning of our Easter spring break mash-up weekend, and my kids are already getting antsy. Don't they know that I, er, the Easter Bunny have things to do? So if you're like me and have exhausted the Easter crafts, and Easter egg coloring pages, I found...
Tech Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way) Easier
5 of our favorite techie pins on Pinterest this week
Obsessed with Pinterest like us? Follow us, then check out our favorite pins from this week. 1. It's pretty amazing what you can do with speakers these days. 2. 10 quick tips that will have you taking better photos of your kids in a flash. Heh. Get...
Should you upgrade to the iPhone 5?
I've loved my iPhone 4 ever since I got it, but I admit that I've been anxiously awaiting to upgrade to iPhone 5 considering I held off on upgrading to an iPhone 4S. So when my pretty, new iPhone 5 arrived last week, I couldn't wait to try it out, along with the fully...
Why you need more than one email address
After we posted instructions on how to get your personal information off Spokeo, we received numerous comments and emails from our readers with concern about having to share your email address in order to remove yourself. While we understand that sharing more personal...
Even More Coolness. Enjoy!
Apps parents should know: Meerkat and Periscope now let your teens live stream. Just let that sink in for a second.
I'm not even kidding that when I heard the the word Meerkat being tossed around for the past couple of weeks, I thought to myself, Is that Meerkat Manor show back on TV again? But then, when the Periscope live streaming app for Twitter launched this past week, I...
Scrapbook by Facebook: What parents need to know about this new feature from Facebook for tagging kids.
When I post a picture of my kids to Facebook, I tend to tag my husband, my parents and in-laws, maybe even aunts and uncles. If I want them to see the picture, I tag them. Because until yesterday, there hasn't been a way to officially tag a photo of a child on...
Sponsored Message: Webroot keeps you and your family safe online, wherever you are.
This is a sponsored message for Webroot No matter how much you or your family is online, the last thing you want to worry about is malware, viruses, and data and identity theft. That's where the award-winning Webroot security software comes in, to help...
A USB electrical outlet that’s easy to install and easy on your wallet. We’ll take one in every room.
It's amazing that USB electrical outlets aren't yet standard in homes and new constructions, so we've covered quite a few ways to turn regular electrical outlets into USB charging spots yourself. The new SnapPower Charger looks like the easiest and most economical...
Smartphone addiction: 5 things I learned when I put away my phone around my kids for a week
I've often wondered if I've had a bit of a smartphone addiction, seeing as how my iPhone often functions as my third arm. Or second brain. As a busy work-at-home-mom who runs her own business, my smartphone allows me freedoms that I wouldn't otherwise have, like...
An Instagram ban on all children’s photos? It could happen.
Everyone's favorite photo-sharing app rocked the parenting world yesterday when they announced the possibility of banning all photos of minors on Instagram. Our Twitter and Facebook feeds were going nuts, as you can totally imagine. Evidently ongoing pressure from...
Apps parents should know: The Burnbook app, bringing Mean Girls to a school near you. UPDATED.
See below for a breaking update about the Burnbook app If you haven't yet heard of the Burnbook app, it's the latest anonymous social app that's causing a stir among teens and parents and even law enforcement around the country. Next in our series of apps parents...
Should iPhone cable color coordination be one of those things for you.
Sometimes it's the little things that can help a desk feel less cluttered and more pretty, and so I really appreciate the new Belkin MIXIT metallic USB cables. Metallic, as in silver, gold or space gray. As in, matching your iPhone, iPad, MacBook or new gold MacBook...
9 fantastic gender-neutral apps for kids around themes that traditionally weren’t. Because girls like robots and boys like styling hair.
This week I was reading a post from one of our favorite app developers, Toca Boca, about how actively they try to create gender-neutral apps, and I was really impressed learning just how much effort they put into it. Like the sketch they featured in developing the...
The kSafe is a brilliant way to lock away that game controller. Or you know, the cookies.
When I first saw the The kSafe, all I could think of was Cookie Monster begging someone to lock all his cookies away and hide them from him, no matter how hard he begs. If you can relate, you have to check out this clever Kickstarter which is designed to inspire...
A fun free music download for Easter: Jelly Beans by Mista Cookie Jar
You know how bouncy your kids get after eating too many jelly beans? We've found the musical equivalent with this awesome new tune from Mista Cookie Jar and the Chocolate Chips that's a perfect choice for our weekly kids' music download recommendation -- especially...
Oh Appy Day! featuring Rihanna: Her favorite Instagram app that her 16 million followers seem to like too
Oh Appy Day! is our ongoing feature giving you the scoop on the coolest apps from some of the coolest people anywhere. This week, we asked Rihanna, who knows a thing or two about Instagram (she currently has 16.2 million followers @badgirlriri), to share her favorite...