Get started at the very beginning with the Kano computer kit
I'm not alone in wanting my kids to learn the basics of coding and am thankful there are so many ways to get them interested in the subject. We've covered cool clubs and camps, lots of fun games, as well as apps and websites like ScratchJr and Hopscotch. Heck, there's...
Love You by Sandra Dedrick: Kids’ music download for Valentine’s Day
If you're looking for a fresh new song to play for your little sweetheart on Valentine's Day, I have a gorgeously groovy new tune that has quickly worked its way into our hearts. With a very 60's sunshine-pop sound, Sandra Dedrick's Love You is especially nice to hear...
The City Nights app will put kids to sleep…in a good way
My house is filled with readers. If it's made of paper, we'll probably read it. So it may seem strange that I'm very excited about a brand new interactive book app. But once you see the new City Nights app for iPad from Tidepool Publishing, I think other book...
Here’s how to follow Cool Mom Tech! Because we are where you are.
If you hadn't guessed, we love social media, which is where you'll find us every day, passing on great content from our site and around the web. Take a second and make sure you're following us, for links to cool articles, breaking news, tech tips and tricks, or...
Kiko’s Thinking Time educational app: Developed by neuroscientists, for scientific proof your kids are learning.
There are plenty of educational apps for kids, and then there's Kiko's Thinking Time for iOS, a free educational app for kids that's -- wait for it -- legitimately based on neuroscience. As a mom, I'm fascinated by the science behind Kiko's Thinking Time, which...
3 affordable Valentine tech gifts for lovers. Or iPhone lovers. Or both.
If you're like me, and you heart Valentine's Day and all of the red and pink and sweetness that comes with it, you can spread that love everywhere -- even to your iPhones. Here are three fun Valentine tech gifts to help you wear your heart on your sleeve and your iOS...
DIY light up Valentines, for when regular old cards just don’t cut it.
There are some really cool printable Valentines that we've recently found for kids more focused on science and tech than doilies and conversation hearts, but the DIY Valentines that caught my own kids' eyes this year is the DIY Light Circuit Light Up...
Drink nerdy with me
For me, the greatest Valentine's gifts are the ones that show how much you really get the person you love. And if you love a geek, we've got four awesomely nerdy mugs that could send exactly the right message on Valentine's Day. Package it with your favorite java to...
UrbanEars headphones, now making you crave sorbet.
One day we'll be telling our kids, "back in my day, the headphones were black! And we liked it!" And they'll look at us like we were crazy, thanks to companies like Sweden's UrbanEars which presents the most gorgeous colors each year. They just announced their spring...
You spin me right round baby
I can still remember my first record player, and let me assure you it looked nothing like this gorgeous Crosley USB record player that I'm sure would make your favorite music lover swoon on Valentine's Day. Available exclusively at Urban Outfitters, this USB record...
9 of the best printable Valentines cards for lovers of Minecraft, tech, and all things geeky.
My kids love to give and receive Valentine's Day cards from their friends and classmates, but they'd prefer to skip the mushy-gushy sentimental cards and stick with printable Minecraft Valentines cards, or others that reflect their love of gaming, tech, and cool...
3 funny Valentine’s Day cards for tech lovers. Welcome to the 21st century.
I'm much more of a silly card kind of girl than sentimental, which is why I'm digging these funny Valentine's Day cards that are made just for tech lovers, social media users, or well, anybody who owns a smartphone. Isn't that everyone these days? I discovered...
Tech Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way) Easier
How do I get rid of duplicate photos in iPhoto? Reader Q&A
I have duplicate photos in my iPhoto libraries. Is there a program that can help me eliminate the dupes? -@SallyHogshead via Twitter Now this is one question that a lot of us have faced ourselves. Duplicate photos are most definitely an annoyance. As much as we...
When are kids ready for e-readers and tablets?
To continue our "Are you ready for this?" series, I've received a slew of questions recently about when it's appropriate to give kids an e-reader or tablet like the NOOK Tablet and Kindle Fire. Overall the assumption is that they're a more cost-effective gadget for a...
The Leapfrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet–What to do when you can’t find one.
Holy Cabbage Patch 1983 redux, parents! When we named the Leapfrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet to our 10 hot holiday gifts of 2011 list, we knew it would be hot, but we had no idea how many parents would be emailing us in a panic, trying to track one down for...
Even More Coolness. Enjoy!
Gorgeous USB jewelry for Valentine’s Day or any day.
We've featured all sorts of stylish USB jewelry here on Cool Mom Tech before, and really, it's a pretty awesome gift idea (if we do say so ourselves). These blinged-out pieces from Swarovski definitely say "I love you" in a fantastically geeky way. Sure, a USB...
Piquing our Geek: The GE Cafe Series refrigerator now with a built-in Keurig brewer.
Even people who don’t love to cook seem to get excited about high-tech kitchen appliances. Combine that with people who love coffee, and I’m pretty sure that covers nearly the entire population. Or at least all of us geeks here. If you count yourself among us, you'll...
Kid-friendly New England bands for Patriots fans: Kids’ music downloads of the week
Last week, I rounded up three songs from Seattle kindie bands for those Seahawks fans who wanted to play more of the hometown team's music leading up to today's big game. Well, today, I turn to my own backyard and have pulled together three cool performers for us...
Where to see all the Super Bowl ads. Because sometimes that’s the best part
Football fans or not, millions of viewers flock to the Super Bowl for the commercials. Pretty much everyone wants to see the ads that will have everyone buzzing the next day -- or in real time on Twitter. But if you want a pre-game sneak peek at the Super Bowl ads --...
2 new YouTube channels for kids that are smart, fun, and free
Trying to find appropriate content on YouTube for kids can be a challenge. Because you know, YouTube isn't always super kid-friendly -- especially YouTube comments. Good news: we found two new kids' channels on YouTube that I think parents will love too. Related: 14...
Show your Super Bowl XLIX team pride on your phone. With LEGOs.
When it comes to the Super Bowl, half the fun is cheering for one team and trash-talking the other. And with all the hashtag wars and pseudo scandals swirling this year, Super Bowl XLIX this Sunday is gearing up to be flaming hot. If you're the type to proclaim...
3 cool keyboard apps to perk up your phone
We dress up every other part of our smart phones, from gorgeous cases to pretty wallpaper. So why shouldn't your keyboard get a little makeover too? We found 3 fun keyboard apps to perk up your phone and make it look cooler than ever. 1. Go for Color Spruce up...
Love me Tinder
It's true that Tinder has a reputation for being a hook-up app, but hey, people have met on it and fallen in love, or at least, heavy like. And if that's you, well this Valentine's Day card is for you Internet lovebirds. This hilarious card is one of many cheeky finds...
More of the best sleep tracking apps to help you get your snooze on
We've already declared that 2015 is the Year of Better Sleep, so here we are with even more helpful techie ways for all of us to get those good Z's. I tried two more of the latest sleep tracking apps to see whether they'd be a good fit for parents. Here's what I...
Aether Cone: Like your own psychic wireless speaker and music player
I have seen a lot of really cool wireless speakers, but the first thing to catch my eye on the Aether Cone was the shape. It felt like a throwback to the old-timey gramophone, and the copper and black color combo totally amplified the cool factor. (Ha, get it?) But...
How to hide YouTube comments. Because too many of them make you lose faith in humanity.
Around here, we're all starting to wonder whether TV will continue to be relevant to our kids who are growing up in the age of online media. In fact, next to playing Minecraft, my tweens' favorite way to spend their screen time is watching videos of their favorite...
Won’t you be Mine Craft?
If your kids are as obsessed with Minecraft as mine, you will laugh like I did when I saw this Minecraft Valentines t-shirt. Not laughing? Give it a sec. Take your time. You'll get it. The raglan tee is just available in men's and women's sizes (though my girls like...