10 cool holiday tech toys for tweens and big kids | Tech Holiday Gift Guide 2018
Next up in our Holiday Tech Gift Guide 2018, we're featuring cool tech toys for tweens and big kids. Hey, we know first-hand how hard older kids can be to shop for, but having consulted with them we're pretty sure these tech toys, gifts and gadgets will be total hits...
12 delightfully geeky gifts under $20 | Tech Holiday Gift Guide 2018
If you're like us and have an abundance of geeks to buy for this holiday season, you'll appreciate these awesome, affordable geeky gifts under $20 for the holidays. Whether they're into Star Wars, Stranger Things, Dr. Who, or just losing themselves in great video...
21 of the coolest tech stocking stuffers for everyone on your list | Tech Holiday Gift Guide 2018
If you're stuffing those stockings that have been hung by the chimney with care, we've got the coolest tech stocking stuffers for everyone on your list this year, from really affordable tech accessories to a few splurges. And trust us when we say that these are legit....
This viral iPhone keyboard trick really works
tThis morning I was scrolling through Facebook and found several friends had shared this iPhone keyboard trick that I had never seen before. And well, of course I had to give it a try. Guess what? It totally works, and it's a gamechanger. Related: A smart trick for...
10 reasons why this smartphone alternative makes a brilliant holiday gift
If your kids are anything like ours, they've got a phone up high on their holiday wish list. And as much as you want Santa to make them squeal, you also know that a smartphone is a huge responsibility that they might not be ready for just yet. That's why we're so...
Where to find A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving streaming for free this year. Because, tradition.
We have a few Thanksgiving traditions in our family: mom's pumpkin pie, a turkey that's never quite ready when we expect it to be, and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on TV. Because Lucy, Linus and the rest of the gang are just a sentimental tradition I'm not willing to...
15 awesome tech gifts for teens that will score you major points | Tech Holiday Gift Guide 2018
We know shopping for teen gifts can be pretty challenging, but in our experience, tech is pretty much always a hit. All year long, we've been keeping our eyes on the hottest new tech trends so we can share them with you (and us too) this holiday season. Keep in mind,...
12 ways this little smart gadget can make your holidays a whole lot easier.
With the holidays right around the corner, we're always looking for ways to make this busy season easier and more enjoyable. For us, a little extra time and sanity goes a long way. And well, there is actually a gadget for that. We're thrilled to welcome back our...
Amazon FreeTime Unlimited + Audible are about to make your holiday travel so much happier!
If you're fans of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, you'll be thrilled to hear they just added over 1,000 Audible books for kids into the mix, with tons of popular titles ready for listening. Related: Here's what you need to know about the Amazon Echo Dot for Kids For just...
Holiday parties, gatherings, & events, oh my! The new Paperless Post Flyers are the best thing ever.
I popped into my Paperless Post account to create an invite for an upcoming event I'm co-hosting and much to my surprise, I discovered they had launched a new Flyer feature. So instead of spending time and money creating and sending an invite (which for this event...
The new Secret Code book and app teach girls to solve problems with coding
I loved the Secret Code book when it came out two years ago, and so I was especially pumped to see the new Secret Code app bringing the book to life with its recent launch. Where the story of Rox's Secret Code introduced kids to the possibilities of coding -- like...
The new Star Wars Otterbox cases are out of this world. We mean, galaxy.
It's November, which means fall, and Thanksgiving, and apparently if you're Otterbox, more Star Wars smartphone cases. We were totally into the Star Wars cases they launched last year, and even more into the Solo: A Star Wars Story cases. However, their newest...
Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way!) Easier
Thinking Parent: Tackling screen time in your home begins with looking in the mirror.
A few weeks ago, my youngest was angry with me about losing her iPad privileges, and in her fit of rage yelled "I bet you couldn't be without your phone for 12 hours." We all know that the truth hurts, but to hear it out of the mouth of your child cuts deeper. It's...
The best new iOS 12 features for parents – parental controls, time trackers, new apps and more
We always get kind of excited for each new iOS update (yeah, we're geeky that way) and the new iOS 12 update is no exception. We've been looking forward to it since we heard about all the new iOS parental controls in particular that Apple was promising and, well, now...
What’s the best way to manage your kid’s screen time? This expert’s answer might surprise you!
We often get asked the best way for parents to manage their kid's screen time, and while we have our own opinions about screen time management, we never miss an opportunity to get another expert's opinion. That's exactly what Kristen did on this week's episode of...
Calling all video gaming Potterheads! The LEGO Harry Potter Collection is here.
If you've got someone in your home whose love for LEGO and Harry Potter have transcended toys, books, and movies, we give you the newest release: LEGO Harry Potter Collection for Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. We can hear the sound of wands swishing already. Related:...
50 must-listen podcasts from podcast-addicted parents who know
We recently asked the members of our Out Tech Your Kids Facebook Group to share their choices for best podcasts for parents -- that don't have to be about parenting at all -- and wow, we scored big. And well, so did you. If you're looking for new podcasts to add to...
Attention space fans: The Vans x Space NASA collection is stellar!
Our space-loving kids -- and their space-loving parents (ahem) -- are going want to do zero-G flips for the newly launched collection of Vans x Space sneakers in partnership with NASA, released in advance of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing next year. Whoa....
Hey kids, you want a mobile phone? Make it yourself with MAKERphone.
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 totally rocks This educational DIY...
Why the new MacBook Air has family written all over it: The features we’re excited about
We're so excited watching Apple's big announcement today about the brand new MacBook Air. With the title of Apple's most affordable MacBook (the price tag starts at $1199) we imagine lots of parents are going to be considering this for their families -- or perhaps...
5 things I learned about Musical.ly now TikTok, from parents who’ve been there (and said no to that)
My daughter came home from a sleepover this past weekend asking if she could download Musical.ly (now known as TikTok). I've been hesitant about this app after hearing friends' kids with various issues, not to mention the stories we've shared here on Cool Mom Tech. So...
Detective Agency: The new Carmen Sandiego-style game from Osmo
We're huge fans of Osmo around my house. The kids love to play their innovative games, and I love that they seamlessly marry tangible, hands-on play with screen time. So when I saw their new game just announced today, Detective Agency, is a Carmen Sandiego-style...
5 fun YouTube Kids playlists and specials to get your kids in the Halloween spirit
Now that YouTube Kids has upped their parental controls game, I've been feeling more comfortable with them using the app. If your kids love it as much as mine do, here are some fun Halloween-themed playlists that might enjoy. Related: What you need to know about the...
5 of the coolest photo booth apps for a picture-perfect party
We all know that photo booths are as essential to a good party as cupcakes and punch, so just in time for all those Halloween parties, we've updated our favorite photo booth apps for parties. They're all intuitive, inexpensive, and mostly kid-friendly. Plus, these...
5 fun, not-too-scary Halloween apps for kids
Halloween is right around the corner, so we decided to round-up fun Halloween apps for kids that aren't too scary, all of which happen to be free (yay!). What a fun way to get them excited about Halloween, though if your kids are anything like ours, they've been...
This might just be the best way to organize your iPhone apps
I've tried many different approaches to organizing my iPhone apps, but the same thing always happens: I can't find the ones I need when I need them. Logic says you leave your most-used apps on the main page, then put the others in files, but it turns out, logic might...
My love-hate relationship with the new MacBrook Pro: A cautionary tale
When I decided to upgrade to the new MacBook Pro at the end of last year (hello, tax write-off), I thought I had a good sense of what I was getting into. Heck, I wrote the article about it here on Cool Mom Tech when Apple first announced it a couple of years ago. But...