10 awesome online STEM camps for kids
Let's talk about online STEM camps for kids! The closure of so many summer camps has been -- let's face it -- a huge bummer. But the good news is that the virtualization of camp means families aren't limited by geography; you have your choice of a huge range of...
Over 14 super cool virtual summer camps to keep kids busy this summer
I know that a socially distanced summer -- with all the closures and cancellations it entails -- is pretty daunting to parents. Like, ahem, myself. But I've been encouraged to find that there are so many wonderful online resources available right now, including these...
Presenting Out-Tech Your Kids, our new tech-positive podcast for the age of digital parenting
We've had a tech-positive approach to digital parenting since we started Cool Mom Tech, though we didn't exactly have a name for it back then. Since our launch in 2010, we've been sharing our tech expertise not necessarily as techies, but as parents who use a myriad...
4 awesome home projectors for a fab backyard movie night
Anyone else missing trips to your local movie theater? I know I am, which is why I've been researching the best home projectors for backyard movie nights, which seem to be the closest we're going to get to sitting in a theater anytime soon. Keep in mind that home...
Coding with Kids camps will keep your kids busy, happy, and learning, all summer long | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message for Coding with Kids If you're looking for ways to keep your kids busy this summer, without missing out on any of that camp fun, you'll want to check out the virtual tech camps for kids 5-18 from Coding with Kids, which start June 15th and...
5 ways to use tech to document your family’s stories from the pandemic
When our state was put under a stay-at-home order back in the middle of March, 2020, I told my 11-year old that she should start writing in her journal every day because this was going to be a time in history that her kids and their kids after them would be hearing...
4K Video Downloader lets you safely download YouTube videos, online recipes, and so much more, with just one click | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message for 4K Video Downloader Want to watch your favorite YouTube or TikTok videos without WIFI or cellular, save that favorite recipe to you computer, or catch a Twitch stream later on? You and your family can do all of that and so much more...
The OurStory app: Highlighting books with diverse content and by content creators from marginalized communities. YES!
Over the years, we here at Cool Mom Tech (and Cool Mom Picks) have believed in the importance of supporting diverse companies, products, and books, as well as sharing content from creators from marginalized communities. From POC-owned beauty brands to Black food...
10 father’s day gifts for gamer dads that will impress the heck out of him
It's not just kids who are gaming more courtesy of the quarantine. We know lots of grown-ups are doing it a lot more too, which is why we decided to put together a Father's Day gift guide just for the gamer dads. We scoured the web for the coolest gifts for gamers,...
Here’s how to make that Facebook Avatar that looks nothing like you.
If you're like me, then your Facebook feed has been filled with everyone's new Facebook avatar. It's also been filled with people saying how they look nothing like them. And I have to be honest, I totally agree. So of course, I had to give it a try myself. But it's...
This Baby Yoda speaker is giving us the little spark of joy we needed today.
Did we mention that we have the coolest readers? Eric (aka EricSketch on Twitter) has been reading our site for quite some time now, so when we spotted this Baby Yoda Bluetooth speaker in his Twitter feed we were like "HOLY MANDALORIAN!" Let's just say we will...
Are my kids spending too much time on video games during quarantine? We asked a video gaming expert.
With lots of extra time on their hands, my kids are spending a lot of that playing video games. And based on some of the discussions in our Out Tech Your Kids Facebook Group, I'm not the only parent who's experiencing the same thing. But how do you know if your kids...
Tech Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way) Easier
The most helpful new iOS 14 feature you might have missed.
If you're like us, you were so busy rearranging your home screen that you missed one of the most helpful new iOS14 features. Of course, "helpful" is relative, especially these days when even the smallest little thing that gives us a taste of normalcy is helpful....
13 creative ways for teens to connect with friends virtually right now
Let's take a minute to applaud our teens who've been willing to quarantine this year. It's been brutal to lose so many activities they love, and they've handled it with flexibility and (mostly) good attitudes! While we'd hoped we'd be "back to normal" by now, the hard...
Clever ways to use Alexa to make your life easier | Out-Tech Your Kids Episode 22
We can all use ways to make our lives a little easier, which is why we’re talking about Alexa, which we know has helped our own staff, and maybe you too. That includes this episode’s sponsor Bamboo Learning, which offers fun ways for elementary-aged kids to learn and...
Even More Coolness. Enjoy!
Picture Home: A fun communal photo project to inspire everyday life at home
If you're in need of a fun little project to help focus your energy in a positive, inspiring way, we're happy to recommend our dear friend Tracey Clark's Picture Home. It's a family-friendly, all-ages communal photo project with 31 days full of easy prompts that...
Mother’s Day Tech Guide: 10 tech gifts that will make sheltering at home a little easier
Ah yes, Mother's Day in quarantine, which we think means making it extra special. The mom in your life doesn't necessarily have to be a techie to appreciate a tech gift. We're pretty sure all of these would make any mom we know - tech savvy or not - very happy this...
Is the new Spotify Kids app worth the extra money?
When I first heard about the new Spotify Kids app, I was pretty excited. Would this be the app that would wean my son from the Moana soundtrack and expand his musical horizons? Is this the app for kids who are ready for their own music, but not everything that the...
SchoolClosures.org offers free resources for families affected by school closures
Both Liz and I got word this week that our kids will be out of school for the rest of the school year, which means we'll be doing this isolation schooling for another couple of months. Thankfully, resources like SchoolClosures.org have been popping up to help parents...
The Together app helps families and friends stay connected during quarantine, and beyond | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message for Together app As so many families and friends are struggling to stay connected during this Coronavirus quarantine, they've turned to technology to help them stay in touch. But with the Together app, your kids can video chat, while play...
Zoom alternatives for schools: 7 video conferencing options until Zoom fixes…some stuff
With the news last week that Zoom had some big security concerns to patch up, educators of all kinds started seeking out Zoom alternatives for schools and other kinds of remote learning. Especially after the NYC DOE took the big step of forbidding NYC public schools...
Play Cards Against Humanity online with your friends, thanks to Playingcards.io
We're all doing our best practicing social distancing and stay connected during this Coronavirus lockdown, and we've seen lots of creative ideas, from Facebook Live dance parties, to Zoom cocktail parties, even online singalongs like the one Kristen is hosting this...
How to practice safe socializing using tech during the Coronavirus outbreak
It's ironic that I chose the word "connect" as my 2020 word, just to find myself practicing "social distancing" three months into the year. Suddenly, instead of looking forward to coffee shop meetups, long chummy walks, and dinners with friends, my calendar is wide...
15 awesome podcasts for kids that you’ll enjoy too, parents.
We've been busy rounding up everything from helpful homeschooling resources to online learning apps and websites for the quarantine, but we realize kids can't live on educational materials alone. So we asked our Out Tech Your Kids Facebook Group members for their...
A comparison of 5 of the best audiobook apps. Get more reading time in!
Anyone else the escape of audiobooks while we find moments to ourselves? These audiobook apps proved to be the perfect literary lifeline for me while I was stuck at home with my young children during the quarantine, and are keeping me going even now. Because no...
8 reality shows you can mindlessly binge-watch because your brain needs a little break
Oh hi there, fellow anxious, friends. How are you holding up? It's been quite a stressful week, and I don't see it letting up anytime soon, so I'm doing my best to give my brain a little break, and one way that I do that is binge-watching completely mindless (and yes,...
8 fantastic educational resources for online learning, just in case you need them, parents.
Last week, our school district cancelled school on Friday due to possible COVID-19 exposure. And this week on Tuesday, my youngest daughter had off school. Whether or not we will see more cancellations in the future is unknown at this time (sorry, no crystal ball,...