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...
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...
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...
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...
Tech Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way) Easier
Screen time and social media with kids: We might be doing it wrong, parents
Since reading Anya Kamenetz's interview with Jordan Shapiro on NPR, I've made some heavy shifts in how I'm approaching screen time with my kids. For the years that they've been on video games, tablets and most recently, their own phones, I've been all about screening...
How to set up the Screen Time app to manage your child’s screen time
After finally updating my son's iPhone SE to iOS 12, I've been able to properly utilize the Screen Time app, which by the way, is where you'll find all the Restrictions you might be familiar with from previous iOS versions. If you've got kids with iPhones, I'd...
The most hilarious way to organize iPhone apps that we’ve ever seen
We've seen lots of different ways to organize your iPhone apps, and well, just when we thought we'd seen the best, we discovered this iPhone app organization method from Ian Stanczyk (above). It's not necessarily the best, but certainly the funniest. Related: This...
Even More Coolness. Enjoy!
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, 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 MacBook 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...
Here’s what you need to know about the Google Home Hub
If you were on Twitter yesterday, you couldn't miss the buzz about the new Google Home Hub, which is Google's new be-all gadget that everyone can't stop talking about. And for good reason. This new device could be a game changer, particularly for families. But, do we...
The Tile Bluetooth trackers just got a whole lot more awesome.
We've been longtime fans of the Tile Bluetooth trackers since we first discovered them years ago. They're pretty much a staple tech gadget in our home, allowing us to keep track of our keys, our phone, and pretty much every important thing we want to be able to find...
Our favorite electric toothbrush is now at Target. Be still our clean-teeth loving hearts.
I've been in love with my quip electric toothbrush ever since I tried it out a couple of years ago. Not only is it sleek and stylish, which okay, I get it, not the highest things on your list for a toothbrush, but it's got built-in timers, and they send you a new...
These glasses have us asking ourselves if this is real life or is this just fantasy?
Sorry for the earworm, but the second I saw these IRL Glasses on Kickstarter, I couldn't stop singing Bohemian Rhapsody, because they seem pulled right out of a sci-fi movie or Black Mirror. If you think I'm exaggerating, you need to see what they can do. These...
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...
Kill News Feed: In case you need a little break from your Facebook feed
If you're needing a little break from your Facebook feed, but still would like to be able to post, check your messages, and see your groups, then you should get Kill News Feed, a Chrome extension that will block out just your feed. Related: 8 ways to crush your...
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...