How to cut down on your own screen time | Out-Tech Your Kids Episode 24
Between the pandemic and the news cycle, we're finding ourselves on our phones way more than we'd like to be. Over the years, we've shared various ways to help curb your screen time, whether you want to completely shut things down or just need to get a couple of extra...
Readeo: The ebook app that makes us think Epic + Zoom had a baby
Nothing compares to having your kid sitting in your lap while you read a book to them, but there's definitely a place for great ebook libraries on my kids' devices too. So when I saw Readeo advertised on my Instagram feed recently, I paused scrolling to check it out....
Getting in shape in 2021? Our review of the Supernatural VR exercise app on Oculus
Several weeks ago, if you'd told me I'd be excitedly looking forward to my work out each day, I'd have thought you were insane. I have never craved a good cardio session and I haven't had a gym membership in years. That said, I've recently gotten absolutely hooked on...
3 apps that help you manage your subscriptions, even the ones you didn’t know you had
Like a lot of you, I'm looking to get a tighter rein on my budget in 2021. First up: subscriptions. If you're like me, you've got a lot of them, some of which I didn't even know I still had. Thankfully, there are apps that can help you manage your subscriptions. What...
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...
Our all-time favorite email organization trick | Out-Tech Your Kids Ep 23
Don't go into 2021 with 43,891 emails! (I'm not kidding. That's literally how many emails are in my inbox, currently). The simple trick we shared on our most recent Out-Tech Your Kids podcast episode has helped us start off every new year with inbox zero, and zero...
Why Todoist is the first to-do list app I have actually stuck with for an entire year
Every year I swear, this is the year I get organized! This is the year I find the best ever to-do list app and put everything on it and finally check things off my list instead of losing them forever and make more time for the things I love and life will be grand....
Inbox Zero trick: How to clean out your inbox on Gmail and start the year fresh. (Updated for 2021)
As someone with anywhere upwards of 10,000 emails in my inbox -- many of them unread, to the dismay of my OCD friends -- I am always looking for tips and tricks to help me manage my email. One of those is to start each new year with an absolutely clean inbox. Remember...
44 cool things you can do with the Amazon Echo: From productive time-savers to just plain fun.
I received an Amazon Echo for Christmas a few years ago, and I have to admit at first I was a little skeptical. What is all the buzz about anyway and what can I actually do with an Amazon Echo? I wasn't sure it could really do more for me than Siri or my phone, but...
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...
The top 10 most popular Cool Mom Tech posts of 2020
Every year, we share our top 10 most popular posts on Cool Mom Tech. From the best podcasts for kids to customizing your iPhone 14 home screen, here are the posts we wrote this year that resonated the most with our readers in 2020. Also check out: The top 10 Cool Mom...
3 cool apps and websites to track Santa Claus this Christmas | Out-Tech Your Kids Episode 21
We could all use a little extra magic this holiday season, which is why we decided it would be fun to share 3 cool apps and websites that can help you track Santa Claus this Christmas. They're totally free, and super easy to use. And we'll be honest: our kids have...
Tech Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way!) Easier
7 must-do tips for spring cleaning your email inbox
We talked last week about tips for spring-cleaning your phone, and this week I'm taking a stab at my email. I'd never let my actual snail mail pile up in a massive overflow of unanswered bills and letters, but for some reason I let my email inbox become an unruly...
9 smart tips for spring cleaning your phone, inside and out.
With spring nearly here, I'm getting antsy to clean up my yard and go through all my closets to get rid of all the junk we've accumulated over the winter. But I'm going to start small, literally, and follow these tips for spring cleaning my phone first. Because, let's...
What parents need to know about YouTube’s new parental controls for tweens and teens
Parents of tweens and teens, we've got good news! YouTube is launching new parental controls specifically for kids in this age group. What a relief to those of us who see the value in letting them watch some of the content on YouTube...but who are exhausted from...
7 of the best video games to play together as a family
Who else is looking for the best video games to play as a family this holiday? To me, these family-friendly games make the best gifts for the holidays, since they provide some safe indoor fun at a time we all really need it. Plus, they pack a lot more play longevity...
Is this the end of the movie theater? 6 gift ideas for families setting up a home movie theater this year.
Did you all see the huge announcement from Warner Bros. yesterday? For 2021, they'll be streaming all their new release movies directly to HBO Max the same day they hit theaters. That means Wonder Woman, Dune, The Matrix 4 and every other movie from the studio can be...
3 types of security devices to help you keep an eye on your holiday deliveries
The ladies who live on my quiet, suburban neighborhood street have gone full-on neighborhood watch this week, because we've had a rash of packages stolen off front porches. Our delivery services are at maxed-out capacity, and they're hurrying to get everything to us...
6 top tips to help you save money shopping online | Out-Tech Your Kids Episode 20
Who doesn't want to save money this holiday season? Well, with these tried and true tips, we can help you do just that while you're shopping online, whether it's for holiday gifts now, or other gifts (or necessities) all year long. We hope these shopping tips help you...
Holiday Tech Guide 2020: 10 cool tech gifts under $50
Just a few days ago, we shared our favorite tech gifts for everyone on your list, all under $25. Today, we're sharing cool tech gifts under $50. From cool docking stations to wireless earbuds, we've got something fun for everyone on your list. This post contains...
Holiday Tech Guide 2020: 10 cool tech gifts under $25
Shopping for lots of tech geeks in your life? Being extra mindful of your budget this holiday season? We've got you covered! We rounded up some of the coolest tech gifts for everyone on your list, all under $25, lots of which happen to support small businesses too....
8 of the best STEM and geeky subscription boxes for all your favorite people
I've got some good news and some bad news about subscription box gifts this holiday: The good news is that there are tons of subscription boxes out there that you can order in time to gift for Christmas for just about anyone left on your list. The bad news is that...
Download Apple’s free Make Your Holiday booklet and give your kids 20+ fun, creative projects to keep them busy all month.
I am not exaggerating when I say that I cried after watching a presentation about Apple's new, totally free, Make Your Holiday at-home family program. Our kids have been through so much, and whenever I think of all the companies that have stepped up to offer free...
Holiday Tech Guide 2020: 9 fantastic no-screen tech and STEM toys for kids of all ages
Tech gifts are at the top of every one of my kids' wish-lists this year, from my 6-year-old to my 15-year-old. But with so much time spent on their computers for remote schooling this year, I'm leaning toward some of these awesome no-screen tech and STEM toys for kids...
The best Black Friday tech deals of 2020, all in one place
Ready to shop, parents! We've got the Black Friday deals for you this year. From kitchen appliances to video games to home security, we've found some incredible savings for your holiday shopping. Don't worry, we haven't included any bland buy-one-get-10%-off deals...
Games to play with faraway friends and family over Zoom this holiday season | Out-Tech Your Kids Episode 19
With so many of us celebrating the holidays far away from our friends and family, we thought it would be helpful to put together some ideas on how to connect with them virtually this holiday season, which for us means: games! On this episode of Out-Tech Your Kids,...
All the HBO apps and services, explained. Because we’re confused too.
Anyone else confused about the HBO offerings? There's HBO Go, HBO Max, HBO Now, HBO Later (Okay, I just made that one up, but you get the idea). But the good news is that HBO has finally taken the hint from confused consumers and start consolidating into one service:...