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...
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...
Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way!) Easier
Our Alexa organization series: The best Alexa finance skills
Next up in our Alexa Organization Series, we're sharing some of our favorite Alexa finance skills to help you keep your family budget it check. Whether you want to track your investments or keep up with your spending, even pay you bills, here are 4 finance skills for...
Curb Your Screen Addiction series: Narrating your phone use aloud
Next up in our Curb Your Screen Addiction series, we're featuring our easiest tip yet. This one comes from Kristen and Liz's interview with The Art of Screen Time author and NPR commentator Anya Kamenetz, who offers some excellent, non-alarmist advice on how to handle...
Curb Your Screen Addiction series: Turning off your notifications
Next up in our series on how to curb your screen addiction, we're tackling the issue of notifications. Back when I first got a smartphone, those little red numbers next to my apps filled me with excitement. Someone had messaged me! Or liked my photo! Today, I feel...
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...
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...
Find your own town on this amazing, interactive Native Land map
I just stumbled on this incredible Native Land Map shared in honor of Indigenous People's Day and -- wow. What a worthwhile educational site to explore today, especially if you sit down and do it with your kids. The map covers North America, as well as Central...
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...
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...