educational kids' toys Archives

Holiday Tech Guide 2020: 9 fantastic no-screen tech and STEM toys for kids of all ages

by Kate Etue | Holiday Tech Gifts, Tech Toys and Random Fun

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...

The Seriously STEM Award winners: 4 of the best educational STEM toys of the year

by Liz Gumbinner | Tech Toys and Random Fun

I was so honored to return as a judge for the second annual Seriously STEM awards, honoring the best educational STEM toys. In collaboration with STEM.org, and with judges including educators, journalists, science museum directors, and independent STEM toy experts...

LEGO’s new NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander building set is out of this world.

by Kate Etue | Tech Toys and Random Fun

This summer, July 20, 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Lunar Landing. Even though space travel has been a reality my kids’ entire lives — and mine, too — they’re still incredibly curious about the cosmos. And since they’re...

14 last-minute tech gifts that will still arrive before Christmas. Thanks, Amazon Prime!

by Caroline Siegrist | Holiday Tech Gifts

Even if you haven’t finished your holiday shopping yet, we’ve got you covered with these tech gifts you can still order on Amazon Prime and receive before Christmas. Brilliant, right? And, true to form, these last minute Amazon Prime tech gifts are all...

10 cool holiday tech toys for tweens and big kids | Tech Holiday Gift Guide 2018

by Cool Mom Staff | Holiday Picks, Holiday Tech Gifts, Tech Toys and Random Fun

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...

Detective Agency: The new Carmen Sandiego-style game from Osmo

by Kate Etue | Games + Gaming

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...

This new Harry Potter coding kit from Kano will turn every kid into a wizard

by Lexi Petronis | Tech Toys and Random Fun

What Potterhead among us hasn’t wanted to accio our own working wand and perform a little magic? Like, I don’t know…make some Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavor Beans get bigger, disappear a few Mandrakes, or summon some chocolate frogs? Well,...

2 awesome new Cubetto accessories we’re geeking out about.

by Kate Etue | Tech Toys and Random Fun

Of all the STEM coding toys that have come through our door, our favorite has been Cubetto. Maybe it’s the heirloom quality of the robot’s square wooden housing, with a personable little smile on the front. Or the fact that they don’t have to steal...

How kids can get artful with coding: The fun new sketch pack from Wonder Workshop.

by Liz Gumbinner | Tech Toys and Random Fun

I’m always happy when companies find a way to take their kids’ toys, games and activities and add components or extensions that keep them fresh for kids to play with. One of the best tech companies at this: Wonder Workshop, whose robots we’ve called...

Backyard Brains brings neuroscience to everyone with their cool STEM kits

by Kristen Chase | Tech Toys and Random Fun

We hear a lot about STEM concepts, but not so much about neuroscience, which is where Backyard Brains is hoping to fill a gap. Their super cool neuroscience experiment kits that give kids first hand experience on how the brain really works. What a fantastic New York...

NEW: The podcast that helps you be a savvier digital parent in under 15 minutes a week

Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz

Kristen Chase + Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks

We started Cool Mom Tech in 2010 to help make our increasingly digital lives easier, more organized, more meaningful, and more fun, however old your kids may be.

We love that it's grown to become the go-to source for millions of parents who want commonsense info about tech delivered with a smile.

We even have the privilege of sharing our tips + tricks with The TODAY Show, CNN, HLN, GMA, Nightline, newspapers and magazines around the country, and our favorite -- regular parents who stop us at PTA meetings and ask us how old kids need to be to get a smartphone, and whether they really need to panic about Snapchat.

(Answer: It's complicated.)

We're so glad you're here! And we hope we can help you too.