educational websites Archives

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...

Zoom alternatives for schools: 7 video conferencing options until Zoom fixes…some stuff

by Liz Gumbinner | Best Apps, Internet Safety, Kids

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...

8 fantastic educational resources for online learning, just in case you need them, parents.

by Kristen Chase | Video

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,...

Outschool: Real-time, teacher-led courses for kids…from home.

by Kate Etue | Educational Apps For Kids, Websites Worth a Bookmark

As a homeschool mom, there’s something I’ve realized about myself over the past couple years: I’m not great at everything. There are some subjects I definitely teach better than others (hello, writing!), and some that I have no business attempting to...

The new Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood website is magic for kids and adults alike

by Kate Etue | Websites Worth a Bookmark

One of my very favorite movies this year was the Fred Rogers documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, which simultaneously shed new light on the TV personality I loved as a child and sparked a passion for me to show my kids every favorite Mister Rogers’ ...

Find your own town on this amazing, interactive Native Land map

by Liz Gumbinner | Educational Apps For Kids, Websites Worth a Bookmark

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...

Science Activities for Grade Schoolers (Part 2): The Cool Mom Tech Science Guide for Kids

by Cool Mom Staff | Science Guide for Kids

While kids are born to love science, every kid at every age has different abilities, inclinations, passions and skills. We started Cool Mom Tech in part to help parents foster that love of STEM in their kids, which is why we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring...

Here’s a video and lesson for every single element of the periodic table. And it’s free!

by Kristen Chase | Websites Worth a Bookmark

Calling all homeschoolers, chemistry geeks, and STEM lovers! You need to see this incredible free resource from TED-Ed. They’ve launched an interactive periodic table with a video and lesson for every single element. Whoa. Related: Constantly Curious is the...

Constantly Curious is the perfect diversion for curious kids and their parents

by Kristen Chase | Kids Music, Video

I recently stumbled upon Constantly Curious thanks to a friend who shared it in their feed and I haven’t been able to tear myself away. Thankfully, these entertaining episodes are only a few minutes long, but wow, they’re awesome. And even better,...

Could Han Solo really survive in carbonite? The new series Science and Star Wars has the answers.

by Kate Etue | Websites Worth a Bookmark

My son is the type of kid who can’t just watch Star Wars and enjoy it as a fun fantasy world. Instead, it gets his mind spinning: How do the AT-ATs really walk? Could Han really have survived being frozen in carbonite? How do the Bacta tanks work? Well, now we...

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.