fun apps Archives | Page 3 of 31

Postagram makes sending camp letters a snap. Or, a click.

If you’ve got kids in summer camp, you may know that each day they don’t get a letter from home is another reason they grow up to resent you. Kidding. But they do like to get lots of letters — and I admit, I am not the best daily letter writer. At...

What you need to know about Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

by Kristen Chase | Best Apps

If you’ve got a Harry Potter fan in your house, or you are one yourself, then you’ve probably already downloaded the new Harry Potter: Wizards Unite app on your phone and are ready to play. The game, which was announced back in 2017, is rolling out today,...

We found an animated storybook app that’s a great YouTube alternative

by Caroline Siegrist | Best Apps, Educational Apps

I’m always on the hunt for YouTube alternatives for my son, and I’ve just discovered a good one in Vooks, the app that streams animated children’s books. If you’re wanting your kids to be entertained by something other than toy cars being...

The outrageous, high-tech marriage proposal that required Google Earth, GPS, and 4500 miles of travel over 6 months

by Liz Gumbinner | Best Apps, Entertainment

We have shared a ton of clever pregnancy announcement ideas and sex reveal (FKA gender reveal, inaccurately) ideas over the years, and surely you’ve seen Pinterest boards packed full of creative marriage proposal ideas. But having just watched this video about...

4 awesome YouTube alternatives for kids of all ages

by Kate Etue | Best Apps

With all the not-so-great news coming out around YouTube recently — from their pedophilia problem to the horrific content spliced into kids’ videos to the infamous Momo challenge — I’ve been looking for some YouTube alternatives. From now on,...

Here’s what I learned after letting my tween daughter use TikTok (formerly Musical.ly)

by Kristen Chase | Best Apps

Feeling inspired by Jordan Shapiro’s interview on NPR with our former Spawned guest Anya Kamanetz, and reading his book for our upcoming interview with him on Spawned, I decided to let my tween daughter give TikTok (formerly Musical.ly) a try. I’ve decided...

25 cool last-minute digital subscription gifts for everyone on your list

by Kate Etue | Best Apps, Holiday Tech Gifts

If you’re looking for an amazing last-minute holiday gift that the people on your list will love, consider a digital subscription gift. It’s one gift takes up no space in their home, yet provides hours of entertainment, learning, or fun. Maybe all three,....

7 fantastic iPad apps for 6 year olds that our readers swear by

by Caroline Siegrist | Best Apps

Anyone on the hunt for fantastic iPad apps for 6 year olds? This topic came up recently in our Out Tech Your Kids Facebook Group, and yay, our members shared their tried and true favorites, both educational and just for fun. So whether you’re just looking to...

The new Secret Code book and app teach girls to solve problems with coding

by Caroline Siegrist | Best Apps

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...

5 things I learned about Musical.ly now TikTok, from parents who’ve been there (and said no to that)

by Kristen Chase | Best Apps

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...

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.