Can you teach coding to preschoolers? Here are three toys that will try

by Christina Refford | Tech Toys

Coding is certainly one of the new buzzwords in education, along with STEM, STEAM, and now, believe it or not, STREAM. And while a lot of learn-to-code apps toys, and games, like Robot School, Dash Robot, and Code Master, are targeted primarily to grade-school kids,...

Just look what kids can make with the 3Doodler Start

by Christina Refford | Tech Toys

We went crazy for the incredibly cool 3Doodler 3D-printing pen when we first saw it back in 2013, but it wasn’t really a toy that our younger kids could safely use on their own. Until now. With the upcoming launch of 3Doodler Start, our kids can now get in on...

How to get started on Minecraft PE: One newbie parent’s intro into the square world

by Nicole Blades | Games + Gaming

Of course I’ve heard about Minecraft. How could I not? The crazy best-selling, square-loving video game is practically everywhere and has been for years now. I also knew the super skinny basics on Minecraft: It’s all about virtual, 3-D worlds engineered by...

Two fun, creative, and (mostly) free apps for kids to keep them engaged when they’re stuck indoors.

by Christina Refford | Best Apps

If you’re tearing through the list of snow day activities to keep the kids occupied when you’re stuck indoors, allow us help you with two beautifully designed, really fun new apps we’ve discovered from Seedling. As in, the same company whose...

Make your own Star Wars BB-8 and more, with free tutorials from littleBits

by Kate Etue | DIY

To celebrate the release of The Force Awakens — you have heard of it, right? — the team behind one of our favorite tech toys, littleBits, has put together a very cool user-generated #BITSWARS campaign, generating nearly 100 (so far)  DIY project ideas...

Sponsored Message: Dot and Dash robots from Wonder Workshop just got a whole lot cooler

by Cool Mom Team | Tech Toys

This is a sponsored message from Wonder Workshop With so many parents looking for STEM toys for their kids this holiday, it’s worth checking out Wonder Workshop, makers of the awesome Dot and Dash robots that teach kids some fantastic skills and let them get...

The Kid Should See This: A smartly curated collection of cool videos for kids (and their parents, too)

by Nicole Blades | Entertainment

We’re always looking for cool educational videos for kids, whether they’re the funniest videos on YouTube, or educational videos and YouTube channels that our own kids love. In fact, we’ve joked that we could just do that, full time, every day. But...

Osmo Numbers app: Man, where was this when we were learning basic math skills?

by Kate Etue | Best Apps, Educational Apps

Here I was, thinking I was so excited to have my kids back in school, but I totally forgot one thing: homework. Drilling your kids on their math facts is the most fun ever, right? Ugh. Well, if you have the amazingly inventive Osmo for iPad, your kids will be able to...

Animal Jam Play Wild app: A safe, fun, educational way to let your kids act like total animals

by Nicole Blades | Best Apps, Educational Apps

Warning: It’s a jungle out there. No, really. There’s a crazy, colorful jungle filled with wild animals and plants for kids to explore, and it’s right there on your smart device. Since we always love the kinds of educational apps that kids...

The Metropolitan Museum of Art introduces #MetKids: A fun site made for kids, by kids (and cool enough for parents, too).

by Nicole Blades | Kids

Often, when I see something that claims to be made “for kids, by kids,” my suspicious brow goes up and I prepare myself to be underwhelmed. Not the case with #MetsKids, a new website that is — ahem — made for, with, and by real life kids from...