The new parental controls and screen time management tools coming to iOS 12. THANK YOU, APPLE.

by Liz Gumbinner | Best Apps

No judgments, parents — we too have admitted (often) that it can be hard to manage kids’ screen time, especially when our kids get older and we’re not attached at the hip. Well Apple gets it too, and in today’s big iOS 12 announcement,...

Beyond Snapchat: 12 risky apps parents should watch out for.

by Cool Mom Team | Internet Safety, Tips and Tricks

By now, everyone knows about Snapchat and kids right? It’s like Snapchat has come to epitomize the “watch out for kids and their apps.” But the truth is, there are so so many apps that can get kids into trouble, and it’s hard to keep up with...

Ask to Buy: Is this parent-control feature that manages kids app downloads actually helpful?

by Kate Etue | Internet Safety

When we were Apple newbies, my kids racked up quite a collection of paid apps before I realized what was happening. And I wasn’t the only one. Apple ended up refunding lots of parents money for apps their kids bought. Then they set up the Ask to Buy feature in...

A new WiFi booster that does way more than boost your WiFi. Take note, parents!

by Kate Etue | Internet Safety

My internet at home has been so slow lately, so I recently upgraded to the top-of-the-line WiFi option our cable company offers. Even still, our service can get spotty when 6 people all arrive home, and want to get online at the same time. So I was excited for the...

This app freezes kids’ phones until they answer your texts. Awesome or intrusive?

by Lexi Petronis | Best Apps

Does this situation sound familiar, parents? You’re trying to get in touch with your tween or teen, but they’re ignoring your texts because they’re busy playing games on their phone, which also happens to be set on silent. Well, that’s what was...

Bark makes monitoring your kid’s digital usage (and keeping them safe) so much easier

by Jeana | Best Apps

Now that my son has a phone, as do all his friends, it’s a whole new world of parenting. For now, he is content texting his friends yo, bruh, what’s up and watching sports clips, but there will soon be a time when social networks come more predominantly...

8 shocking statistics about kids and online behavior that will make you want to have another tech talk, now.

by Meredith Gordon | Tips and Tricks

I hate to admit it, but I used to be that parent. You know the one who proclaimed her kids would never watch TV or play on a computer, and instead spend endless hours playing outside in any weather. (Torrential rainstorm? Builds character!) Well as you can imagine,...

Best kids’ tablet in terms of security, function, parental controls, and value| Reader Q+A

by Jeana | Uncategorized

Hi Cool Mom Picks, I’m looking to purchase the best kids’ tablet for a 3-year-old, and maybe one for an 8-year-old. What do you suggest? – Reader, via Facebook.   Oh, to be a kid on Christmas morning opening up a brand new tablet to play with!...

Circle with Disney screen time management system: Is it worth it for parents?

by Jeana | Internet Safety

A lot of our readers have been asking us about Circle with Disney, a new device on that market designed to connect to your WiFi specifically to help parents monitor their kids’ internet usage and manage screen time. We were really curious about how it works and...

First cell phones for kids: 12 features and considerations to help you find the perfect one.

by Liz Gumbinner | Internet Safety, Tips and Tricks

We’re continuing our series about kids and cell phones on behalf of our sponsor, the premium authorized Verizon retailer, Cellular Sales, because wow, do parents need help with this! And by parents, we mean, ourselves too! Because we know first-hand that once...