parenting Archives | Cool Mom Tech

13 creative ways for teens to connect with friends virtually right now

Let’s take a minute to applaud our teens who’ve been willing to quarantine this year. It’s been brutal to lose so many activities they love, and they’ve handled it with flexibility and (mostly) good attitudes! While we’d hoped we’d...

How to stop fighting with the kids about screen time: Tips that work | Out-Tech Your Kids Ep 6

by Cool Mom Staff | Out-Tech Your Kids podcast, Tips and Tricks

Okay, so plenty of us gave up on the same screen time limits we had pre-Covid. But that’s not to say we don’t still have screen time fights with the kids. Or uh…arguments? Debates? Gentle disagreements? If you’re looking to cut back on the...

5 ways smart kids circumvent parental controls | Out-Tech Your Kids Ep 5

by Cool Mom Staff | Out-Tech Your Kids podcast, Tips and Tricks

Kids are pretty darn smart, but we can be smarter, parents! On this week’s Out-Tech Your Kids podcast, we’re talking about the ways kids can circumvent parental controls so you can be prepared, thanks to the members of our Out-Tech Your Kids Facebook group...

5 benefits of kids and social media. Yes, benefits! | Out-Tech Your Kids Ep 4

by Liz Gumbinner | Out-Tech Your Kids podcast, Social Media, Tips and Tricks

We’ve always said that all screen time is not created equal! And on this week’s Out-Tech Your Kids podcast, we’re talking about the benefits of social media for kids. Social media tends to get a bad rap — let alone specific channels like TikTok...

How do we teach our kids to make good commenting choices? | Episode 2 Out-Tech Your Kids

by Liz Gumbinner | Out-Tech Your Kids podcast, Social Media, Tips and Tricks

“Don’t read the comments” isn’t going to fly when your kids are old enough to watch YouTube videos without you around, let alone managing their own TikTok accounts. But learning how to be a responsible commenter is a skill that comes in handy...

Easy tip for more mindful screen time: Download these lock screen wallpapers for your phone

by Liz Gumbinner | Cell Phones, Social Media

This weekend, inspired by the Cool Mom Picks book club video chat about How to Break Up with Your Phone, I decided to try one of author Catherine Price’s tips to help me be more mindful about my screen time, and more aware of how much I pick up my phone. She...

In defense of teens with headphones

by Kristen Chase | Audio

This morning my teen daughter lost her earbuds. “Did you shove them in your front backpack pocket?” I asked her. “No!” she snapped, then barked “Just pick me up before study hall!” as she stormed off into the open doors of the bus....

How do I keep kids safe on social media? | Guide to Digital Parenting

by Cool Mom Staff | Guide to Digital Parenting, Internet Safety, Social Media, Tips and Tricks

We couldn’t create an Ultimate Guide to Digital Parenting without including tips about how to keep your kids safe on social media. After all, for our tweens and teens, the Internet is social media, and they could sooner give up the games, the videos, and even...

How do I know when my child is ready for a smartphone: 7 essential questions to ask | Guide to Digital Parenting

by Cool Mom Staff | Cell Phones, Guide to Digital Parenting, Internet Safety, Tips and Tricks

We can’t tell you how much debate we’ve seen over the simple question, “when is my kid ready for a smartphone?” It brings out nearly as much stress, passion and well, sanctimony, as questions about breastfeeding or sleep training. Well, after...

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.