smartphones Archives | Cool Mom Tech

25 things kids should know before they get a smartphone

Whether your kids have had a smartphone for awhile now, or you’re considering getting them started with one, it’s important that they understand how to use it. And as we all know, when it comes to a smartphone, it’s not as simple as dialing a number...

Amazon Prime Day tech deals you won’t want to miss!

by Kristen Chase | Sales, Whoo!

These days, July 15 and 16 means Amazon Prime Day. (Yes, it’s two days this year.) We’ve been keeping an eye on the tech deals to see if they’re worth the hype, and well, depending on what kind of gadget you’re in the market for, they just...

Why this screen-free smartphone alternative for kids is perfect for summer | Sponsored Message

by Cool Mom Staff | Cell Phones, Internet Safety, Travel Essentials

This is a sponsored message from Relay So many parents want their kids to have the safety and security of a phone, especially over the summer when kids have a little more freedom, and a little more run-around-outside time. And yet, those kids aren’t necessarily...

What is 5G? 5 ways this new wireless technology will make life easier for kids and families

by Cool Mom Staff | Tips and Tricks

Thank you to Verizon Wireless for sponsoring this post. If there’s anything all parents can agree on, it’s that we could use a few more minutes (or hours!) in the day, and we do our best to try to find that extra time where we can. It’s something...

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...

Curb Your Screen Addiction series: Turning off your notifications

by Caroline Siegrist | Tips and Tricks

Next up in our series on how to curb your screen addiction, we’re tackling the issue of notifications. Back when I first got a smartphone, those little red numbers next to my apps filled me with excitement. Someone had messaged me! Or liked my photo! Today, I...

10 reasons why this smartphone alternative makes a brilliant holiday gift

by Cool Mom Staff | Holiday Tech Gifts, Kids

If your kids are anything like ours, they’ve got a phone up high on their holiday wish list. And as much as you want Santa to make them squeal, you also know that a smartphone is a huge responsibility that they might not be ready for just yet. That’s why...

Hey kids, you want a mobile phone? Make it yourself with MAKERphone.

by Kristen Chase | Tech Toys and Random Fun

The MAKERphone is about to give an answer to that nagging question parents frequently get, because now when kids ask for a mobile phone, parents can just say: Go make it yourself. Related: A DIY Bluetooth speaker kit for kids that totally rocks This educational DIY...

Relay: The screen-free smartphone alternative for kids who aren’t ready for the real thing | Sponsored Message

by Cool Mom Staff | Cell Phones

This is a sponsored message from Relay So many parents want their kids to have the safety and security of a phone, and yet those kids aren’t necessarily ready for all the responsibility and liability that comes with owning one. It’s a major issue among...

Web coolness: Geeky Mother’s Day cards, LEGO Solo, and is Facebook going subscription based?

by Cool Mom Staff | Link Roundups

Happy Mother’s Day weekend, cool techie moms! Check out our funny Mother’s Day card round-up, including this one from Row House 14, above. A video not to miss: 3 simple ways to simplify your tech life. Be sure to cast your vote for these children’s...

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.