tech for kids

I know firsthand how hard it is to decide when is the best age for kids to have their own cell phone . On one hand, we want them to be able to reach us if soccer practice gets out early or they want to leave a sleepover at 1am, but expos…

If you need help for kids with anxiety, I am so grateful for these terrific mindfulness podcasts for kids. We all know that unfortunately, anxiety is on the rise for lots of children, including my own . Maybe you're trying to help a chil…

I'm absolutely fascinated by the way my own kids and step kids use tech to make ongoing gift wish lists -- the iOS Notes app has become the method of choice for them and so far, that's working pretty well for us. Then I saw Jessica Bradl…

We recently had a mom reach out on our Out Tech Your Kids group on Facebook, asking for the best tech to help turn handwriting into text. Like so many kids today, her daughter is using her finger to write on a school issued iPad, and the…

Gearing up for Halloween is looking a little different this year, but at my house we've been getting into the spooky spirit with these awesome scary podcasts for kids. They come at every level of fright, from pumpkin-caper to prepare-to-…

We've been busy rounding up everything from helpful homeschooling resources to online learning apps and websites for the quarantine, but we realize kids can't live on educational materials alone. So we asked our Out Tech Your Kids Facebo…

I was so honored to return as a judge for the second annual Seriously STEM awards, honoring the best educational STEM toys. In collaboration with STEM.org, and with judges including educators, journalists, science museum directors, and i…

My sixth-grader has been asking me to splurge on an Apple Watch for her lately, but I don't see that in her future at the moment. The thing is: she doesn't have a phone yet. So I see little value in spending that kind of money on a watch…

For lots of middle school kids, back to school means back to tech. Specifically: school-issued laptops. Of course, when we're thinking about our kids and tech that they don't own themselves, but they're responsible for day-in and day-out…

I have been a hard core fan of the quip electric toothbrush , long before you probably heard their ads on podcasts (though not on Spawned just yet!) or could find them at your local Target . I have even bought them for my kids, though th…

Podcasts can promote your child's creativity and imagination without spending more time in front of a screen.

The launch of Fitbit's new Ace , an activity tracker for kids, is probably a surprise to no one. With the popularity of fitness trackers with adults, there are plenty of kids, including my own, who want their own. And, in most cases, kid…

Our Cool Mom Picks' editor, Liz, had the awesome opportunity to check out the latest Crayola creations at the 2018 Toy Fair, and we are pleased as tropical punch (aka magenta) to sneak peek their brand new and upcoming releases with you!

Wow was I excited to discover Jooki at CES 2018. I mean, I saw a whole lot of new tech for kids, but not a whole lot beyond STEM and coding toys that really made me go wow. So I'll be sharing a few top favorites for kids over the coming …

My tweens know that I have a pretty strict policy about social media in our house. We won't even have the conversation about setting up accounts for them on Facebook or Instagram until they're the minimum age required by the app. And eve…

Maybe you’re still using a sweet and simple night light that, well… lights up. Let me tell you: you’re missing out.

With STEM (and STEAM, because yay art!) a major focus in education these days, you'll find toys, books, and apps for kids of all ages that highlight science, technology, engineering, and math. Being big fans of STEM at Cool Mom Tech , we…

As parents, we want to do the best for our kids, but screen time is always a thorn in our sides, especially when the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has always said "no screens under 2." Well, that's not the case anymore, as the AAP…

With three kids ranging from preschooler to tween, time management is always an issue for us. Especially when it comes to trying to cajole my youngest to adhere to the demands of the older siblings' hectic schedules. (Sadly, trying to te…

I'm convinced the reason my kids keep going back to play Osmo , one of our favorite educational tools for kids, is its brilliant mashup of digital elements and tangible controls they can actually touch and move around on the table. If yo…

Over the past couple years, it has been incredible to witness all the awesome new ways we have to introduce our kids to STEM. And now we've come across another really cool product called Mover Kit , the first wearable for kids that they …

If your kids have a need for speed, and you have a need for keeping them safe, you have check out Actev Motors' new Arrow Smart-Kart , one of the coolest ride-on toys I had the joy of seeing at NYC's Toy Fair earlier this year. This high…

Even though my kids don't have cell phones yet, they love texting their grandparents and especially love sending them audio messages (which iOS 8 made very easy to do). Sure, grabbing my phone and sending a sweet I scored a goal at my so…

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…

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 sk…

If there's one thing that's in my never enough category, it's sleep (okay, and Bradley Cooper), and I'm guessing that's the case for most parents. Well, the sleep part; not the Bradley part. But a new device on Indiegogo called REMI may …

With four kids in the house ranging in age from five up to 11, it's no small feat to find a tech toy that they can all play with, especially when it's something educational. Darn those age limits. But as I recently learned, that's not th…

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 i…

My daughter is turning 6 and I'd like to get her a camera. We gave her an old Canon point-and-shoot for Christmas and she is so responsible with it - she's ready for a new one of her own. I love the Fujifilm Instax Mini (especially Hello…

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 k…

Unless you are a parent who just doesn't use a cell phone yourself -- which, huh? -- we guarantee your kids will be begging pretty much by the time they get to kindergarten, and see one classmate who already has one. We don't entirely th…

We're big fans of dedicated kids' tablets around here. We even have a list of our favorite tablets for kids , for those parents who aren't quite ready to hand over a $500 iPad to a preschooler. Even if it is a hand-me-down. And this is w…

Recently, I wrote about how totally in love I am with the Dot and Dash Robots from Wonder Workshop . So it makes me extra happy that they have joined us as as our newest Cool Mom Tech sponsor because, well, we all adore them! (Also, so d…

For years, my kids have collected LEGO Minifigures which they love to play with while building with their LEGO bricks. So, it was with great excitement when they learned that LEGO has come out with a brand new game that puts their belove…

Since my kids have been out of school for over a month, I'm on the lookout for ways to keep their minds engaged. My latest find is the Motion Math: Cupcake! app , and it's been a huge hit around here. We've lauded Motion Math apps before…

Trying to manage my three kids' time spent and content viewed on all of the various devices we have in this house is one of the most thankless, naggy job out there. They don't fully understand why I say "no" to the newest app, or why You…

Getting our kids on board with STEM early in the game seems like a great way to go. And just because it's summer doesn't mean that gentle parent-ly nudge in the right direction has to take a break. An easy way to get kids hyped about thi…

One of our top family tech picks from CES this year was Triby , the wireless hands-free speaker phone that helps keep the whole family in touch, even without a landline. The preview got us giddy for the technology to come for those of us…

School's out (finally). Time to really sink into summer's sun and fun. But for many parents, summer also means tackling this gnawing question, how are we going to keep these children entertained? Well, for your tech-head kid, we're happy…

My kids got a huge kick out the original Makey Makey invention kit that we featured here on Cool Mom Tech a couple of years ago. And now they've launched a Kickstarter campaign for their new Makey Makey GO , which has killed its goal in …

So rad. Honestly, those were the first words that popped out of my mouth when I saw this crazy-cool new drawing experience called Masterpiece . It is the latest offering from Osmo , the groundbreaking, iPad-powered gaming device built by…

This week at the International CES, I was honored to sit down with Andrea Smith of MommyTech TV (link coming soon!) and share some of my favorite products for families that I had seen at the show early on. I knew exactly what I wanted my…

I am looking for a compact Bluetooth speaker for my daughter for the holidays. I don't want to spend a fortune, but I do want good quality. And she's 6, so I'd like it to be something she can grow with. - Jennifer It's a definite cool mo…

Looking into headphones for kids can be intimidating at first. I mean I know how crappy so many sets made for adults are, so I am always skeptical of dedicated kids' headphones that I can confidently give my daughter for solo listening. …

As my kids get older, we are just aging out of the night light market. But sometimes in a new place, like a hotel room or a cousin's guest room this holiday, it can help. So I started poking around and came across this awesome night ligh…

Not even the biggest die-hard Minecraft fans can live on screen time alone, so when it's time for them to step away from their favorite game, you could try some of our screen-free Minecraft games , or offer up one of the cool little Mine…

Bullying is an issue that's getting so much attention these days--and yet, it's still a big problem. While we're glad to see schools, parents, and kids tackling bullying head on, it can still be pretty scary for kids to report incidents,…

These days, there's no shortage of cool tech that families can wear around their wrists , but it's about to get more useful and sophisticated with the development of the Sync Smartband . Made in sizes for kids and their grown ups, this l…

Much to my children's delight, my new Macbook meant transferring ownership of the old one. As in the embarrassing old Macbook I've shared here before, the one with missing letters galore. Seeing as how they have yet to master the art of …

Editor's Note (April 2015): Due to numerous issues with order fulfillment and reports about non-response from this company, we are compelled to rescind our recommendation of this company. We're deeply disappointed by this because we valu…

I really appreciate the initiatives in recent years to get young kids involved in STEM and tech-centric activities like coding at younger ages. We've covered awesome resources like Tynker and Hello Ruby and now I've come across another c…

Sadly, my kids' interest in most drawing apps are growing more and more short-lived. The basic digital coloring pages just don't hold the interest of a seven and nine-year-old they way they once did. And then we found the My Virtual Fash…

We're always drawn to interesting tech toys here, and right now we're a bit fascinated by the new Moff band . Designed by a Japanese firm (thus, the various spellings of guitar ), the band promises to turn any object, real or imaginary, …

As a parent, one of my favorite discoveries at International CES this year was the sense of volume limiting headphones for kids that seem to be creeping into the market. It's been slow going--we discovered the Aerial 7 headphones close t…

As much as we joke about permanent Lego block indents in the soles our feet, we're all big Lego fans around here. And with the success of The Lego Movie , here comes the merchandising! Not that I'm complaining. I would totally love a Wyl…

We've been fans of littleBits , the creative, magnetic, electronic maker toy, for quite a while. Though now that it's turning our kids into rock stars with their littleBits Synth Kit , we're total groupies. This is one very satisfying to…

Way back when, we discovered the VIOlife toothbrush sanitizers , which are the cutest tool for killing toothbrush germs ever. While there are some designs suitable for adults, we kind of like the fun ones made for kids--or adults who act…

W hen my 11-year old son got stranded in the terrible snowstorm we had here in Atlanta a few weeks ago, I decided that he might need an emergency cell phone for kids. While he does have an iPod Touch, I think he needs something else. Any…

Mamas of my generation will immediately recognize the phrase: Mom always said, don't play ball in the house. Funny how decades after those Brady Bunch days, I am still reminded of that phrase every time I see my kids--yeah. Playing ball …

Can you teach kids about the foundations of programming through a storybook about one little girl, a friendly Snow Leopard, a wise penguin, and a green robot? After learning about Linda Liukas' Kickstarter campaign to bring her entertain…

We finally decided to give our sixth grader a smart phone. And while I think the good has outweighed the bad so far, I really wasn't prepared for how complicated things would get -- and how quickly it would happen. So I can see why imple…

Cate & Levi are the artists behind those gorgeous upcycled hand puppets we've seen at craft shows, and higher-end stores like West Elm and Red Envelope. The puppets are locally sourced, upcycled works of art, so how wonderful that they'r…

We were excited to have a chance to put together a MiiPC review, considering there's pretty much nothing that causes a modern parent more angst than monitoring your kids' online life. Keeping them safe, limiting their screen time, making…

We see a lot of apps for kids here at Cool Mom Tech. A lot. Which means when we feature an app on our site, we really love it. Great for you, but tough when we're trying to narrow down our favorite kids' apps for 2013. Here, the cream of…

Tracking down the coolest new gadgets for kids is one of our great joys as both parents and picky consumers. Each year sees a ton of launches, but not all of them make it to the next. Here, our very favorite launches of 2013 which both k…

Over the course of the year, we've put together so many helpful tech tips for our readers, plenty from your own questions to us. (We love answering reader questions!) Here, some of our favorite tips of the year, including lots just for p…

In our E ditors' Tech Picks of 2013 series, are so excited to present our picks for the coolest new gadgets of 2013. These are the 11 that best captured our imaginations this year, with a combination of smart design, functionality, innov…

Kids already bubbling over with excitement that Santa will be on his way in just a few more days? Santa apps for kids can be a really magical way to bring the story to life, only we've tried out plenty and sheesh, some of them belong on …

We haven't been shy about professing our love for nabi products, especially the nabi 2 and nabi Jr. kids' tablets. So naturally, when we heard about the nabi Square HD camera , a new waterproof, rugged, digital HD camera and video record…

The coolest new digital camera for the holidays may be one that doesn't even work. Well, not until you put it together and learn a whole bunch about the technology behind a point-and-shoot. And I know more than a couple of kids who would…

If you've been eyeing a tablet as a gift for a very special someone, especially someone who has kids, new changes to Kindle FreeTime may just seal the deal for making that Kindle Fire purchase. When the service first launched, we thought…

Tablets are at the top of so many kids' wish lists this Christmas, even for the littlest ones in our homes. For the preschool set who is just starting to learn about technology, the intuitive design of touch-directed devices are amazing.…

We're so excited to launch our 2013 Holiday Tech Gift Guide with the very coolest tech gifts for kids. Boy, this was a tough year to pare down our very favorites, but pare down we did, leaving you with 16 tech gifts for kids of all ages …

I'm amazed every day at how many tech innovations in baby gear there have been since I had my first daughter nine years ago, many of which we've featured here on Cool Mom Tech. By far, one of the most popular strollers we've shared with …

We all know STEM is a big deal in schools these days. The combination of science, technology, engineering and math is what kids are living on a daily basis, so a 10-year-old entrepreneur named Ethan Saadia wants to encourage even more ki…

While science may conjure up memories of chem labs and memorizing Newton's Laws, we think kids are ready to explore science as soon as they start asking why the sky is blue. Science has the answer to that perennial kid question, and many…

We're pretty diligent around here about making sure our kids understand math concepts, and math apps can be a helpful and even fun way to get them excited about it. Year after year, math just keeps building on itself, so it's super impor…

Our regular readers may notice that we don't tend to feature apps for babies and toddlers on Cool Mom Tech. Last night, our editor-in-chief Liz Gumbinner explained why, as she joined a smart panel on HuffPost Live to talk about apps for …

Ah, homework. The bane of many parents' back-to-school existence. With more serious homework comes the requisite serious computer these days, so here are our picks for the best laptops for kids to consider for your student. -Jeana Recent…

Just about every day, I have a moment where I'm grateful social media wasn't around when I was a teen or pre-teen. Don't get me wrong; technology is a major positive in my life and in my kids' lives. But it's also kind of scary to think …

I still remember spending hours on end playing Simon, that awesomely fun hand-held eletronic game which had you imitating the light patterns as they got increasingly hard. Get it: Simon Says? I cannot even believe it's back. I still cred…

Obsessed with Pinterest as we are? Follow us ! Then check out our five most popular pins from this week. 1. Keep these awesome educational channels for kids on YouTube bookmarked to help your kids get ready for back to school. 2. Here's …

My 10-year old son is definitely ready for his own laptop, but I have no idea what to get him! Can you help with a child-friendly option? -Amy Funny you should ask, Amy. I just decided to get a laptop for my 9-year old, which was a lot e…

If you have recently upgraded to a new tablet and want to hand off the older model to your lucky kids, there are a couple safety measures we recommend you put into place to make your tablets safe for kids. Even the older models are still…

While we're not big on recommending that you should run out and get a shiny new iPad for your toddler, there are plenty of kids' tablets that make sense and even opportunities to pass on hand-me-down tablets when you upgrade your own. In…

Last year, we raved about the quality and design of the nabi 2 Tablet , one that we dubbed as one of the very best for offering high-quality design and content in one. We still stand by this recommendation for a full-fledged kid-to-tween…

What's the best search engine for kids, in your experience? -via Twitter Keeping kids safe online should be a huge priority for parents. When it comes to kid-safe search, there are actually a lot of good options out there. Since you didn…

The minute the temperature rises above 70 degrees, my kids are in the pool. Now they're proficient swimmers, but I spent the earlier years of their lives hovering over them like hawks, concerned about pool safety. I still am always on al…

Even since I was a kid, gifts with batteries were somehow considered higher on the Awesome Gift Continuum™ but still, I get that not every parent wants a child's head buried in a screen. So this is one gift that fulfills all the techy fu…

With a second grader in the house who is increasingly reliant on the computer for homework and projects, I'm finding myself becoming much more vigilant about what he's doing when online, and researching ways to be better about monitoring…

When my son was younger, one of our favorite activities together was his Snap Circuits set. It gave him an opportunity to explore his creative side and gave me a chance to think that I was a whiz at electricity and physics. It's these ty…

I have 12-year-old and 3-year-old daughters who I'd like to find some good educational websites for. Any suggestions? - Michelle Thanks for your question, Michelle! There are a huge number of educational websites out there geared towards…

With more kids than ever carrying iPods and cell phones ( when they're ready , of course) more kids than ever are going to find themselves stuck without power just when you're trying to reach them. Or...using that as a convenient excuse?…

Obsessed with Pinterest as we are? Follow us , then check out of our favorite holiday gift pins from this week that you won't want to miss. 1. Finally, no more confusion about which kids' tablet should be under your tree. 2. What can we …

So many of you have been asking us which of the many tablets on the market right now is the best tablet for kids. I get it. With two young kids who get more tech-savvy by the day, I'm always on the lookout for really high-quality devices…

Having three kids in less than four years meant I was used to living in a state of sleep deprivation. And though my "babies" are now old enough to sleep (mostly) through the night, I am so excited for you new mamas because there is a coo…

Obsessed with Pinterest as we are? Follow us , then check out our five favorite pins from this week that you won't want to miss! 1. A cool way to blast tunes on your iPhone . 2. If you use your tablet in the kitchen , you need to stock u…

When I think of safe cell phones for kids, I think of two things. The first is safety from strangers or other people; the second is safety from cell phone radiation . And now there's a cell phone in the works that's going to solve both i…

There have been a lot of exciting news and updates for Apple loyalists out there recently--namely the iPhone 5 and iOS 6 . But we also know about the growing legions of Android users, and we're excited to see that Android has really uppe…

We're upgrading to the new iPad and thinking about passing along our second-generation iPad to our kids. Do you have any suggestions for kid-friendly cases? -Krissy Hi Krissy, lucky you for getting a new iPad ! Your kids are probably alr…