tweens + big kids

Like so many of us, Judy Blume's books hold a prominent place in my memories and in my heart. They took me from slightly confused tween to slightly more confident teen, and the themes in her work still resonate with kids today. So why ca…

My boys and I can't watch Star Wars movies without afterward pretending to be Jedis, using sticks as light sabers and our voices for sound effects. Sound familiar? So last week when I had a chance to review the new Kinect Star Wars game …

I am looking for Kindle Fire cases that have cartoons and such. You know, the cool ones the kids want. - Tamra While we're seeing a lot of iPod touch cases with characters on them, not a lot of parents are buying Kindles for their kids y…

Before the holidays, we tackled questions about when kids are ready for e-readers and tablets , as well as handheld gaming devices . But one of the most frequent topics we're asked about is just when kids should get their own cell phone.…

F or the last few years on Cool Mom Picks, we've ended the year with our Editors' Picks for best of the year. We're excited to do the same on Cool Mom Tech this year, starting with the best video games that the whole family will love. AB…

By now, the Wii, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3 family competitions have become a big part of holiday time rituals. If not, it totally should be. Do you know the photo opps you can grab of one precocious 4 year-old making a go of an Abba Da…

I'd hardly consider myself a video gamer, but give me a dance game and you'll have to rip that Wii remote out of my hand. So when I discovered that the makers of my all-time favorite game Just Dance released a new one dedicated to the be…

Why are earbuds the perfect holiday gift? They can drown out the noises in the coffee shop or the back seat of the car. You can never have too many of them. They're just the right size to slip into a stocking. They're a great way to make…

Q: My kids ages 8, 9, and 10 are getting iPods from their grandmom for Christmas. Can you recommend an alarm clock/charging dock that's good for their age and not too expensive? -reader by Twitter What a generous grandma! Your kids will …

Ever on the lookout for smart girl t-shirts that remind the world that our daughters have loftier ambitions than gossip, hair braiding, and making out with their Justin Bieber pillow cases, I was delighted to come across this awesome tee…

Have a kid who loves odd little factoids about everything and anything? National Geographic has been putting out "Weird But True" compilations in book form for years, but now they're bringing the wackiness to the iPhone, and it's more fu…

I'm more than happy to have my kids play their hand held video games or my iPad in the house without headphones, so long as they keep the volume down. But when it's a long car ride or trip, having something on their ears becomes a necess…

Every parent with an iPad (and that's a lot of us) has at some point asked the same question--something along the lines of man, why can't they make one that's just for kids that doesn't cost a fortune and isn't destined to be broken in t…

The newly released Practically Ridiculous from CMP favorite The Jimmies is a great bridge CD for kids caught between preschool pop and the too-grown-up stuff playing on many radio stations. And while we think you should just go ahead and…

My heart is heavy this morning as I prepare to talk to my children about the tenth anniversary of 9/11 and what it means to so many of us. My younger two are easily satisfied with my very honest, but guarded, explanation, but my ten-year…

In a perfect world I would have time to go for a run everyday. But in the real world, as a busy mom, that's not going to happen. So what if I could turn everyday routines into exercise? Now there's a nifty little gadget that can help you…

Even I can still remember the butterflies I'd get on those first days of school--and that was a l-o-n-g time ago as my kids are quick to point out to anyone. This week's download of the week from one of our favorite kindie musicians, Sec…

Stumbling upon this adorable iPhone, iPod or iPod Touch case on Etsy, I thought it was be a sweet gift for a kid going back to school this year with tech in tow. Made by a Florida artist, it's a simple design with a Velcro closure to giv…

Around our place, slapstick will always have a happy home. We fondly refer to America's Funniest Videos as The Bonk Show (because of all the people who get bonked, of course) and when Wipeout first aired, we started calling it the Super …

It's no secret that we love Yo Gabba Gabba as much as (if not slightly more than) our kids. One quick search on Cool Mom Picks will result in a slew of YGG inspired toys, shoes, yes, even finger puppets. So it's only natural that we'd be…

Operation, Shmoperation. Forget that old naked guy and his lame Charlie Horse; I've found a version that's much, much cooler for the entire family. Because it's R2D2 Yes, I'm one of those people for whom anything can be improved with the…

Are your kids on Facebook yet? Mine is 8 years old, so I'm not yet at that worry stage. But I know that by the time he's ready for it, he'll also be dealing with so many other issues in his life that I'll want to know about. (Kinda glad …

I've always been envious of people who can draw, especially coming from someone whose go-to doodle is a 3D box (and not a very good one at that). Luckily, through the magic of technology, I can use software intervention to help make my d…

Yes, I may be the last person in America to discover the awesomeness that is Tiny Wings , now an essential part of my morning commute. The game is every bit as addictive as Angry Birds, only with less anger and more flying. Can tens of t…