tweens + big kids Archives

3 affordable Apple Watch alternatives for kids

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, when she...

10 things you need to know before using a school-issued laptop

by Kate Etue | Back to School Tech

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, that comes...

Rebel Girls Boundless: A new, inspiring digital magazine that we desperately needed

by Kristen Chase | Websites Worth a Bookmark

We’ve said it before but we’ll say it again: Representation matters. That’s why we were thrilled to support Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls when it launched a few years ago on Kickstarter, along with their journal, and their podcast. Because we all...

Skip the nail salon and print your own nail decals at home.

by Kristen Chase | Fashion + Accessories

For the tween or teen in your life, or hey maybe your manicure-loving self, these new print your own nail decals from Canon are pretty darn cool. They work specifically with the PIXMA series printers and let users customize and then print their own nail decals. All...

Message your kids the way they message their friends: Google Docs

by Kristen Chase | Tips and Tricks

If it looks like your kids are hard at work on their laptop or Chromebook, they might actually be messaging with their friends. Turns out, tweens and teens are using Google Docs to chat with each other, and it’s honestly pretty brilliant. All you have to do is...

What’s the best first laptop for kids that’s affordable too? We’ve got an idea.

by Cool Mom Staff | Computers

With my 12-year old son heading to middle school next year, I’ve got the the typical parental worries, which these days includes trying to figure out the best first laptop to purchase for him. Yes, my baby is all grown up and needs his own computer. That’s...

4 awesome YouTube alternatives for kids of all ages

by Kate Etue | Fun Apps for Kids

With all the not-so-great news coming out around YouTube recently — from their pedophilia problem to the horrific content spliced into kids’ videos to the infamous Momo challenge — I’ve been looking for some YouTube alternatives. From now on,...

14 last-minute tech gifts that will still arrive before Christmas. Thanks, Amazon Prime!

by Caroline Siegrist | Holiday Tech Gifts

Even if you haven’t finished your holiday shopping yet, we’ve got you covered with these tech gifts you can still order on Amazon Prime and receive before Christmas. Brilliant, right? And, true to form, these last minute Amazon Prime tech gifts are all...

10 cool holiday tech toys for tweens and big kids | Tech Holiday Gift Guide 2018

by Cool Mom Staff | Holiday Picks, Holiday Tech Gifts, Tech Toys and Random Fun

Next up in our Holiday Tech Gift Guide 2018, we’re featuring cool tech toys for tweens and big kids. Hey, we know first-hand how hard older kids can be to shop for, but having consulted with them we’re pretty sure these tech toys, gifts and gadgets will...

Calling all video gaming Potterheads! The LEGO Harry Potter Collection is here.

by Kristen Chase | Games + Gaming

If you’ve got someone in your home whose love for LEGO and Harry Potter have transcended toys, books, and movies, we give you the newest release: LEGO Harry Potter Collection for Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. We can hear the sound of wands swishing already....

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.