Doing Good Archives | Cool Mom Picks

12 acts of kindness you can do with your kids over the holiday break, to make the season about more than presents.

by Christina Refford | Doing Good, Tips + Tricks

Acts of kindness have never felt more important than they do this year. And since kinds are naturally inclined toward kindness, we wanted to give this post a bump this year. Because when Christmas is over, Santa is back at the North Pole, the toys are all unwrapped,...

Your questions about vaccine safety + Covid-19 answered: Dr. Perri Klass | Spawned Ep 223

by Cool Mom Staff | Doing Good, Health, Fitness + Wellbeing, Podcast

If there’s one thing we’re all talking about right now, and maybe even tearing up about (if you’re Liz), it’s the long-awaited arrival of the Covid-19 vaccines. So we invited the most perfect guest to sit down with us: vaccine expert, NYU...

8 easy gratitude activities for kids this Thanksgiving

by Kate Etue | DIY, Doing Good

With Thanksgiving looking so different this year, we’re really trying to focus on gratitude and gratitude activities, so that we’re spending more time feeling, well, thankful, instead of resentful. With my own Thanksgiving family plans cancelled —...

We love these election reactions from some of our favorite moms: History is happening.

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Thinking : Parent

This morning, as we wake up on our first Monday with President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris heading to the White House, I’m passing the mic. Although yes, of course, we had some things to say as well. I’m sharing just a few of the...

Voting help and Election Day resources: All the help you need to find your voting place, watch the polls, report voter intimidation and more.

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Thinking : Parent, Tips + Tricks

You might have heard, but there’s this election coming up in the US on Tuesday, November 3 and it’s kind of a big deal. Not just because we’ll be electing the next president, but a lot of Senators, Members of Congress, and important local and state...

Voting activities for elementary students: 9 fun, meaningful, and non-partisan ideas to get young kids involved.

by Christina Refford | DIY, Doing Good

It’s encouraging to see how many parents have asked us for voting activities for elementary students or any kids too young to vote this year. With the election just a few weeks away, our kids have surely heard us talking about different candidates, issues, and...

How to trick or treat for UNICEF virtually this year

by Kate Etue | Doing Good, Kids

Raising money for UNICEF at Halloween has become a tradition for many of our readers and their kids, and it’s a cause we’ve supported since the very beginning of our site. That’s a long time! So we’re thrilled to announce that this year, even...

Free childcare on Election Day to help parents get to the polls. Here’s how to register.

by Caroline Siegrist | Doing Good, Kids

Are you a parent or caregiver who plans to vote in person on Election Day? We have good news! Care.com and the Armed Services YMCA are teaming up to bring free childcare for parents who need to get to the polls on November 3rd. So brilliant. And considering all that...

7 wonderful I Voted stickers for those not voting at the polls this year

by Kate Etue | Doing Good

One of the proudest badges of participation in our democracy that we can wear is the little I Voted sticker after we walk away from the polls on Election Day. But this year, so many more of us are casting absentee ballots, voting by mail (which is safe!) or dropping...

Presenting the Dr. Fauci action figure. Because, 2020.

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good

Stronger than an off-the-record anonymous White House source. More powerful than a mask worn under your nose. Able to get more Americans believing in science in a single press conference. It’s epidemiologist Dr.Anthony S Fauci! And soon, he’ll be available...

Lots of ways teens can get involved in this election when they’re too young to vote

by Christina Refford | Doing Good, Tips + Tricks

I know that this year, a lot of teens, including my own 17 year old, are even more motivated to get out and do something to impact November’s election. But for socially conscious teens under 18, it can be frustrating that they can’t make a difference at...

No hate: A kids’ craft kit supporting a message we can all agree on.

by Liz Gumbinner | DIY, Doing Good

Well. This certainly has been an interesting start to Anti-Bullying Month. After four years of strife, anger, division, hatred, bullying…I can safely say that parents are tired. I know I’m tired of apologizing to my kids that they have to grow up seeing...

Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!

Kristen Chase + Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks

We started Cool Mom Picks in 2006 to help make life cooler, more meaningful, and more fun for parents of all kinds.

Trivia: It was called Cool Mom Sh*t for the first two days. (Yeah, we rethought that.)

We had no idea our site would grow to become a major lifestyle network, that we'd end up sharing our finds with the TODAY Show and Martha Stewart, that we'd be able to make a real difference for so many small businesses and women-run companies, or that we'd end up with an incredible community of the coolest readers on the planet. (If we do say so ourselves).