Kids - Cool Mom Picks

The best children’s books of 2019 to read in 2020: All the lists in one convenient place.

It’s time to make your 2020 reading list! This is our fifth year to round up all the year’s best-of lists of children’s books, all in one convenient place for you, so you can have quick access to dozens of ideas when you’re at the bookstore or...

The diversity of women taking over entertainment: Editors Best of the Year

by Liz Gumbinner | Editors Best of the Year, Entertainment + Media

It’s hard to even know where to start with this — each of these women could be their own Editors Best of the Year, but together, they’re even more powerful. And that’s saying something. We have to start somewhere, so, as we often do,...

Post-Hamilton Broadway for teens: Editors’ Best of the Year.

by Liz Gumbinner | Editors Best of the Year, Entertainment + Media

It’s no surprise to anyone who knows me or my kids that we are massive Broadway fans. We are so fortunate to live in The Greatest City in the World (name that tune), which allows us to see a lot of musicals. A lot. But my kids are hardly alone in asking for show...

The best subscription gifts for kids this year: There’s one for every age, and every interest

by Kate Etue | Holiday Picks, Toys + Playthings

It’s final countdown to the holidays, which means last-minute gift ideas, which means subscription gifts for kids, which are always some of our favorites to give — last minute or not! Wwe know from experience that our kids love to receive boxes in the...

Your kid’s craziest story ideas could win the Roald Dahl’s Imaginormous Challenge. Here’s how.

by Christina Refford | Books for Kids

As a mom of three, I have loved few things as much as hearing the crazy stories my kids have dreamt up, or reading the creative things they choose to write on paper. And so I am super psyched to hear about a contest that rewards kids for their most imaginative story...

A special needs mom shares 4 great toys for kids with cognitive disabilities.

by Kate Etue | Toys + Playthings

With the holidays coming up, grandparents and friends are naturally asking for ideas for gifts for the kids, but when you are shopping for toys for kids with cognitive disabilities, it can make the gifting a little more challenging. For my daughter, play time is also...

A brilliantly easy way to donate your kids’ plastic toys to children who will really love them.

by Christina Refford | Doing Good, Toys + Playthings

If the picture up top makes you think, Ack! That’s every room of my house, then you’re going to be so happy to learn about Second Chance Toys, an organization that will help you get those no-longer-wanted toys into the hands of kids who really do want them...

Baby Yoda Funko POP! The stocking stuffer we desperately want will be here…not by Christmas.

by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings

The good news: I finally found the one affordable little gift I know will please every one of my kids. Baby Yoda: The Child Funko POP! figurine, fresh off his Mandalorian boost into meme-of-the-year status, complete with a Lin Manuel approved viral Baby Yoda Hamilton...

Holiday tech gifts: 11 of the coolest STEM toys and gifts for big kids and tweens

by Cool Mom Staff | Holiday Picks, Kids

STEM toys and gifts are definitely high on lots of holiday wish lists this season, so we’re rounding up some of the coolest options for big kids and tweens. From cool STEM building sets to STEM subscription boxes, in every single price range (hey, we know that...

A modern Christmas story that will be a new family favorite for years to come | Sponsored Message

by Cool Mom Staff | Books for Kids

This is a sponsored message for Candlewick Press There’s nothing like a magical story to get kids into the Christmas spirit, which is why you’ll be so glad to have Dasher, a new book with a female protagonist (yay!) from New York Times bestselling author...

This monthly earring club for kids will also come to your house and pierce their ears. Whoa.

by Kate Etue | Kid Fashion

I am so excited about the concept behind Rowan, an ear-piercing service and monthly earring club subscription for kids. Because it’s not just really fun, but truly useful. I’m a huge fan of subscription boxes in general to help build my kids’...

5 reasons this STEM toy should be at the top of your holiday shopping list

by Cool Mom Staff | Toys + Playthings

Every year, we keep an eye on hot holiday toy trends, and no surprise here, STEM toys are still a big ticket item for the 2019 holiday season. When we look for STEM toys, we particularly appreciate ones that teach kids STEM concepts by encouraging creative,...

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).