Tips + Tricks Archives | Cool Mom Picks

Making the most of your time when time has no meaning | Spawned Ep 212

by Cool Mom Staff | Podcast, Tips + Tricks

These days, it’s like we blink and it’s dinner time and we think, “what the heck happened to this day?” As we looked around our feeds to see what else parents are discussing — you know, beyond school, school and school — turns out...

10 arguments to help you convince your friends and neighbors to wear a damn mask in public already.

by Liz Gumbinner | Health, Fitness + Wellbeing, Thinking : Parent, Tips + Tricks

I just read that nearly 30% of Americans sometimes, rarely, or never wear a mask in public and it makes me want to bang my head on something. Nothing too hard though, because our hospitals have been through enough and don’t need the likes of a self-inflicted...

When can your teen register to vote? Here are the rules, state by state.

by Kate Etue | Doing Good, Tips + Tricks

Some of us have older teens who are really excited to vote this year. But because each state manages their own voting policies, it can be confusing as to how, when, and where to register to vote. We all know that if you’re 18 on or before election day — November...

Raising kids to be good collaborators with 4 simple lessons | Life Skills Series

by Liz Gumbinner | Tips + Tricks

In our three-part Life Skills Series, we’ve shared tips to help you raise critical thinkers and to raise problem-solvers. Now, I’m excited to share ideas around collaborating and working together. Because what the world needs now (besides love, sweet love)...

Raising smart problem solvers: 4 tips to help parents teach kids | Life Skills Series

by Cool Mom Staff | Tips + Tricks

In the first post of our Life Skills Series, we shared tips to help you raise critical thinkers. And next up, we’re talking about how to teach your kids problem-solving skills. As adults, we know how important they are in our everyday lives, but it’s hard...

8 things to think about if you’re considering homeschool because of COVID-19 this fall, from a homeschool mom

by Kate Etue | Tips + Tricks

With school districts all over the country releasing their preliminary plans for school this fall, I’m hearing so many parents trying to determine whether or not their kids are going back full-time. The requirement between states and districts varies greatly,...

Raising critical thinkers: 6 expert tips for parents | Life Skills Series

by Cool Mom Staff | Tips + Tricks

If one thing has become abundantly clear over the past few years, our kids are growing up seeing all kinds of problems we face in the world, and they’re increasingly asking us what they can do, or how they can be part of the solution. That’s pretty...

3 excellent educational videos about Juneteenth for kids. Watch and learn.

by Kate Etue | Entertainment + Media, Tips + Tricks

I’m trying to do a better job of raising anti-racist kids, and I believe that starts with learning more about the history of the Black experience in America. An essential part of that education is the understanding of Juneteenth, a holiday that I was certainly...

You believe that Black Lives Matter. You are non-Black. You don’t know what to say or do. So start here.

by Liz Gumbinner | Doing Good, Tips + Tricks

We have spent more time listening than talking this difficult weekend. But I woke up this morning knowing I want to make it perfectly 100% clear where Kristen and I stand: Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. This was originally posted on...

7 special graduation ideas during Covid-19 for your 2020 grad. They deserve it!

by Christina Refford | Party Ideas, Tips + Tricks

Our Facebook groups have been asking for graduation ideas during Covid-19 and quarantine, and as a mom to a rising senior, and a high school grad last year, my heart goes out to all the 2020 grads. While school kids everywhere have had their lives and routines upended...

We’ve got 5 eco-friendly paper towel alternatives to help you make the switch at the perfect time.

by Caroline Siegrist | Kitchen + Dining, Tips + Tricks

I’ve been meaning to wean our family off paper towels for years, and this quarantine is finally giving the push that I need. Thanks, empty paper towel shelves at Kroger! So I’ve been chatting with eco-conscious friends and colleagues about favorite paper...

#SaveThePostOffice: 7 thoughtful things you can mail to friends and family during quarantine

by Kristen Chase | Tips + Tricks

Even before the Coronavirus pandemic, the United States Postal Service (USPS) was getting hit pretty hard. And now, well, it’s worse than ever, with no bailout in sight. As you might have seen on social media with the #SaveThePostOffice hashtag, people are...

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).