cool tech Archives | Cool Mom Picks

Math just got a whole lot easier (and less stressful) with Photomath | Sponsored Message

This is a sponsored message for Photomath As so many parents put on their teacher or learning coach hats this fall to help their children, they have to be ready for whatever questions that might be thrown at them. That’s why they all need the free Photomath app...

This website makes reading and writing absolutely magical for kids — and the parents trying to help. | Sponsored Message

by Cool Mom Staff | Tech CMP-Style, Toys + Playthings

This is a sponsored message from Night Zookeeper As millions of parents prepare for a school year that won’t look like any other school year, this is a good time to line up the educational apps and websites to help engage your kids in core subjects. If their...

Here’s one way to stress less, especially with back to school

by Cool Mom Staff | Tech CMP-Style

Considering our own stress levels are pretty much through the roof right now, we know we’re probably not alone. Trying to juggle all the challenges we’re facing is no easy task, but even some of the smaller things, like just heading out the door, has...

The best interactive toys for kids: 6 I love in every price range

by Liz Gumbinner | Tech CMP-Style, Toys + Playthings

As I’ve written here before, RetailMeNot is basically my must-visit destination before I make any purchase online. Because hey, coupon codes. So I was thrilled when they asked me to write an article for them sharing my own picks for the best interactive toys to...

Scrambling for summer activities? These fun, affordable online coding camps for kids just got even more affordable.

by Cool Mom Staff | Entertainment + Media, Kids

This is a sponsored message from Coding with Kids With all the gaming kids are doing this summer, it’s pretty cool that there’s a way parents can help turn their love for say, Roblox or Minecraft, into an educational STEM opportunity — all at an...

Transparent face masks: They’re coming, and we’re ready!

by Liz Gumbinner | Living, Tech CMP-Style

I’m so thrilled to see all the transparent faces masks that are starting to come out, especially considering the incredible technology some of them are delivering. For background, I am one of those WEAR YOUR MASK, PEOPLE! people, passionately and without...

Out-Tech Your Kids: Our new tech-positive podcast for parenting in the digital age

by Kristen Chase | Tech CMP-Style

Big news, parents! We’ve got a new podcast called Out-Tech Your Kids, a tech-positive podcast for the age of digital parenting. Liz and I answer parents’ top burning tech questions in just 15 minutes or less each week. Hey, we know your time is valuable...

8 reasons why every family should have a virtual pet

by Cool Mom Staff | Tech CMP-Style

It’s pretty amazing what you can do virtually these days, which has definitely made these last few months much easier for families. From online classrooms to card games, to lots of other fun things in between, there are no shortage of cool ways for kids to...

15 cool but practical Father’s Day gifts. Because they should still feel like gifts, ya know? | Father’s Day Gift Guide

by Liz Gumbinner | Father's Day Gifts

This Father’s Day, even dads who like the more frivolous stuff are seeing the joy in practical Father’s Day gifts. Whether it helps him around the house, master the WAH thing (for the short-term or the long-term), enjoy cooking more, or gear him up for a...

5 creative ways we’ve been using Houseparty to stay connected to our own friends and family during quarantine

by Cool Mom Staff | Tech CMP-Style

With about six weeks into this COVID-19 quarantine, we’re all desperately longing for the connection of faraway friends and family. And while texting, phone calls, even writing letters (yes, remember those?) are a great salve to what we’re all feeling,...

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).

We did.

And we still love what we do every single day.

We're so glad you're here.