A pocket full of books

by Mir | Books for Kids

Games on the iPhone are nice, having books on hand make you feel a little less guilty about trying to keep the kid occupied on mile-long supermarket checkout lines. Now you can always have books on hand without carting around pounds of hardbacks: PicPocket Books...

It’s okay to let your kids play with your iPhone if they’re learning something, right?

by Stephanie Slate | Random Coolness

I’m one of those moms. You know, the kind who’s doing my best not to let the kids watch television or play computer games and, as a result, doesn’t get a second of time to herself if her children are awake. But at the same time, I really don’t...

Family game night goes deeper with Family Matters

by Mir | Toys + Playthings

Look, I’m going to be honest: When I read that Family Matters is the family game for ages 8+ that helps your family get to know each other better, I steeled myself for my daughter rolling her eyes and my son sliding underneath the table, declaring his boredom....

iPlay’n Learn – They should’ve named it iDistract’n Calm

by Mir | Cool Tech

A few weeks ago I had some friends over to the house, and one of them brought her three-year-old, who immediately commenced leaping around on the furniture like a chimp on crack. Given that my children are past that phase (or can be reigned in with a simple, Knock it...

Want an incredible collection of Modern Art? Go Fish

by Betsy | Toys + Playthings

I learned long ago that the best way for my son to learn about “boring” things was to find creative ways to teach him. Although I personally am fascinated by Modern Art, he could probably not be able to withstand an extended visit to the MoMA. Which made...

Children’s first games: For when you just can’t face another trip to Candyland

by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings

I want to be the mom who sits on the floor and plays board games for hours with her kids, but I usually start losing interest right around the same time my son tries to see how far he can hurl the dice. So we’ve tracked down some fantastic (dice-free) first...

Children’s games still made with wooden pieces and great design? It’s true.

by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings

Next week is Thanksgiving, and if you’re like my family, that means lots of little kids around. The cousins are all getting to the age where they can entertain themselves (hallelujah!) which means we’re stocking up on craft supplies and games. To be...

XBox 360 makes holidays more fun for everyone. Including those who need it most.

by Cool Mom Team | Cool Tech

Deep down, I’m a 13 year-old boy with a thing for video games, as any of my friends who have ever seen my “drum face” when playing Rock Band will tell you. So I am totally coveting the new Microsoft Xbox 360 which I had a chance to try out at the...

Pay it forward, the game.

by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings

Is there anything better than random acts of kindness? Well, maybe intentional acts of kindness. And if anyone is going to start a worldwide kindness revolution, my money is on the women behind Boom Boom! Cards. Essentially each of the 26 cards in this nice little kit...

Hooray for iPhone apps for children that give you five minutes to yourself

by Carrie | Cool Tech

My husband is taking my two kids on a transatlantic flight all by himself, bless him. My contribution to the experience is my iPhone, fully loaded with toddler-distracting applications. Three of the iPhone apps I have lined up for her are Hippo Hooray’s Colors,...