gifts for teens + tweens Archives

How to play Crokinole: The best game you’ve never played

After someone I follow on Instagram mentioned that her family had a blast playing the game Crokinole, I decided to Google it, having never heard of it myself. What kind of board game buff am I? Not a good one, apparently. Well, as I’ve learned over the last...

We found the perfect athletic tank for girls, and two other fab new essentials from Yellowberry.

by Liz Gumbinner | Health, Fitness + Wellbeing, Kid Fashion

When you’ve got middle and high school aged girls who may be feeling awkward or uncomfortable in their changing bodies, getting into athletic clothes for gym or dance or after school activities that give them a little more confidence is a major major win. And...

1 in 4 kids have an undetected vision problem. Here’s how to save on their eye care now. | Sponsored Message

by Cool Mom Staff | Health, Fitness + Wellbeing, Kids

This is a sponsored message from VSP Individual Vision Plans A lot of family members offer practical gifts that help support our kids in big ways, like school tuition, summer camp, after school activities, and college savings plan donations. And here’s one more...

How to get your hands on the new Barbie x Star Wars dolls before they cost a schmillion Galactic Credits

by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings

The limited edition, totally collectible, geektastic collaboration between Barbie x Star Wars is coming soon, so start saving those Creds. Shipping exclusively from Amazon around November 18, you’ll find 3 Barbie figures, including Barbie R2-D2, Barbie Leia, and...

25+ cool backpacks for teenagers in 2019 | Back to School Guide

by Liz Gumbinner | Back to School Shopping, School Gear

Next up in our 2019 Back to School Shopping Guide, we’re sharing more than 2 dozen of our favorite cool backpack for teenagers in 2019. As kids head to middle school or high school, they need bigger, sturdier backpacks, better shoulder straps, laptop protection,...

27 very cool backpacks for grade school this year | Back to School Guide 2019

by Liz Gumbinner | Back to School Shopping, School Gear

We’ve already shared our favorite backpacks for preschool and kindergarten, so next up in our 2019 Back to School Shopping Guide, we’re moving onto cool backpack for grade school! There are so many…honestly we had to stop ourselves from picking even...

Presenting our NEW Ultimate Birthday Gift Guide: The coolest gifts of the year for kids of all ages

by Liz Gumbinner | Baby, Gift Guides, Kids

We are so excited to announce our brand new Ultimate Birthday Gift Guide! Whoo! For years we’ve been combing the web, talking to kids and parents, and carefully curating the very coolest birthday gifts for kids each year by age. Well now it’s back, with a...

The lawn sprinkler made entirely from predatory humanoid alien parts

by Liz Gumbinner | Toys + Playthings

The trend of crazy inflatable lawn sprinklers and cool pool floats shows little sign of slowing down. But if rainbow and unicorn sprinklers aren’t quite up your kid’s alley, I wouldn’t be surprised if a predatory, inter-dimension humanoid lawn...

True Colors is a gorgeous picture book inspired by the song, and we’re crying from page 1.

by Liz Gumbinner | Books for Kids

You probably know the song True Colors as Cyndi Lauper’s hit song from 1986 (whoa) or one of its many covers, but the lyrics were written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelley. And it turns out those lyrics are exquisite as the prose filling the new True Colors...

These very funny award ribbons honor all your dubious achievements

by Liz Gumbinner | Random Coolness

It’s become a cliché that everyone today wants a trophy. Not true at all. Some of us are perfectly happy with a first-place ribbon. And so you have to check out the very funny award ribbons at Frankie and Claude, honoring all kinds of everyday achievements....